Water polo
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which he has dedicated a lifetime reaches far beyond the pool. He has graced the covers of hundreds of magazines and inspired a whole generation of players that will keep America vibrant in the sport. Earlier this year, the U.S. beat powerhouses Hungary and Serbia during an exhibition series on American soil. The U.S. understands how close it is to the top of the Jessica Steffens podium. “If everyone is on the same page, you’re moving more like a machine,� Azevedo said in the USA Today article. “You get to learn more about your teammates, how someone reacts, how to talk to them, how to inspire them. I think that’s a really important part. Ideally, especially in a team sport, it’s which team is better not which 13 individuals are better.� Team USA has three other Stanford grads on its roster: Peter Varellas, Peter Hudnut and Layne Beaubein. They have all played on national collegiate championship teams and were members of the 2008 silver medal ride.
Divers
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a twister. He does that was well now as he did when he was eight years old. He hasn’t been over-trained.� Ipsen and Dumais took a big lead into the finals of the Olympic Trials and still dived well enough to increase that lead. Ipsen said it felt
Villa has another Stanford grad around her in Jessica Steffens. Several others will be returning to Stanford in the fall and a run at a third straight NCAA title. Melissa Seidemann and Annika Dries played on Stanford’s 2011 national title team. Maggie Steffens has yet to play for the Cardinal. “I genuinely enjoy playing water polo and have fun doing it as this level,� Villa said. “The travel, the team, competing, it’s still fun. It’s fun to train with a group of winners every day.� Villa, at age 32, is not the oldest on the team. That honor belongs to Cal grad Heather Petri, 34. Villa is, however, the most decorated women’s water polo player the United States has ever known. FINA Magazine, which covers the world, named her the Female Water Polo Player of the Decade for 2000-10. Like Azevedo, she left Stanford as the school’s all-time leading scorer and with a national title. And also like Azevedo, only a gold medal would add to her legacy. Still, a new future awaits her following these Olympics. “When you get older it’s harder,� Villa said. “Realistically you don’t know if you can do it financially any more. It’s time to join the real world and I’m excited to see what’s next.� N Assistant Sports Editor Rick Eymer can be emailed at reymer@ paweekly.com. like the best they had ever done. “The ‘if’s’ were gone after that final dive,� Ipsen said. “It was a great feeling.� And having a teammate? “I enjoy the team aspect,� Ipsen said. “We can definitely help each other.� Sharing gold in London also would be nice. N
Logan Tom
Ryan Hall
STANFORD OLYMPIANS IN LONDON Name
Sport
Stanford Affiliation
Foluke Akinradewo Tony Azevedo David Banks Cynthia Barboza Nicole Barnhart Layne Beaubien Bob Bryan Mike Bryan Rachel Buehler Jillian Camarena-Williams Jake Cornelius Annika Dries Gabe Gardner Ryan Hall Kevin Hansen Peter Hudnut Kristian Ipsen Maria Koroleva Cassidy Krug Elle Logan Kelley O’Hara Alex Osborne Christen Press Kristin Richards Logan Tom Melissa Seidemann Silas Stafford Jessica Steffens Maggie Steffens Brenda Villa Peter Varellas Kerri Walsh
Women’s indoor volleyball Men’s water polo Men’s Eight (8+) rowing Women’s indoor volleyball (alternate) Women’s soccer Men’s water polo Men’s tennis doubles Men’s tennis doubles Women’s soccer Women’s shot put Men’s Eight (8+) rowing Women’s water polo Men’s volleyball (alternate) Men’s marathon Men’s volleyball (alternate) Men’s water polo Men’s 3-meter synchro diving Women’s synchronized swimming Women’s 3-meter springboard diving Women’s Eight (8+) Women’s soccer Men’s Quadruple Sculls (4x) Women’s soccer (alternate) Women’s indoor volleyball (alternate) Women’s indoor volleyball Women’s water polo Men’s Pair (2-) rowing Women’s water polo Women’s water polo Women’s water polo Men’s water polo Women’s beach volleyball
Graduated in 2009 Graduated in 2005 Graduated in 2005 Graduated in 2008 Graduated in 2004 Graduated in 1999 Turned pro in 1998 Turned pro in 1998 Graduated in 2007 Graduated in 2004 Graduated in 2005 Class of 2014 Graduated in 1999 Graduated in 2005 Graduated in 2004 Graduated in 2003 Class of 2015 Class of 2015 Graduated in 2007 Graduated in 2011 Graduated in 2010 Graduated in 2009 Graduated in 2011 Graduated in 2006 Graduated in 2003 Class of 2013 Graduated in 2008 Graduated in 2010 Class of 2016 Graduated in 2003 Graduated in 2006 Graduated in 2000
STANFORD OLYMPIANS REPRESENTING OTHER COUNTRIES Name
Country/Sport
Stanford Affiliation
David Dunford Jason Dunford Matt Gentry Aranxta King Amaechi Morton Tobias Oriowol Ali Riley Markus Rogan Katerina Stefanidi Kristina Vaculik
Kenya/men’s swimming Kenya/men’s swimming Canada/men’s wrestling Bermuda/women’s track and field Nigeria/men’s track & field Canada/men’s swimming New Zealand/women’s soccer Austria/men’s swimming Greece/women’s track & field Canada/women’s gymnastics
Graduated in 2010 Graduated in 2009 Graduated in 2005 Graduated in 2012 Graduated in 1012 Graduated in 2006 Graduated in 2010 Graduated in 2004 Graduated in 2012 Class of 2015
OTHER LOCAL OLYMPIANS
Page 28ĂŠUĂŠ Ă•Â?ÞÊÓÇ]ÊÓä£ÓÊUĂŠ*>Â?ÂœĂŠ Â?ĂŒÂœĂŠ7iiÂŽÂ?ÞÊUĂŠĂœĂœĂœÂ°*>Â?Âœ Â?ĂŒÂœ"˜Â?ˆ˜i°Vœ“
Name
Country/Sport
Affiliation
Edrick Floreal Ben Lee Dr. Rick Schavone Lily Zhang
Track and field Badminton Diving Women’s table tennis
Jumps, decathlon coach Head coach Assistant coach Palo Alto High