Q&A with Heather Moody: Olympic Memories

St. Francis Head Water Polo Coach Heather Moody has been a veteran of USA Water Polo for the last 16 years. She was a two-time medal-winning Olympian (2000 and 2004) and coached two medal-winning teams (2008 and 2012). She is entering her fourth season on the staff at St. Francis.

What are you looking forward to about Olympics?

“I am looking forward to watching the team. I was fortunate enough to watch their last home game at Stanford. The team looks great. It is exciting to see the new generation of kids in the water. They are super young but they are dominating right now. I am excited to watch them.”

What are you going to miss about the Olympics?

“I was watching NBC the other night and they were showing the beach and highlights. It was surreal. We did not see that aspect when you are there at the Olympics. You live in a bubble and it has been interesting to see all the different venues. But it tugs at your heart strings. I am super excited for the team but it is hard to not be there.”

What are your memories from the 2000 Olympics?

“We all came together (recently) for the (release of the) Sydney’s Silver Linings book (about the 2000 USA Team) that just came out. It is crazy to think that it took us 16 years to get together again as a whole group. It was really nice to catch up. The majority of us are coaching in some situation, families and moving on and having kids. It was really nice. We signed so much stuff it felt like we were back at the house signing pictures for each other.”

What do you cherish about your medals and your accomplishments in the Olympics?

“The medals are nice and they are something you will always have and can look back on as a trigger to the memories you have. The biggest thing is the journey and what you went through as a team to get where you were, the obstacles you overcame and the highs and lows that built you as a team. We were not the most athletic team (in 2000) but we overcame those obstacles. It was the common goal, drive and work ethic that got is to where we were and the medals are a testament to that work. It was a reward for the work and what we put into the sport.”

What are you looking forward to this year with the St. Francis team?

“The thing I am looking forward to this year is seeing the juniors, who are heading into their senior years, take some ownership and leading. I am confident in this group as student-athletes and leaders. We have a young team coming in. It will be a rebuilding year and they will have their own stamp on their year. Every year is a new year and we have a great staff working with our teams. I am confident it will be a fun season.”