July 16, 2024 • 35 mins
Maddie Musselman has been a cornerstone for the USA Women’s Water Polo team for more than a decade, playing an integral role in helping them bring home gold in 2016 and 2020. Now, as Team USA tries to enter unprecedented territory by becoming the first water polo team from any country, either men or women, to win four straight gold medals, Musselman has found herself in a personal battle unlike any she’s ever faced. Balancing preparing for the Games while caring for her husband through his recently diagnosed cancer treatments, Musselman explains how they’ve chosen joy and why THIS Team USA water polo is set up to make that history.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
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Speaker 4 (00:46):
Hello friends, and welcome to the Powerful Podcast. I'm your
host Aja McCord. In this podcast, we introduce you to
powerful women who are changing the game in and outside.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Of their field of play.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
These are women's stories, women who happen to be doing
things that many of us can only dream of, but
the lessons and inspiration they share is universal.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Welcome back to the Powerful Podcast. I am so excited
because we have a Dynasty member joining us. Today, she
is a member of Team USA women's water polo. She's
a UCLA grad a fellow Southern California native. She also
happens to be a two time Olympic gold medalist. In
twenty sixteen, she scored twelve goals when the US when
(01:29):
they's second straight Olympic gold in women's water polo, and
then in twenty twenty, this woman was named the MVP
of the women's water polo gold medal match because she
had a casual eighteen goals. Matty Musselman, thank you so
much for joining the Powerful podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I'm so thrilled to have you. Oh my gosh, I'm
so excited to be here. Thanks for having me of course.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
Okay, so I want to talk about you as a person,
but we would be remiss to not make sure the
people know what is at stake for you and your
team in Paris this summer, because, like I mentioned, women's
water polo already has three straight gold medals.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
You've been a part of the last two of.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Them, and this year going for an unprecedented fourth gold medal.
It would be the first time any water polo team
from any country, men or women, have achieved that feat.
How are you guys getting ready for Paris.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it's definitely exciting. I mean, the pride and the
excitement around the Olympic Games definitely comes about as you
get closer and closer to it. I think that the
legacy that this program has had obviously adds a lot
of excitement, but also a lot of pressure, external pressure
that you know, comes from expectations and being able to
kind of carry on that gold medal that we have
(02:46):
had in the past. But at the same time, I
think our team hasn't won a gold medal yet. This
specific group, the girls that have been a part of
this program for a while. You know, some of us
have been lucky to win a gold medal before, but
we also have players who've never won before. So as
a team and going into a Paris Olympics with this
(03:06):
Paris Olympic team, this is our first time and so
I think that relieves that pressure and then relieves that
like legacy talk that a lot of people are talking about.
But I would be lying if I said we didn't
want to win and we didn't want to carry that on.
But for sure, exciting, for sure on the top of
our mind, you know, to get to the top of
the podium, and we're looking forward to getting to Paris
(03:27):
and doing our best that we can. So with that
in mind, talk to me about this team.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
What is it that makes this team, this twenty twenty
four women's water polo Paris Olympic team special, unique and
with a great shot to make it to the top
of the podium.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
This group is by far one of my favorites in
that I've been a part of this program for a while.
I've been on the team for ten years and I've
been the young player. I've been kind of in that
middle finding the leadership role, and now I'm kind of
more of a veteran and kind of have a different
perspective on what the process is all about. And it's
just been really enjoyable getting the opportunity to lead in
(04:05):
the way that I play the sport, but also see
younger athletes and the those that are doing this for
the first time really grow into their role. And so
for me, this team has just been very determined to
get better. We've been not as talented as we have
been in the past, and the success has been a
little bit harder to attain in terms of how to
(04:27):
work a little bit harder to win games, and I've
been very I've been loving that part of it. I
like when there's a fight. I like when the competitiveness is,
you know, hard to get to. And so this team
has really come a long way. We've grown a lot,
and I think something that sets us apart is that
that growth that we've had and to be able to
(04:49):
to kind of go back and look at the lessons
we've learned and carry that into this Olympics with people
that I've been here before. Like I said, we have
seven new players who've never been to the Olympics before,
and then we have six that have been to the
Olympics before. So it's a great mix of experience and
lack of experience.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
So as one of the veterans on this team, it
was really cool.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
I was listening to your conversation with Ari Chambers in
preparation for this interview, the one that's on TEAMUSA dot
com if you guys want to check it out. It's
called the Olympic Dynasty You don't know, And it was
with you, Maggie Stephens, Rachel and Ashley Johnson and you
guys are for the veterans on this team, and it
was so cool to hear each of you sort of
lift the other up with like what they brought to
(05:33):
this team, the uniqueness and the strength. And one of
the things, Maddie that kept coming up for you is
your brain. You said that was the body part that
you were the most grateful for. You said that that
is the thing that you really feel like you bring.
And I believe it was Maddie who echoed that, and
Maggie who echoed that and said, yeah, Maddie has changed
(05:54):
the way that this game is played. Can you break
down how you have done that?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yeah, Uh, it's tough. I think like when I first
came into this program and this team, I laughed experience.
I like was everything was new for the first time,
and I wouldn't say that like my strength was my brain.
But over time and just the time that I've spent
with this group and specifically with those three players. I've
been playing with them since the beginning and just getting
(06:22):
to learn everyone's strength and weaknesses. Like for me that
that was kind of where my power came from with
with my mind. And when you go into an Olympic process,
you have to kind of have that self belief and
that courage to be there, and that comes with the
right mindset, and you know, having that belief from the
beginning until now, I think has been one of my
(06:45):
one of my strengths. And I think a lot of
people look to me for that mindset. And I do
bring a lot of heart into what I do, but
it's more of like a lead by example. I'm more
of a calmer player when it comes to playing the score,
and I just I overthink a lot. I do a
lot of thinking when it comes to this war, and
so I think a lot of people admire that about
(07:07):
the way that I play. But I've learned a lot
from the players around me. You know, Maggie has a
lot of heart, she plays with a lot of passion.
Rachel's very competitive and is always like that determined one
to win every single little thing in this game of
water polo, and Ashley obviously is doing all of those
things at once in the goal. And I think I'm
(07:28):
just very lucky to be surrounded by so many different
aspects of what it means to make a great athlete.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
I got to watch you guys in person at an
exhibition up in Irvine, which is where we met, and
it was so cool because it really is like watching
different parts of a body all move in tandem when
you guys are together, Like the attackers are coming up
and they are, you know, bringing the ball up, and
then there's defenders, and then there's Ashley, a goal who just
like looks like wonder Woman because she rises up out
(07:56):
of the water.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
And says not to day.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
So like almost every ball all that comes our way,
Tell me about how you guys have developed that chemistry,
or maybe even a better question is, like I would
love to know an example of when you looked at
this team and you said, oh, Okay, we're different than
the past two teams that I've been on for the Olympics,
but we've still got that special something that makes me believe, yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
We can do this again. Yeah. I mean, like I
said before, I've been playing with Ashley, Maggie and Rachel
for ten years and so that connection's been something that's
been built over a long period of time. And i'd
be lying to say that, like these new girls come
in and you feel that right away, it's something that
you definitely have to build over time. And I think
(08:42):
we're lucky that we do have people that have been
here for a good amount of time so that the
younger girls who are coming in can see what that
connection looks like and look up to it and admire
it and try to strive for it and try to
have those connections with this group. And you know, this
quad's been a little bit shorter with COVID and Tokyo
(09:02):
being pushed a year and we've only had about two
summers of development together as a group. And I probably
would say I felt this connection that I've had with
these past players that I've been playing with, most recently
at World Championships in Doha in twenty twenty four, we
ended up winning. We actually lost in the previous World
Championships the summer before, and I felt like we didn't
(09:25):
have that chemistry and connection that you're talking about that
past summer. And it was cool to feel connected to
girls who are doing this for the first time, who
are finally confident in their role for the team, who
are able to mesh well with whoever's in the water
with them, and kind of be able to read read
what's in front of them and read the game of
(09:47):
water polo, which, for those of you who are listening
and don't understand the sport as well, there's just a
lot going on in the water, both above and under.
So yeah, so think the ability to stay focused and like,
obviously you have to worry about yourself, but you also
have to worry about the people next to you and
be able to connect with the people next to you.
(10:07):
And I specifically remember when we played Spain in the
semi final of World Championships. I felt really connected to
this team and really excited for the opportunity that we're
going to have in Paris to showcase that connection and
strive for that gold medal for this specific team together.
And we've been through a lot of adversity as a team,
but also each individual person has been through adversity that
(10:31):
has led them to this moment, and so it's just
really exciting.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
I want to talk about now your personal journey with
water polo and sort of what it has taken for
you to be ready to compete with this team in Paris,
because despite the fact that you've been on the team
for a decade, this Olympic cycle has been filled with
I would venture to guess more ups and downs than
anyone previous for you. So walk me through what you, personally, Maddie,
(10:57):
have been through in this Olympic cycle.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yeah, this Olympic cycle has been pretty crazy for me.
I In the beginning post Tokyo, I went back to
UCLA for my senior year of college, played that season
out and then I actually got hip surgery, so I
had to go through an injury and rehab and kind
of work my way back into the national team process.
(11:22):
And that was after World Championships. Played with this group
for the first time. We won World Championships in twenty
twenty two. It was really exciting. And then I actually
decided to move across the country to Philadelphia, trained by
myself with rehab, kind of prepare myself for I'm going
to PA school in the fall. So I was doing
(11:42):
like a yeah, I was going I was doing a
post back program, lived out in Philadelphia by myself, and
kind of came back. We had a summer we lost.
This is the summer I was talking about before where
we lost in World Championships and then kind of going
into this Olympic year. This Olympic you know, the Olympic
(12:03):
cycle is four years, but because of COVID it was
three years. But this is actually the Olympic year from
about you know, May of twenty twenty three through the Olympics,
and it began with my husband getting diagnosed with cancer
and we got engaged in June of twenty twenty three
and then got that diagnosis. He actually swam the English Channel.
(12:25):
He also is an athlete, played water pool at UCLA,
has a big open water swimmer. I think that's kind
of where our connection really kind of kickstarted, is just
our passion for swimming and being in the water. And
he got diagnosed with cancer and kind of went into
this Olympic year a little bit unsure of what everything
was going to look like and took some time to
(12:47):
myself and then you know, he's a huge water polo fan.
He loves this team a lot, and he kind of
pushed me back into the water, back into training, and
I've been training while supporting him fighting camp and made
it this far and we have about, you know, three
weeks left till we leave, so he's doing well. But
it's definitely had a lot of ups and downs this
(13:08):
Olympic cycle. For sure.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
I cannot imagine what that phone call must have been
like for you guys, because I read a little bit
about your story and finding that out, and it was
so new and you're I mean, you're still so new
in your marriage and you guys are navigating one of
the most challenging things a couple can go through in
this life.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
How have you how have you done that? How have
you found that balance? Yeah, I mean it's been tough.
I think it's interesting. I feel like ever since we
found out, things have like lined up honestly, very perfectly.
We obviously don't want to hear that about anyone getting cancer,
and it's obviously a very devastating moment to experience, but
(13:52):
at the same time, there's so much joy and light
that comes with something that kind of pushes your life
in an uncomfortable direction. And we got married about four
or five days after we kind of navigated what we
wanted everything to look like moving forward. His family came
(14:13):
to visit probably like two or three weeks after we
kind of came up with a plan for treatment, and
then we decided, hey, like we want to get married,
and everyone flew back down after four days, got married
like the day before he started cancer treatment, and kind
of ever since then, it's just been not necessarily smooth sailing.
We've definitely had highs and lows, but his goal has
(14:37):
been to make it to the Olympics, and he's had
this like nine month journey of like, I just got
to make it to Paris. I've never been to the
Olympics before, and we've kind of relied on our faith
during this time. You know, I come from a background
of growing up going to church, and he comes from
a family as well who's very faithful, and I think
that's been kind of the foundation of why we've been
(14:59):
able to get through what we've gotten through. And we're
just very lucky to have each other kind of in
our corner, cheering each other on. And you know, obviously
I'm a huge support for him, but also he's a
huge support for me in the world of water polos.
So I'm just very lucky to have him kind of
right there next to me, whether he's actually there or not.
(15:19):
You know, you can't travel to every single tournament, but
I know he wants to, so I definitely feel his
presence wherever we go. And we have the you know,
the best family to support us as well, and people
that have gone out of their way to do things
that wouldn't be happening if if we weren't going through this,
(15:40):
and it's just been amazing to see the people kind
of surround us with love. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Well, And one of the things that struck me when
hearing you tell that is like one of the first
things that you said is as terrible as this is,
and as much as you wouldn't want to wish it
on anybody, you guys are finding joy and light in
this situation. And you mentioned faith, But I'm curious, how
did you how.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Did you find that joy in light?
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Like what was the thing that you said, Hey, we've
got we've got we've got a variety of ways to
handle this and like we're gonna choose to find joy
and light.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, I mean, I'd be lying if I said I
wasn't like anxious or nervous or like overthinking. But the
one thing that I'm very lucky is is my husband.
His name is Pat. He's by far the strongest person
I know, obviously, but just has the right mindset and
he's been from the beginning just like very steadfast in
(16:37):
the way that he's been thinking about this process. And
for me, like when you're looking at someone who's going
through it and they like aren't wavering in that joy
and light and happiness like you can't. The darkness doesn't
come in if the person that's going through it is
feeling that way. And so it's just easy for me
to be more joyful and have that light if you
(16:58):
know the person who's fighting is feeling that way. So
it's just a little bit easier when he has that mindset.
And I think that comes from the way that he
was raised and the way that he looks at this situation.
You know, he doesn't feel sorry for himself. He doesn't
think it's unfair, like, so I can't think that way either,
and to support him the best way that I can.
I feel like I've adopted his mindset around it, and
(17:19):
I've been very lucky to have him have that this
entire time as I've been going through this process. But
as well, like I took three weeks once we found
out before I came back to Waterpool, I took my
time to make sure that I was ready to like
go back into the team. And yeah, I actually came
back for like two weeks and we hadn't qualified for
the Olympics yet, we were still about to go to
(17:41):
Pan American Games, and I actually hurt my knee and
I tore my mcl and so I actually didn't go
to Olympic qualifications, which I was like, come on, I
like just came back from like finding out this this
obviously sad news about my husband. I was so excited
to play for him, and like I was back training
and I was ready to go, and then I hurt myself.
(18:03):
But at the same time, I was like, this is
just more time to spend with him, and so I
just changed the narrative around all these things that I've
gone through, the hiccups that have been a part of
this journey is oh, I get to spend more time
with pat. I get to be with him, and then
when I'm playing waterpolo, I get to say, like, oh,
I get to do this for him. I get to
play for him and he gets to watch me play.
And so I've just kind of been going through the
(18:24):
ebbs and flows of what this is going to look
like because it's so unpredictable and you can't control everything
as much as we all want to. And he's just
been constant support in the corner no matter what's been happening.
And obviously he was sad about not watching me play
for Olympic qualifications, but he also is like, well, at
least I get to have you by my side as
(18:45):
I start like treatment, and so it's definitely been a
blessing throughout this entire entire process.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
I think one of the things too, that is interesting
to me I hear as I hear you talk about
this is it feels like you are so intentional and
being present, and like you knew that you couldn't come
back to water polo, and so you were ready to
be fully present and you needed to be with him to.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Be fully present.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
And I wonder do you feel like sports almost helped
teach you the power of presence and how to do that,
because I think about, you know, like I was a
gymnast growing up, I'm a surfer my whole life, and
for me, those two sports really required I have to
be present because otherwise, like the next wave is going
to absolutely drag me under or I'm gonna end up
(19:31):
on my face like on a dismount on the bars, right,
And so water polo is another one of the sports
that like, nope, everything has to be paying attention or
like you're not just playing on hard ground like you could,
You're in the water. Like so if you don't practice
your presence, you're sinking to the boss and then now
you're dealt with this like really challenging life situation and
instead of focusing on what you're missing, you're choosing on
(19:52):
to focus on what you're present for. Do you feel
like water polo and sports has helped sort of teach
you that lesson and prepared Maybe?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I think well, I think I
was raised in a way where I knew my values
and who I was at a very young age. And
I've I've always been told I'm an old soul and
very mature for how old I am, and I think
I carried that with a lot of pride going into
like this Olympic process, And you know, I joined the
team at fifteen, so I had a lot of perspective
(20:22):
frown at me from so many different angles, and I
was able to really absorb, you know, what it means
to be an athlete and how do you carry that
with you when you leave sport and when you go
out and you go to school and you're with your friends.
And I think I've been very lucky to have sport
kind of mold who I am and influence it alongside,
(20:42):
you know, my family and my relationships and my school
work and my education, and I feel like I've done
I've been able to kind of navigate what that means
for me. And you know, we all go through adversity
as athletes, and water plows probably in my opinion, the
hardest sport in the world to play, and so you know,
I've been very lucky to be surrounded by amazing athletes
who you know, just throw wisdom at me every day.
(21:05):
And something that has really resonated recently with me, and
my coach has said this to our group a lot,
is that it tells It says a lot about a
person with how they respond to what happens to them.
And this can apply to sport, can apply to life,
and I feel like I really have taken that with me,
with you know, my husband's diagnosis. The way that I
(21:27):
play this sport now is you can't control necessarily everything
that happens to you, but you can control the way
that you respond and the way that you act after
those things happen to you. And I don't want people
feeling sorry for me because of what I'm going through.
I want to feel the love and support and I
want to show them an inspiring way to act after
(21:48):
something like this has happened, and I just carry with
that with me in my mind as I move forward,
and that I'm an example of adversity happening and being
able to exit cute and move forward and like take
that next step. And as scary as it is and
as like nerve wracking, and you know, you feel the
(22:08):
external like expectations and you feel people looking at you
and they're like asking you your story, and it can
be really intimidating and scary. But at the same time,
I have so many people who are in my corner
with me, and that's all the people that I care about,
just supporting and loving me through it, and so I
can step out into the world and like feel confident
(22:31):
no matter how I'm feeling deep inside. Is obviously a
little bit more fearful than I have been in the past,
but also so confident and like way more outgoing than
I've been because of what I'm going through, which is
pretty surprising to me. I feel like this process. If
I had been younger and this happened to me, I
probably would have like bottled up and would just be
(22:52):
hiding for the rest of my life. But just I
think the blessing of having sport push me, you know,
push my boundaries, push me outside of the box. I
feel prepared for this in a way. And I feel
prepared because I'm also on a team, and I have
a team of people that are willing to be there
with me every step of the way. So I just
(23:14):
I know, Pat and I are very lucky to have
been a part of teams and a part of a
really good family that feel like a team as well,
and I wouldn't be able to do that without them.
That's such a gift.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
And it's so cool to hear you about that example,
and I'm so grateful that you're willing to share that
story because it probably feels easier on days to just
stay within your bubble and within your team.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
But I think it's.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
So powerful to hear you share it because you never
know what anybody else is going through unless you put
it out there, and that like creates community that maybe
really really needs it in this time for someone else
and for you. And so I thank you for being
willing to share your story because you're impacting people that you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Don't even know about.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Yeah, before we move into our next Yeah, before we
move into our next segment. I would be remiss to
not talk about how challenging your sport is. My dad
played water polo, so I also grew up learning how
an egg beater in the water, and it's still something
that I practice just to remind myself that I can
do it if like a wave is.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Coming or whatever.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
But this is a very challenging sport because you're not
only going against another team trying to score a goal.
So think of like, I would be curious for people
who don't know what water polo really entails. How would
you describe this sport? Like what would be the combination
of sports that you would say water polo is.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
I always say water polo is a mix obviously swimming,
So we're in a body of water. We're swimming. It's
basketball in a way that you're set up kind of
like around the perimeter, and then you have someone who's
in the middle, someone who guards that middle person, and
then you just have a lot of movement. And I
feel like basketball has a lot of movement as well.
It's like soccer, you're trying to score on a goal.
(25:01):
And then the one unique thing about water polls you
can't touch the bottom. You can only use one hand
when you touch the ball, but you can also be
really physical. So I say it's a lot like hockey. Yeah,
the good old up on your Yes, Yeah, a lot
of faking, but it's like hockey in a way. And
I describe it as as hockey in that the physicality
(25:23):
is very natural for our sport. You're always pushing, you're grabbing,
you're not supposed to kick people, but obviously it comes
with just a territory of being close to someone and
your egg beatering and you're treading water. They actually have
underwater cameras now, so you can get in trouble for
too much physicality. And then similar to hockey is if
(25:46):
you get caught or you get in trouble for being
too physical, you take a penalty. So you actually can
get kicked out of the game for twenty seconds, and
you get three of those a game, and if you
get your third, you can't play the rest of the game.
So to be pretty care cool about about how physical
you are.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
Yeah, so walk me through before there were underwater cameras,
what would you describe underwater The underwater aspect of water.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Polo, like a lot of kicking, We wear one piece suit,
so similar to swimming, there's just a lot of material
to grab onto. So people are grabbing a suit and
like just have contact with someone, you have a lot
of risk grabbing underwater. People who like to elbow you'll
(26:33):
try to sneak it like underwater as you're swimming, you
can like kind of clip people. But those are those
are more like if people are being intentional about it,
you just it's just not very it's not sportsmanship. And
I avoid physicality at all costs. I do not like
being grabbed. I am not the strongest person in the water,
(26:55):
so I avoid physicality. But if someone's gonna dish it
to me, I get angry and will sometimes like grab
back or I use my speed to my advantage, so
I'll just like swim as fast as I can away
from them and they can't catch up to me. So
I avoid the like underwater kicking grabbing if if I can.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Yeah, you're like get me once, fine, but you're not
gonna get me a second time because you're not.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Getting exactly exactly. Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
Okay, Well, we cannot wait to root you on in Paris.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story.
You're gonna move on now to the something to Sip
On segment. It is grat to you by the Sportspra.
They are the first women's sports bar in the world
as far as we know, in.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Portland, Oregon, near and dear to my heart.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
So, Maddie, the week of your episode, We're going to
have a special drink called the Maddie And we want
to know what are you sipping on after a victory
after a hard practice, Like what is your go to
something to sip on?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Yeah, I mean it's tough. I feel like we all
celebrate in different ways. And I think during an Olympic here,
I will preface I don't drink that much storing Olympic here,
but i'd be lying and I said, like we didn't
celebrate after games and like after a big tournament, and
it just you know, when you're in the right moment
at the right time, obviously, and when I go out
(28:17):
to dinner with my husband or you know, we we're
spending time together, I feel like I'm always like ordering
a margarita. It's kind of like my yeah, like a
spicy margarita. That's if I go specialty, that's if I
want to be pretty crazy. But just like I said,
a simple margarita. And it's hard when you go abroad though,
(28:38):
when you're like international, they don't always have the same
drinks available. But I would say if I'm in the
US and I'm with my family or my teammates and
we're going out, I'll probably get a margarita any flavor
in particular, No, just either classic margarita or I'll do
a spicy margarita. Add some halapenos in there. Of a
(29:00):
good spicy margarita. They are so good. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Okay, now we're gonna move into our powered up segment,
So this is where we go rapid fire questions and
just give me the first thing.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
That comes to mind.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Okay, oh boy, okay, it's gonna it's.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Gonna be great.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Ready, Okay, start off with an easy one coffee or
tea coffee, favorite ice cream flavormanship.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Oh okay, go to meal before or after water, Polo.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Oh, probably like tacos. I like Mexican food, so like
enchiladas or like a burrito's.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
Southern Californian and you the Sandiaggan and me, I have
very high standards for Mexican food.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Are you a night owl or an early bird.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Probably an early bird. Sorry, I go to bed at
like six thirty at night. It's crazy. I try to Yeah,
it's my husband's like we're turning into old people. Like
we're like so we're like eighty year olds. So what
time are you waiting up? If you're going to bed
at six thirty, Well, I have to leave by like
(30:04):
five forty five, so I'm usually like up around five
point fifteen. So I'm sleeping a lot though. It's nice.
That's good. Though, that's great.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
I mean we all we should we should be didn
a new study just come out that women are supposed
to getting like ten hours of sleep the night anyway.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Yeah, so I mean I'm probably exaggerating six thirty, probably
like seven, but like that's still early, still pretty early.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
There's a lot of sporting events that don't even start
until I know exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
You are a little bit on the early side. That's good. Okay.
What is the favorite place your sport has taken you? Ooh,
probably Italy?
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Oh that's it.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
What part of Italy? We went to Rome for a
day and I just really enjoyed. They have a training
center outside of Rome, and I really loved that area,
just a lot of great I love a foodie. I
love good food, and Italian foods just at the top
of the list right there. It is so good.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
And then if you weren't a water polo player, what
would your Olympic sport be?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Probably beach volleyball, even though I've never I've never really
played it, but I'm always fascinated by that sport. Or tennis.
I love tennis. Okay, I like it, I could see it. Yeah,
what is your favorite dessert? Chocolate chip cookie? Nice?
Speaker 5 (31:22):
And then we didn't even really talk about your parents,
but you come from a pedigree of very athletic people.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
You're one of three daughters.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
Your dad was a Major League baseball player, your mom
played soccer.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I believe at Rutgers, right. Yeah, So what is.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
The best piece of advice that you've gotten from your parents.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
To love what I do? I think I've been very
lucky to have parents that I have never forced a
sport or forced an experience on me. I feel like
they've always wanted me to find my own way and
whatever I love to do. And I've just been very
thankful that I tried all the sports. So you know,
I did soccer, I did basketball, did swimming, I did
I think I did dance for like maybe one one session,
(32:00):
but it wasn't for me. I've just been very lucky
that their advice was to make sure that I love
what I do and within water pool as well, and
even now playing on this team for so long, they
always check in and make sure I'm enjoying the process
and enjoying what I do. And I think I've been
just lucky to have that love surrounded by by my sport,
(32:21):
and that if I don't don't feel that passion or
love anymore, that they're still right there supporting me with
whatever I want to do next.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
I love that. And then the last question for you,
Maddie is what does this is the Powerful podcast we're
all about highlighting powerful women.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
What does powerful mean to you?
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Ooh?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I like that. I mean I saw your powerher ful
and I was like, oh, that's really great. I like that.
You know, for me, I think it means being who
you are and and kind of molding that with as
life changes. I feel like you have your values and
you have who you know who you want to be
every single day, but knowing that as you go through
life and as things come at you that we can
(33:03):
all be better and keep changing and keep making our
way up. And I think as women that we're making strides,
and especially women in sport, and never being satisfied with
just where you are right now. There's another stepping stone
to get to the next place, the next spot, the
next you know, the next stage of your life. And
(33:26):
I just am always kind of advocating that you can
be better than you were yesterday. And I tell that
to myself every morning that I wake up is just
another opportunity to get better. And whether that's in my sport,
whether that's just in my relationships with my friends, with
my husband, with my family. I think I would say
that powerful is are those people that are willing to
(33:46):
just push push to be better.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
And when do you feel the most powerful?
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Uh? Oh, when do I feel the most powerful? I
probably feel the most powerful when I'm surrounded by the
people that that are pushing me to be better. Like
I said before, I love surrounding myself with those who
are like minded, who have this you know, similar goals
in life, but also different perspectives and different opinions and
(34:15):
kind of you know, push me to kind of consider
different ways to think about things, and I feel powerful
when I feel that presence, and I know that comes
from you know, having a background in faith and just
being loved in general, and being loved in this life.
And I'm just I would say that that's probably when
I feel the most powerful. I love it well, Maddie.
Speaker 5 (34:34):
I feel powerful watching you guys compete for another goal.
So I cannot wait to see you all in Paris
in just a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Best of luck with the last of your training.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
We cannot rate to root you on and send our
love and gratitude to Pat as well.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Thank you so much, Thank you time to join us.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
This is a reminder to check us out every Tuesday
all summer long everywhere you get your podcasts. And if
you really enjoy this and don't want to miss an episode,
be sure to hit that subscribe button.
If you're listening to this podcast, we know one thing
for absolute.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Certain you are a fan of women's sports.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
And there's nothing better than enjoying women's sports with community,
and no better place to find that community than The
Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, the very first women's sports
bar in the world. The owner Jenny Wynn and her
team have created the best atmosphere combined with top tier
menu and cocktail options to root on your favorite team.
(00:30):
So next time you're in Portland, be sure to stop
by the sports Bra and don't forget All summer, the
sports Bra will be featuring drinks.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Picked out by our powerful women. So stop by, have
a sip, and enjoy the.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Summer sports season jam packed with women's sports at the
sports Bra.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Hello friends, and welcome to the Powerful Podcast. I'm your
host Aja McCord. In this podcast, we introduce you to
powerful women who are changing the game in and outside.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Of their field of play.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
These are women's stories, women who happen to be doing
things that many of us can only dream of, but
the lessons and inspiration they share is universal.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Welcome back to the Powerful Podcast. I am so excited
because we have a Dynasty member joining us. Today, she
is a member of Team USA women's water polo. She's
a UCLA grad a fellow Southern California native. She also
happens to be a two time Olympic gold medalist. In
twenty sixteen, she scored twelve goals when the US when
(01:29):
they's second straight Olympic gold in women's water polo, and
then in twenty twenty, this woman was named the MVP
of the women's water polo gold medal match because she
had a casual eighteen goals. Matty Musselman, thank you so
much for joining the Powerful podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I'm so thrilled to have you. Oh my gosh, I'm
so excited to be here. Thanks for having me of course.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
Okay, so I want to talk about you as a person,
but we would be remiss to not make sure the
people know what is at stake for you and your
team in Paris this summer, because, like I mentioned, women's
water polo already has three straight gold medals.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
You've been a part of the last two of.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Them, and this year going for an unprecedented fourth gold medal.
It would be the first time any water polo team
from any country, men or women, have achieved that feat.
How are you guys getting ready for Paris.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it's definitely exciting. I mean, the pride and the
excitement around the Olympic Games definitely comes about as you
get closer and closer to it. I think that the
legacy that this program has had obviously adds a lot
of excitement, but also a lot of pressure, external pressure
that you know, comes from expectations and being able to
kind of carry on that gold medal that we have
(02:46):
had in the past. But at the same time, I
think our team hasn't won a gold medal yet. This
specific group, the girls that have been a part of
this program for a while. You know, some of us
have been lucky to win a gold medal before, but
we also have players who've never won before. So as
a team and going into a Paris Olympics with this
(03:06):
Paris Olympic team, this is our first time and so
I think that relieves that pressure and then relieves that
like legacy talk that a lot of people are talking about.
But I would be lying if I said we didn't
want to win and we didn't want to carry that on.
But for sure, exciting, for sure on the top of
our mind, you know, to get to the top of
the podium, and we're looking forward to getting to Paris
(03:27):
and doing our best that we can. So with that
in mind, talk to me about this team.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
What is it that makes this team, this twenty twenty
four women's water polo Paris Olympic team special, unique and
with a great shot to make it to the top
of the podium.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
This group is by far one of my favorites in
that I've been a part of this program for a while.
I've been on the team for ten years and I've
been the young player. I've been kind of in that
middle finding the leadership role, and now I'm kind of
more of a veteran and kind of have a different
perspective on what the process is all about. And it's
just been really enjoyable getting the opportunity to lead in
(04:05):
the way that I play the sport, but also see
younger athletes and the those that are doing this for
the first time really grow into their role. And so
for me, this team has just been very determined to
get better. We've been not as talented as we have
been in the past, and the success has been a
little bit harder to attain in terms of how to
(04:27):
work a little bit harder to win games, and I've
been very I've been loving that part of it. I
like when there's a fight. I like when the competitiveness is,
you know, hard to get to. And so this team
has really come a long way. We've grown a lot,
and I think something that sets us apart is that
that growth that we've had and to be able to
(04:49):
to kind of go back and look at the lessons
we've learned and carry that into this Olympics with people
that I've been here before. Like I said, we have
seven new players who've never been to the Olympics before,
and then we have six that have been to the
Olympics before. So it's a great mix of experience and
lack of experience.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
So as one of the veterans on this team, it
was really cool.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
I was listening to your conversation with Ari Chambers in
preparation for this interview, the one that's on TEAMUSA dot
com if you guys want to check it out. It's
called the Olympic Dynasty You don't know, And it was
with you, Maggie Stephens, Rachel and Ashley Johnson and you
guys are for the veterans on this team, and it
was so cool to hear each of you sort of
lift the other up with like what they brought to
(05:33):
this team, the uniqueness and the strength. And one of
the things, Maddie that kept coming up for you is
your brain. You said that was the body part that
you were the most grateful for. You said that that
is the thing that you really feel like you bring.
And I believe it was Maddie who echoed that, and
Maggie who echoed that and said, yeah, Maddie has changed
(05:54):
the way that this game is played. Can you break
down how you have done that?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yeah, Uh, it's tough. I think like when I first
came into this program and this team, I laughed experience.
I like was everything was new for the first time,
and I wouldn't say that like my strength was my brain.
But over time and just the time that I've spent
with this group and specifically with those three players. I've
been playing with them since the beginning and just getting
(06:22):
to learn everyone's strength and weaknesses. Like for me that
that was kind of where my power came from with
with my mind. And when you go into an Olympic process,
you have to kind of have that self belief and
that courage to be there, and that comes with the
right mindset, and you know, having that belief from the
beginning until now, I think has been one of my
(06:45):
one of my strengths. And I think a lot of
people look to me for that mindset. And I do
bring a lot of heart into what I do, but
it's more of like a lead by example. I'm more
of a calmer player when it comes to playing the score,
and I just I overthink a lot. I do a
lot of thinking when it comes to this war, and
so I think a lot of people admire that about
(07:07):
the way that I play. But I've learned a lot
from the players around me. You know, Maggie has a
lot of heart, she plays with a lot of passion.
Rachel's very competitive and is always like that determined one
to win every single little thing in this game of
water polo, and Ashley obviously is doing all of those
things at once in the goal. And I think I'm
(07:28):
just very lucky to be surrounded by so many different
aspects of what it means to make a great athlete.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
I got to watch you guys in person at an
exhibition up in Irvine, which is where we met, and
it was so cool because it really is like watching
different parts of a body all move in tandem when
you guys are together, Like the attackers are coming up
and they are, you know, bringing the ball up, and
then there's defenders, and then there's Ashley, a goal who just
like looks like wonder Woman because she rises up out
(07:56):
of the water.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
And says not to day.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
So like almost every ball all that comes our way,
Tell me about how you guys have developed that chemistry,
or maybe even a better question is, like I would
love to know an example of when you looked at
this team and you said, oh, Okay, we're different than
the past two teams that I've been on for the Olympics,
but we've still got that special something that makes me believe, yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
We can do this again. Yeah. I mean, like I
said before, I've been playing with Ashley, Maggie and Rachel
for ten years and so that connection's been something that's
been built over a long period of time. And i'd
be lying to say that, like these new girls come
in and you feel that right away, it's something that
you definitely have to build over time. And I think
(08:42):
we're lucky that we do have people that have been
here for a good amount of time so that the
younger girls who are coming in can see what that
connection looks like and look up to it and admire
it and try to strive for it and try to
have those connections with this group. And you know, this
quad's been a little bit shorter with COVID and Tokyo
(09:02):
being pushed a year and we've only had about two
summers of development together as a group. And I probably
would say I felt this connection that I've had with
these past players that I've been playing with, most recently
at World Championships in Doha in twenty twenty four, we
ended up winning. We actually lost in the previous World
Championships the summer before, and I felt like we didn't
(09:25):
have that chemistry and connection that you're talking about that
past summer. And it was cool to feel connected to
girls who are doing this for the first time, who
are finally confident in their role for the team, who
are able to mesh well with whoever's in the water
with them, and kind of be able to read read
what's in front of them and read the game of
(09:47):
water polo, which, for those of you who are listening
and don't understand the sport as well, there's just a
lot going on in the water, both above and under.
So yeah, so think the ability to stay focused and like,
obviously you have to worry about yourself, but you also
have to worry about the people next to you and
be able to connect with the people next to you.
(10:07):
And I specifically remember when we played Spain in the
semi final of World Championships. I felt really connected to
this team and really excited for the opportunity that we're
going to have in Paris to showcase that connection and
strive for that gold medal for this specific team together.
And we've been through a lot of adversity as a team,
but also each individual person has been through adversity that
(10:31):
has led them to this moment, and so it's just
really exciting.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
I want to talk about now your personal journey with
water polo and sort of what it has taken for
you to be ready to compete with this team in Paris,
because despite the fact that you've been on the team
for a decade, this Olympic cycle has been filled with
I would venture to guess more ups and downs than
anyone previous for you. So walk me through what you, personally, Maddie,
(10:57):
have been through in this Olympic cycle.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yeah, this Olympic cycle has been pretty crazy for me.
I In the beginning post Tokyo, I went back to
UCLA for my senior year of college, played that season
out and then I actually got hip surgery, so I
had to go through an injury and rehab and kind
of work my way back into the national team process.
(11:22):
And that was after World Championships. Played with this group
for the first time. We won World Championships in twenty
twenty two. It was really exciting. And then I actually
decided to move across the country to Philadelphia, trained by
myself with rehab, kind of prepare myself for I'm going
to PA school in the fall. So I was doing
(11:42):
like a yeah, I was going I was doing a
post back program, lived out in Philadelphia by myself, and
kind of came back. We had a summer we lost.
This is the summer I was talking about before where
we lost in World Championships and then kind of going
into this Olympic year. This Olympic you know, the Olympic
(12:03):
cycle is four years, but because of COVID it was
three years. But this is actually the Olympic year from
about you know, May of twenty twenty three through the Olympics,
and it began with my husband getting diagnosed with cancer
and we got engaged in June of twenty twenty three
and then got that diagnosis. He actually swam the English Channel.
(12:25):
He also is an athlete, played water pool at UCLA,
has a big open water swimmer. I think that's kind
of where our connection really kind of kickstarted, is just
our passion for swimming and being in the water. And
he got diagnosed with cancer and kind of went into
this Olympic year a little bit unsure of what everything
was going to look like and took some time to
(12:47):
myself and then you know, he's a huge water polo fan.
He loves this team a lot, and he kind of
pushed me back into the water, back into training, and
I've been training while supporting him fighting camp and made
it this far and we have about, you know, three
weeks left till we leave, so he's doing well. But
it's definitely had a lot of ups and downs this
(13:08):
Olympic cycle. For sure.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
I cannot imagine what that phone call must have been
like for you guys, because I read a little bit
about your story and finding that out, and it was
so new and you're I mean, you're still so new
in your marriage and you guys are navigating one of
the most challenging things a couple can go through in
this life.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
How have you how have you done that? How have
you found that balance? Yeah, I mean it's been tough.
I think it's interesting. I feel like ever since we
found out, things have like lined up honestly, very perfectly.
We obviously don't want to hear that about anyone getting cancer,
and it's obviously a very devastating moment to experience, but
(13:52):
at the same time, there's so much joy and light
that comes with something that kind of pushes your life
in an uncomfortable direction. And we got married about four
or five days after we kind of navigated what we
wanted everything to look like moving forward. His family came
(14:13):
to visit probably like two or three weeks after we
kind of came up with a plan for treatment, and
then we decided, hey, like we want to get married,
and everyone flew back down after four days, got married
like the day before he started cancer treatment, and kind
of ever since then, it's just been not necessarily smooth sailing.
We've definitely had highs and lows, but his goal has
(14:37):
been to make it to the Olympics, and he's had
this like nine month journey of like, I just got
to make it to Paris. I've never been to the
Olympics before, and we've kind of relied on our faith
during this time. You know, I come from a background
of growing up going to church, and he comes from
a family as well who's very faithful, and I think
that's been kind of the foundation of why we've been
(14:59):
able to get through what we've gotten through. And we're
just very lucky to have each other kind of in
our corner, cheering each other on. And you know, obviously
I'm a huge support for him, but also he's a
huge support for me in the world of water polos.
So I'm just very lucky to have him kind of
right there next to me, whether he's actually there or not.
(15:19):
You know, you can't travel to every single tournament, but
I know he wants to, so I definitely feel his
presence wherever we go. And we have the you know,
the best family to support us as well, and people
that have gone out of their way to do things
that wouldn't be happening if if we weren't going through this,
(15:40):
and it's just been amazing to see the people kind
of surround us with love. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Well, And one of the things that struck me when
hearing you tell that is like one of the first
things that you said is as terrible as this is,
and as much as you wouldn't want to wish it
on anybody, you guys are finding joy and light in
this situation. And you mentioned faith, But I'm curious, how
did you how.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Did you find that joy in light?
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Like what was the thing that you said, Hey, we've
got we've got we've got a variety of ways to
handle this and like we're gonna choose to find joy
and light.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, I mean, I'd be lying if I said I
wasn't like anxious or nervous or like overthinking. But the
one thing that I'm very lucky is is my husband.
His name is Pat. He's by far the strongest person
I know, obviously, but just has the right mindset and
he's been from the beginning just like very steadfast in
(16:37):
the way that he's been thinking about this process. And
for me, like when you're looking at someone who's going
through it and they like aren't wavering in that joy
and light and happiness like you can't. The darkness doesn't
come in if the person that's going through it is
feeling that way. And so it's just easy for me
to be more joyful and have that light if you
(16:58):
know the person who's fighting is feeling that way. So
it's just a little bit easier when he has that mindset.
And I think that comes from the way that he
was raised and the way that he looks at this situation.
You know, he doesn't feel sorry for himself. He doesn't
think it's unfair, like, so I can't think that way either,
and to support him the best way that I can.
I feel like I've adopted his mindset around it, and
(17:19):
I've been very lucky to have him have that this
entire time as I've been going through this process. But
as well, like I took three weeks once we found
out before I came back to Waterpool, I took my
time to make sure that I was ready to like
go back into the team. And yeah, I actually came
back for like two weeks and we hadn't qualified for
the Olympics yet, we were still about to go to
(17:41):
Pan American Games, and I actually hurt my knee and
I tore my mcl and so I actually didn't go
to Olympic qualifications, which I was like, come on, I
like just came back from like finding out this this
obviously sad news about my husband. I was so excited
to play for him, and like I was back training
and I was ready to go, and then I hurt myself.
(18:03):
But at the same time, I was like, this is
just more time to spend with him, and so I
just changed the narrative around all these things that I've
gone through, the hiccups that have been a part of
this journey is oh, I get to spend more time
with pat. I get to be with him, and then
when I'm playing waterpolo, I get to say, like, oh,
I get to do this for him. I get to
play for him and he gets to watch me play.
And so I've just kind of been going through the
(18:24):
ebbs and flows of what this is going to look
like because it's so unpredictable and you can't control everything
as much as we all want to. And he's just
been constant support in the corner no matter what's been happening.
And obviously he was sad about not watching me play
for Olympic qualifications, but he also is like, well, at
least I get to have you by my side as
(18:45):
I start like treatment, and so it's definitely been a
blessing throughout this entire entire process.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
I think one of the things too, that is interesting
to me I hear as I hear you talk about
this is it feels like you are so intentional and
being present, and like you knew that you couldn't come
back to water polo, and so you were ready to
be fully present and you needed to be with him to.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Be fully present.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
And I wonder do you feel like sports almost helped
teach you the power of presence and how to do that,
because I think about, you know, like I was a
gymnast growing up, I'm a surfer my whole life, and
for me, those two sports really required I have to
be present because otherwise, like the next wave is going
to absolutely drag me under or I'm gonna end up
(19:31):
on my face like on a dismount on the bars, right,
And so water polo is another one of the sports
that like, nope, everything has to be paying attention or
like you're not just playing on hard ground like you could,
You're in the water. Like so if you don't practice
your presence, you're sinking to the boss and then now
you're dealt with this like really challenging life situation and
instead of focusing on what you're missing, you're choosing on
(19:52):
to focus on what you're present for. Do you feel
like water polo and sports has helped sort of teach
you that lesson and prepared Maybe?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I think well, I think I
was raised in a way where I knew my values
and who I was at a very young age. And
I've I've always been told I'm an old soul and
very mature for how old I am, and I think
I carried that with a lot of pride going into
like this Olympic process, And you know, I joined the
team at fifteen, so I had a lot of perspective
(20:22):
frown at me from so many different angles, and I
was able to really absorb, you know, what it means
to be an athlete and how do you carry that
with you when you leave sport and when you go
out and you go to school and you're with your friends.
And I think I've been very lucky to have sport
kind of mold who I am and influence it alongside,
(20:42):
you know, my family and my relationships and my school
work and my education, and I feel like I've done
I've been able to kind of navigate what that means
for me. And you know, we all go through adversity
as athletes, and water plows probably in my opinion, the
hardest sport in the world to play, and so you know,
I've been very lucky to be surrounded by amazing athletes
who you know, just throw wisdom at me every day.
(21:05):
And something that has really resonated recently with me, and
my coach has said this to our group a lot,
is that it tells It says a lot about a
person with how they respond to what happens to them.
And this can apply to sport, can apply to life,
and I feel like I really have taken that with me,
with you know, my husband's diagnosis. The way that I
(21:27):
play this sport now is you can't control necessarily everything
that happens to you, but you can control the way
that you respond and the way that you act after
those things happen to you. And I don't want people
feeling sorry for me because of what I'm going through.
I want to feel the love and support and I
want to show them an inspiring way to act after
(21:48):
something like this has happened, and I just carry with
that with me in my mind as I move forward,
and that I'm an example of adversity happening and being
able to exit cute and move forward and like take
that next step. And as scary as it is and
as like nerve wracking, and you know, you feel the
(22:08):
external like expectations and you feel people looking at you
and they're like asking you your story, and it can
be really intimidating and scary. But at the same time,
I have so many people who are in my corner
with me, and that's all the people that I care about,
just supporting and loving me through it, and so I
can step out into the world and like feel confident
(22:31):
no matter how I'm feeling deep inside. Is obviously a
little bit more fearful than I have been in the past,
but also so confident and like way more outgoing than
I've been because of what I'm going through, which is
pretty surprising to me. I feel like this process. If
I had been younger and this happened to me, I
probably would have like bottled up and would just be
(22:52):
hiding for the rest of my life. But just I
think the blessing of having sport push me, you know,
push my boundaries, push me outside of the box. I
feel prepared for this in a way. And I feel
prepared because I'm also on a team, and I have
a team of people that are willing to be there
with me every step of the way. So I just
(23:14):
I know, Pat and I are very lucky to have
been a part of teams and a part of a
really good family that feel like a team as well,
and I wouldn't be able to do that without them.
That's such a gift.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
And it's so cool to hear you about that example,
and I'm so grateful that you're willing to share that
story because it probably feels easier on days to just
stay within your bubble and within your team.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
But I think it's.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
So powerful to hear you share it because you never
know what anybody else is going through unless you put
it out there, and that like creates community that maybe
really really needs it in this time for someone else
and for you. And so I thank you for being
willing to share your story because you're impacting people that you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Don't even know about.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Yeah, before we move into our next Yeah, before we
move into our next segment. I would be remiss to
not talk about how challenging your sport is. My dad
played water polo, so I also grew up learning how
an egg beater in the water, and it's still something
that I practice just to remind myself that I can
do it if like a wave is.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Coming or whatever.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
But this is a very challenging sport because you're not
only going against another team trying to score a goal.
So think of like, I would be curious for people
who don't know what water polo really entails. How would
you describe this sport? Like what would be the combination
of sports that you would say water polo is.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
I always say water polo is a mix obviously swimming,
So we're in a body of water. We're swimming. It's
basketball in a way that you're set up kind of
like around the perimeter, and then you have someone who's
in the middle, someone who guards that middle person, and
then you just have a lot of movement. And I
feel like basketball has a lot of movement as well.
It's like soccer, you're trying to score on a goal.
(25:01):
And then the one unique thing about water polls you
can't touch the bottom. You can only use one hand
when you touch the ball, but you can also be
really physical. So I say it's a lot like hockey. Yeah,
the good old up on your Yes, Yeah, a lot
of faking, but it's like hockey in a way. And
I describe it as as hockey in that the physicality
(25:23):
is very natural for our sport. You're always pushing, you're grabbing,
you're not supposed to kick people, but obviously it comes
with just a territory of being close to someone and
your egg beatering and you're treading water. They actually have
underwater cameras now, so you can get in trouble for
too much physicality. And then similar to hockey is if
(25:46):
you get caught or you get in trouble for being
too physical, you take a penalty. So you actually can
get kicked out of the game for twenty seconds, and
you get three of those a game, and if you
get your third, you can't play the rest of the game.
So to be pretty care cool about about how physical
you are.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
Yeah, so walk me through before there were underwater cameras,
what would you describe underwater The underwater aspect of water.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Polo, like a lot of kicking, We wear one piece suit,
so similar to swimming, there's just a lot of material
to grab onto. So people are grabbing a suit and
like just have contact with someone, you have a lot
of risk grabbing underwater. People who like to elbow you'll
(26:33):
try to sneak it like underwater as you're swimming, you
can like kind of clip people. But those are those
are more like if people are being intentional about it,
you just it's just not very it's not sportsmanship. And
I avoid physicality at all costs. I do not like
being grabbed. I am not the strongest person in the water,
(26:55):
so I avoid physicality. But if someone's gonna dish it
to me, I get angry and will sometimes like grab
back or I use my speed to my advantage, so
I'll just like swim as fast as I can away
from them and they can't catch up to me. So
I avoid the like underwater kicking grabbing if if I can.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Yeah, you're like get me once, fine, but you're not
gonna get me a second time because you're not.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Getting exactly exactly. Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
Okay, Well, we cannot wait to root you on in Paris.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story.
You're gonna move on now to the something to Sip
On segment. It is grat to you by the Sportspra.
They are the first women's sports bar in the world
as far as we know, in.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Portland, Oregon, near and dear to my heart.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
So, Maddie, the week of your episode, We're going to
have a special drink called the Maddie And we want
to know what are you sipping on after a victory
after a hard practice, Like what is your go to
something to sip on?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Yeah, I mean it's tough. I feel like we all
celebrate in different ways. And I think during an Olympic here,
I will preface I don't drink that much storing Olympic here,
but i'd be lying and I said, like we didn't
celebrate after games and like after a big tournament, and
it just you know, when you're in the right moment
at the right time, obviously, and when I go out
(28:17):
to dinner with my husband or you know, we we're
spending time together, I feel like I'm always like ordering
a margarita. It's kind of like my yeah, like a
spicy margarita. That's if I go specialty, that's if I
want to be pretty crazy. But just like I said,
a simple margarita. And it's hard when you go abroad though,
(28:38):
when you're like international, they don't always have the same
drinks available. But I would say if I'm in the
US and I'm with my family or my teammates and
we're going out, I'll probably get a margarita any flavor
in particular, No, just either classic margarita or I'll do
a spicy margarita. Add some halapenos in there. Of a
(29:00):
good spicy margarita. They are so good. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Okay, now we're gonna move into our powered up segment,
So this is where we go rapid fire questions and
just give me the first thing.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
That comes to mind.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Okay, oh boy, okay, it's gonna it's.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Gonna be great.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Ready, Okay, start off with an easy one coffee or
tea coffee, favorite ice cream flavormanship.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Oh okay, go to meal before or after water, Polo.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Oh, probably like tacos. I like Mexican food, so like
enchiladas or like a burrito's.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
Southern Californian and you the Sandiaggan and me, I have
very high standards for Mexican food.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Are you a night owl or an early bird.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Probably an early bird. Sorry, I go to bed at
like six thirty at night. It's crazy. I try to Yeah,
it's my husband's like we're turning into old people. Like
we're like so we're like eighty year olds. So what
time are you waiting up? If you're going to bed
at six thirty, Well, I have to leave by like
(30:04):
five forty five, so I'm usually like up around five
point fifteen. So I'm sleeping a lot though. It's nice.
That's good. Though, that's great.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
I mean we all we should we should be didn
a new study just come out that women are supposed
to getting like ten hours of sleep the night anyway.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Yeah, so I mean I'm probably exaggerating six thirty, probably
like seven, but like that's still early, still pretty early.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
There's a lot of sporting events that don't even start
until I know exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
You are a little bit on the early side. That's good. Okay.
What is the favorite place your sport has taken you? Ooh,
probably Italy?
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Oh that's it.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
What part of Italy? We went to Rome for a
day and I just really enjoyed. They have a training
center outside of Rome, and I really loved that area,
just a lot of great I love a foodie. I
love good food, and Italian foods just at the top
of the list right there. It is so good.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
And then if you weren't a water polo player, what
would your Olympic sport be?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Probably beach volleyball, even though I've never I've never really
played it, but I'm always fascinated by that sport. Or tennis.
I love tennis. Okay, I like it, I could see it. Yeah,
what is your favorite dessert? Chocolate chip cookie? Nice?
Speaker 5 (31:22):
And then we didn't even really talk about your parents,
but you come from a pedigree of very athletic people.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
You're one of three daughters.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
Your dad was a Major League baseball player, your mom
played soccer.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I believe at Rutgers, right. Yeah, So what is.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
The best piece of advice that you've gotten from your parents.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
To love what I do? I think I've been very
lucky to have parents that I have never forced a
sport or forced an experience on me. I feel like
they've always wanted me to find my own way and
whatever I love to do. And I've just been very
thankful that I tried all the sports. So you know,
I did soccer, I did basketball, did swimming, I did
I think I did dance for like maybe one one session,
(32:00):
but it wasn't for me. I've just been very lucky
that their advice was to make sure that I love
what I do and within water pool as well, and
even now playing on this team for so long, they
always check in and make sure I'm enjoying the process
and enjoying what I do. And I think I've been
just lucky to have that love surrounded by by my sport,
(32:21):
and that if I don't don't feel that passion or
love anymore, that they're still right there supporting me with
whatever I want to do next.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
I love that. And then the last question for you,
Maddie is what does this is the Powerful podcast we're
all about highlighting powerful women.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
What does powerful mean to you?
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Ooh?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I like that. I mean I saw your powerher ful
and I was like, oh, that's really great. I like that.
You know, for me, I think it means being who
you are and and kind of molding that with as
life changes. I feel like you have your values and
you have who you know who you want to be
every single day, but knowing that as you go through
life and as things come at you that we can
(33:03):
all be better and keep changing and keep making our
way up. And I think as women that we're making strides,
and especially women in sport, and never being satisfied with
just where you are right now. There's another stepping stone
to get to the next place, the next spot, the
next you know, the next stage of your life. And
(33:26):
I just am always kind of advocating that you can
be better than you were yesterday. And I tell that
to myself every morning that I wake up is just
another opportunity to get better. And whether that's in my sport,
whether that's just in my relationships with my friends, with
my husband, with my family. I think I would say
that powerful is are those people that are willing to
(33:46):
just push push to be better.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
And when do you feel the most powerful?
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Uh? Oh, when do I feel the most powerful? I
probably feel the most powerful when I'm surrounded by the
people that that are pushing me to be better. Like
I said before, I love surrounding myself with those who
are like minded, who have this you know, similar goals
in life, but also different perspectives and different opinions and
(34:15):
kind of you know, push me to kind of consider
different ways to think about things, and I feel powerful
when I feel that presence, and I know that comes
from you know, having a background in faith and just
being loved in general, and being loved in this life.
And I'm just I would say that that's probably when
I feel the most powerful. I love it well, Maddie.
Speaker 5 (34:34):
I feel powerful watching you guys compete for another goal.
So I cannot wait to see you all in Paris
in just a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Best of luck with the last of your training.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
We cannot rate to root you on and send our
love and gratitude to Pat as well.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Thank you so much, Thank you time to join us.
Speaker 5 (34:49):
This is a reminder to check us out every Tuesday
all summer long everywhere you get your podcasts. And if
you really enjoy this and don't want to miss an episode,
be sure to hit that subscribe button.
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