Los Angeles, CA – June 23, 2021 – U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team Head Coach Adam Krikorian announced the 13 athletes that will be nominated to represent Team USA at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, earlier today at a press conference in Los Angeles. Final approval of the selections is required by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and will be announced at a later date. The roster for the two-time defending Olympic champions and three-time defending World Champions features eight returners from the Rio Olympic Games and two-returners from the London Olympic Games. Two-time Olympic champions Maggie Steffens (captain) and Melissa Seidemann anchor a squad that will welcome five first-time Olympians.
Considered the best water polo player
on the planet, Steffens is back for a third attempt at gold, bringing an
ability to play any position. Seidemann went through her first two Olympic runs
as the most formidable defender around, over the last five years she's added a
heavy dose of center play, dominating on both ends of the pool.
Rio gold medalist Ashleigh Johnson is
back in the goal for the United States continuing to cement her reputation as
the best in class between the pipes. High scoring attackers Rachel Fattal and
Maddie Musselman bolster the offensive attack bringing expertise on the power
play. Meanwhile, sisters Makenzie Fischer and Aria Fischer have quickly gone
from phenoms to veterans. Makenzie adds a dual threat on offense and defense
while Aria is the toughest of covers at two-meters. Rounding out the returners
is Kaleigh Gilchrist. Dubbed the "Mamba Mission," Gilchrist's
recovery is complete following a serious leg injury suffered during a fall
after the 2019 FINA World Championships in South Korea.
Defender Alys Williams leads the
charge on the list of Olympic newcomers. The first woman in program history to
be the last cut for a previous Olympic roster and then make the next Games
team, Williams brings a perseverance that will be key to a third straight gold.
Attacker Stephania Haralabidis is the first left-hander to make the roster
since 2008 and adds instant-offense to the team with a lightning quick release.
Versatility is a theme on this roster and Paige Hauschild adds to that depth,
bringing important length for defense but creativity that makes her dangerous
on offense.
Fellow Santa Barbara area native
Jamie Neushul makes her first Olympic squad as well, adding another piece to
the attack off the bench. Former Cutino Award winner Amanda Longan rounds out
the squad at goalkeeper giving Johnson a top flight back-up.
The 13 athletes are the centerpiece
of a program that has become the most dominant women's water polo team on
earth. Holding a number one ranking and every major available title since 2014,
Team USA enters Tokyo as the favorite to return to the top of the podium.
Already the first nation to win two Olympic titles in women's water polo, the
United States previously held a 69-game win streak, the record in the modern
era of women's water polo. This included an undefeated 2019 season where the
squad went 37-0 while earning World Championship, World League and Pan American
Games crowns.
Under a new format for the Tokyo
Olympic Games, each nation will declare 12 active players before each match of
the competition. The reduction in game day roster size from 13 to 12 was part
of an expansion in the overall number of teams competing. The size of the
women's tournament is now at 10 countries, up from eight, making it the largest
Olympic women's water polo tournament ever.
Team USA is the only nation to medal
in every Olympic Games featuring women's water polo. They've won gold twice
(2012 & 2016), silver twice (2000 & 2008) and bronze once (2004).
U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team
Nominees – Tokyo Olympic Games (Hometown/College/USA Water Polo Club)
Ashleigh Johnson (Miami,
FL/Princeton/NYAC)
Maddie Musselman (Newport Beach,
CA/UCLA/CdM Aquatics)
Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek,
CA/Stanford/NYAC)
Rachel Fattal (Seal Beach,
CA/UCLA/SOCAL)
Paige Hauschild (Santa Barbara,
CA/USC/Santa Barbara 805)
Maggie Steffens (Danville,
CA/Stanford/NYAC)
Stephania Haralabidis (Athens,
Greece/USC/NYAC)
Jamie Neushul (Isla Vista,
CA/Stanford/NYAC)
Aria Fischer (Laguna Beach,
CA/Stanford/SET)
Kaleigh Gilchrist (Newport Beach,
CA/USC/NYAC)
Makenzie Fischer (Laguna Beach,
CA/Stanford/SET)
Alys Williams (Huntington Beach,
CA/UCLA/Huntington Beach WPF)
Amanda Longan (Moorpark, CA/USC/Santa
Barbara 805)
Head Coach: Adam Krikorian
Assistant Coaches: Dan Klatt and
Chris Oeding
Sports Medicine Manager: Larnie
Boqurien
Quotes
Maggie Steffens, 3x Olympian and Team
USA captain:
First of all, I just want to say
thank you to everyone who is here today to support us. It means the world to
have a day like this especially for women in sports but mainly speaking on
behalf of our team I want to thank our families who we wish could be here
today. Our friends, coaches, teachers, everyone who's been a part of the
journey for us that are really the reason for why we are here today and our
team wants to make sure that you all know how much you mean to us and we're
always representing you as well.
It is such an honor for us to be up
here for me and all of us. It's more of an honor to get to share it with this
group of women. This quad has been different. Our team had to adapt and be
different. We had a very challenging tough last couple years. We faced endless
adversity from the postponement, the pandemic, individual and team hardships
but it was pretty remarkable how through all of that we came out stronger and
even more so we came out stronger together and I think that's where the magic
lies with this team.
Alone it didn't really feel possible
but together truly anything felt possible through this experience and that's
truly where the magic is for this group.
We're determined, we're ambitious,
this is really only the beginning for us and we look forward to fighting for
one another to achieve even more of an Olympic dream and fighting for that
Olympic gold not just for each other, not just for the women that came before
us as our alumni but for all of you as well.
Adam Krikorian, Team USA Head Coach
The Olympic games has always been a
competition much larger than a sport. It has a role in celebrating the balance
of competitions and striving for excellence with peace, unity, empathy and
respect for humanity worldwide and cannot be understated. After all this world
has been through I would argue that this games in particular will hold even
greater meaning.
Today's date has a lot greater
meaning. It signifies three separate events in history that celebrate women in
sport. The first of which happened 49 years ago when title XI was in existence.
One of the first steps in giving women an equal opportunity in our education
system. The team that will sit before you today is an exact result of what
happened in 1972.
The second is Olympic day. The impact
of what happened in 1972 has had a huge hand for our women on the Olympic
stage. That year USA in 1972 Team USA women won 23 medals and if my research is
correct in Rio the women won 61 medals something I know that this team takes
great pride in is representing women of the past, present and future. This will
be the 6th Olympic games that USA Water Polo will send a women's team and these
13 women will be some of the 48 that can call themselves Olympians.
The last important date is my
daughter's birthday. Besides the somewhat selfish emotions. I have for this day
being a girl dad and the love that I have for is also a day that makes me
grateful that my daughter is growing up in a world that shines a light on these
13 women and so many more and helps to provide her with role models she can
identify with.
We are incredibly lucky as a staff to
coach a group of women who are so amazingly driven, competitive and are always
hungry for more in every way. They truly never cease to amaze us.
About USA Water Polo
USA Water Polo, Inc., is the national
governing body for water polo in America, overseeing our United States Olympic
program as well as 20 different championship events annually, such as Junior
Olympics and Masters National Championships. With more than 50,000 members,
USAWP also is the sanctioning authority for more than 500 member clubs and more
than 400 tournaments nationwide. USAWP is committed to the development of the
sport throughout the U.S., fostering grass-roots expansion while providing a
national system of affiliated clubs, certified coaches, and officials. For more
information, visit www.usawaterpolo.org
Greg Mescall
Director of Communications, USA Water
Polo
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