Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kaleigh Gilchrist has announced her retirement from the women’s national team.
Irvine, CA – August 15 – Kaleigh Gilchrist, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion, has announced her retirement from the USA Water Polo women’s national team. A three-time Olympian from Newport Beach, California, she concludes her illustrious career after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Today is a bittersweet day as I officially retire from the sport of water polo. Eight-year-old me walked onto the Newport Harbor pool deck for the first time, not knowing where the sport would lead me. Twenty-four years later, I can confidently say it has taken me to places and allowed me to experience things I never imagined,” said Gilchrist. “To the sport of water polo: Thank you for allowing me to love you as long as I have, and for loving me in moments when I didn’t love you back. You let me be part of something much bigger than myself. To my teammates, coaches, support staff, fans, and family: I can never thank you enough for making over two decades in water polo truly incredible,” she added. Gilchrist shared more about her retirement in an Instagram post earlier today.
“Kaleigh’s water polo IQ and game sense are unmatched. She always seemed to know where the ball needed to be, and few could match her vision in the pool. Her blend of competitive spirit and light-heartedness has had a powerful impact on every athlete and staff member associated with our program throughout her 11-year career with the national team,” said US head coach Adam Krikorian.
A dual-sport athlete for most of her life, Gilchrist also achieved a championship career in surfing. She won a national championship as a teenager and traveled globally with surfing icons. It wasn’t until she arrived at the University of Southern California that water polo took center stage. After winning an NCAA Championship with USC in 2013, Gilchrist was invited to train with the women’s senior national team, but had to defer due to a full surfing schedule.
One year later, she joined Team USA, establishing herself as a key player on one of the greatest teams ever. Her achievements with the red, white, and blue are remarkable. After helping Team USA secure a world championship title, her first of four, Gilchrist made her Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro, leading the United States to the 2016 gold. In 2017, despite her love for surfing pulling her back to the ocean, she returned to water polo to win World Cup gold in 2018. She followed this with a second World Championship title in summer 2019. However, tragedy struck when she was seriously injured in a nightclub collapse in Gwangju, South Korea, just hours after winning gold. She underwent surgery and a rigorous rehab process to return to competition over four months later. Despite the setbacks, she was named to the Tokyo Olympic roster after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the Games by a year. Team USA once again claimed Olympic gold.
“I’ve learned never to doubt what she is capable of,” Krikorian added. “She has defied the odds in so many ways. Her journey over the last five years, in particular, has been an awe-inspiring display of perseverance, discipline, and determination. Often putting in the work when no one was watching, she has demonstrated professionalism every step of the way. I know these skills will continue to shine brightly and impact others throughout the rest of her life.”
Just when Gilchrist thought her water polo career was over, she was drawn back to the pool by her teammates’ and coaches’ encouragement. Despite further injuries and surgeries, her relentless work ethic never faltered. She was part of two more World Championship-winning teams in 2022 and earlier this year in Doha, Qatar, and was named to a third consecutive Olympic roster.
A winner at every level, Gilchrist achieved CIF and NCAA Championships, two Olympic gold medals, four World Championship titles, three World Cup crowns, and three Pan American Games tournaments.
