{"id":21694,"date":"2021-07-24T10:03:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-24T15:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=21694"},"modified":"2021-07-24T10:03:58","modified_gmt":"2021-07-24T15:03:58","slug":"the-worlds-top-polo-goalkeeper-the-best-female-water-polo-player-in-the-world-team-usas-ashleigh-johnson-leads-the-us-womens-water-polo-team-to-victory-as-they-demolish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=21694","title":{"rendered":"the World\u2019s Top POLO Goalkeeper, the best female water polo player in the world, Team USA\u2019s “Ashleigh Johnson”, LEADS THE US women’s water polo team TO VICTORY, AS THEY DEMOLISH Japan, 25-4, at Tokyo Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. women start charge for third straight water polo gold with blowout win over Japan<\/h1>\n

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The United States women\u2019s water polo team, defending Olympic champions from both London and Rio, handily defeated Japan, 25-4, in the first of four preliminary round games.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Japan, competing in its first Olympic tournament, got off to an encouraging start in the first quarter, drawing level with the U.S. at 3-3. From that point on, though, the world\u2019s top-ranked team took total control.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The U.S. scored 13 unanswered goals to close out the first half. Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson kept a perfect second quarter, saving every Japanese shot on her net. She finished the game with 15 total saves on 19 attempts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ashley Johnson, who at the 2016 Olympics became the first African American to play for the women\u2019s water polo team, is juggling her role in and out of the water. On Saturday she had 15 saves, and the day before made it clear she wants to inspire others.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy message to young girls who might be singled out because of their race and might be trying to reach a really big goal is that the thing that makes you different is something that makes you unique, special and inspirational,\u2019\u2019 she said. \u201cAnd it took me a long time to realize that.\u2019\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Team <\/span> \u00a9 Sports<\/span> Team USA goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson (1) makes a save against Team Japan centre forward Miku Koide (6) during the fourth quarter in the preliminary round Group B match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tatsumi Water Polo Centre. <\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

On Saturday, the Americans looked like their badass selves, routing Japan 25-4 at the Tatsumi Water Polo Centre in the first of their four preliminary round games. Nine players scored for the Americans.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a ton of inspiring stories on our team\u2026 because of the type of people these women are,\u2019\u2019 Krikorian said during that opening press conference a day before his team\u2019s game against Japan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–Maggie Steffens, who is the active scoring leader in Olympic competition with 43 goals, scored five more on Saturday. She needs just five more goals to overtake Italy\u2019s Tania Di Mario, now retired, as the all-time scoring leader in Olympic competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest, I did not know that at all until actually I got asked that question,\u2019\u2019 she said. \u201c\u2026I would say water polo still has some work to do in tracking down history.\u2019\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Americans are primed to make history as the first three-peat Olympic champions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ashleigh Johnson<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ashleigh Johnson<\/span><\/strong><\/caption>\n
Personal information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Nationality<\/strong><\/th>\nAmerican<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Born<\/strong><\/th>\nSeptember 12, 1994 (age\u00a026)<\/span><\/strong>
\nMiami, Florida<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Height<\/strong><\/th>\n6\u00a0ft 1\u00a0in (185\u00a0cm)[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sport<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Country<\/strong><\/th>\n\"\"\u00a0<\/span>United States<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sport<\/strong><\/th>\nWater polo<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Position<\/strong><\/th>\nGoalkeeper<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
College team<\/strong><\/th>\nPrinceton University<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
Medal record<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Olympic Games<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2016 Rio de Janeiro<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Championships<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2015 Kazan<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2019 Gwangju<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pan American Games<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2019 Lima<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ashleigh Johnson (born September 12, 1994) is an American water polo<\/a> player and by many considered to be the best goalkeeper in the world. She was part of the American team winning the gold medal at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships<\/a>.<\/sup> In 2016, she became the first African-American<\/a> woman to make the US Olympic team<\/a> in water polo. She was part of the gold-medal winning 2016 U.S. women’s water polo Olympic team.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Johnson was raised by her mother, Donna Johnson. Johnson grew up with four siblings (three brother and one sister), all of whom play water polo. Her brothers are Blake, Julius and William. Her younger sister Chelsea, is a 2 Meter player and played with Johnson at Princeton. Chelsea graduated from Princeton in 2018 and continues to be involved with water polo in Miami.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

About her decision to play goalie in water polo, Johnson shared with Princeton Alumni Weekly<\/a><\/i> her goalie origins trace back to her sister Chelsea:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was just copying her, I wasn’t choosing to go in the goal because it was anything that appealed to me in particular.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Water Polo Career<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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High school<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Johnson attended Ransom Everglades School<\/a> for high school and was raised in Miami, Florida. At Ransom Everglades, she was a four-year letter winner and starter on her school’s team guiding them to three consecutive Florida State Championships. She also earned All-Dade honors throughout career, while also earning all-county honors twice in swimming.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

As a senior, Johnson committed to play water polo at Princeton University<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Collegiate career<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In her first year she was named Third-Team All American, while earning Honorable Mention as a sophomore in 2014, and Second Team as a junior in 2015.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

2016 Summer Olympics<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
2016 Summer Olympics<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n tournament<\/a> <\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nteam<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Johnson was the first African-American<\/a> woman to make the US Olympic water polo team when she made the team for the 2016 Summer Olympics<\/a>.<\/sup> The geographical diversity Johnson brought to the team, she was the only team member not from California, was highlighted by SwimSwam<\/a><\/i> before the Olympic Games. Her age, 21 years old, and sub-Saharan African ancestry, something she terms Black, were highlighted by Sports Illustrated<\/a><\/i> leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games. She helped the team win the gold medal<\/a> at the Olympic Games.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>Orizzonte Catania, Italy<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

From January 2018 she has been hired by the Orizzonte Catania<\/a> the most titled club in Europe<\/a>. While living and training in Italy<\/a> for Orizzonte Catania, Johnson has continued competing at World Championships for the United States<\/a>.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Awards<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n