Water polo is one of the more under-the-radar Olympic sports but this year’s team was  special. One of the most popular ladies on the team was Ashleigh Johnson. Johnson made history just being a member of the team and has become even more well-known because of espnW.
1. Johnson Made History Before Competing
At the Olympics this year, Ashleigh Johnson became the first black woman to be a member of the U.S. Water Polo Team.  She and the rest of the team went on to win Olympic Gold at Rio this year!  Despite making history, the impact Johnson made was immeasurable because she became a role model to young girls who now want to be play water polo.  Her presence was historical, no matter how you look at it.
2. She Attends Princeton University
Most of the time, Olympic athletes will forego college because of their training and the games. However, Johnson took a different route. She is currently attending Princeton University and is a member of the school’s women’s water polo team. She even helped led the team to a NCAA Championship last year but she isn’t the only talented athlete in the family. Johnson’s sister, Chelsea is the member of the team too.
3. She Hates Swimming
Considering that her career is basically always in the water, she admitted that she actually hates swimming and has since she was young. Â In an interview with Washington Post, Johnson’s mother spoke about the hatred, “We had to drag her to practice…”, and her mother also shared that Johnson’s biggest regret was spending anytime swimming at all. She was eventually allowed to quit after winning the 2009 state championships.
4. She Was Named to The espnW Impact25
Her stellar year has been capped off by being named to the espnW Impact25. For those who don’t know, the Impact25 is a list of athletes and influencers who made an impact for women in sports. While the Woman Of The Year went to Simone Biles, Johnson was still honored because her teammate and friend, Maggie Steffens wrote an article talking about Johnson, praising her. The article is extremely well-written and gives a look into a different side of Johnson which you can read here.
5. She Might Turn Professional
While it might seem obvious that Johnson would be a professional athlete, she actually isn’t too sure. She’ll graduate from Princeton next year and the rest is pretty much up in the air. She was asked about it by the Undefeated and she said, “I don’t have a plan right now, I just want to finish up at school and then decide if I want to go into the working world or continue to play water polo. If I want to pursue psychology, I’ll definitely continue in school and pursue a degree in higher education.” Whether Johnson decides to turn professional or not, her impact at the games will never be forgotten and should be honored for years to come!
