On Thursday, U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo Team head coach Adam Krikorian announced the 13 athletes that will compete for Team USA this August at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Krikorian made the announcement during a press conference held at the LA84 Foundation in Los Angeles. Among the 13 names on the list was that of 2012 Olympian and 2016 team captain, Maggie Steffens.
During the press conference, Steffens addressed the crowd, saying:
“My biggest thank you is to this team and to this incredible group of women. We have a really incredible, special group. I can easily talk about each one in the athleticism, talent and skill that they have individually and what we have as a team, but it’s more than that. It takes more than that to get to be on this stage today and the Olympic stage and it’s the toughness that this group has and the determination, dedication, the sacrifices we’ve all made. And we work pretty darn well together. The teamwork that this group has is probably the best that I’ve ever been a part of. And I hope that with the teamwork we have in the water and the fun we have when we play can inspire anyone that watches us play.
“I challenge that it’s not a good day in LA, it’s a great day in LA because we can officially call ourselves Olympians. That gives me the chills just to say because that is a dream that all of us have had. So congratulations, we hope to make Olympians into Olympic champions and bring home the gold to all of you and to everyone who has supported us. Congratulations. Thank you. Go USA!”
Afterwards Steffens met up with SwimSwam’s Anne Lepesant to talk about Team USA’s prospects in Rio. Click on the video above to watch the interview.
The entire United States Olympic Women’s Water Polo team is as follows: