Nestled among a couple of weeks’ worth of clutter in the
back of Natalie Golda’s Ford Explorer are two of her most
treasured items.
One from the Pan American Water Polo Games ““ Gold. The
second from the 2003 World FINA Championships ““ Gold.
And inside the UCLA senior-to-be’s gym bag ““ a
Speedo swimsuit, a pair of goggles and a fistful of USA Water Polo
swim caps.
For Golda, every moment she thinks about the medals, about
representing the United States in the Olympics, is a moment worth
cherishing.
“It’s amazing, and it’s been surreal,”
Golda said. “I’ve never done anything this hard before,
but it’s such a big thing that you don’t really know
how to react to it.
“You aspire to do this your whole life, and to have it
become a reality, it’s just amazing.”
The road was never easy. Nothing was ever a foregone
conclusion.
But, after years of sweat and tears, Golda finally accomplished
her goal ““ becoming a member of the U.S. women’s water
polo Olympic team.
Amid the glitz and glamour this La Habra, Calif. native has
received being on the national team, the road to Athens has been
far from effortless and uncomplicated.
As a highly touted softball player in high school, Golda could
have easily wound up on the field instead of in the pool. But after
constructing a list of pros and cons, Golda realized that
fulfilling her goal of being on a national team would be more
probable for water polo than softball.
But when Golda failed to earn a spot on the Junior National
Team, the setback was heart wrenching.
“I was devastated,” Golda said. “I lost all my
confidence.
“But I was lucky because my friends, family and coaches
supported me. Not making the team made me want to work harder and
realize that I couldn’t be complacent and just accept
things.”
Thus far in her collegiate and Olympic career, UCLA coach Adam
Krikorian has been one of her most influential supporters.
From the day he first laid eyes on this now-stellar athlete,
Krikorian thought she was going to be a star.
“Her work ethic, fear of failure and competitiveness drew
me to her,” Krikorian said. “I could see the raw
talent, especially in her arm. She has that unbelievable strength
and deadly accuracy.”
Over the course of her career, that arm has catapulted Golda
into a elite field of players.
“She’s the strongest player in the world,”
Olympic coach Guy Baker said. “She’s a tremendous
player, and with each year she’s gaining more experience and
the little subtleties that have enabled her to have
success.”
The faith that Krikorian and Baker have instilled into Golda
ultimately allowed her to stay aplomb and focused despite the
situation.
At first, the most glaring aspect of Golda’s game
hindering her young career was her lack of experience and inability
to swim at the same pace as her peers.
But at that point, Golda’s Olympic dreams hinged on
whether she would let this obstacle deter her.
And she didn’t.
Two NCAA Championship rings to her name and oodles of medals
later, Golda now finds herself playing with the very best.
However, it’s still not easy.
Even though the average day of training consists of hours on end
of practicing and watching tape, Golda feels the time spent with
her teammates has allowed her to gain a sense of camaraderie.
“You don’t just play water polo with these people,
you develop a family,” Golda said. “I think
that’s why our team has been so successful.”
As for Golda’s teammates, the feelings of admiration and
respect have grown every moment they are in the pool together.
“She has the personality and will to excel and get better
in everything that she does. It’s been a joy to watch her get
better as a player,” teammate and former UCLA player Robin
Beauregard said.
Fastening on that cap with the U.S. flag and seeing her name
inscribed below it is emotional.
Golda’s gear represents the unity, exhaustion and work it
took to get to this final stage.
Now with the biggest athletic stage in the world just a few
months away, Golda finds herself vying for one common goal with all
of her teammates ““ Gold.
“We’re getting into other team’s heads that
they can’t hang with us ““ that we’re stronger,
faster, train harder,” Golda said. “That’s our
goal. We’re not going to back off.”
As for traveling over to foreign countries, Golda and the rest
of the Olympians have had a busy schedule, flying from the United
States to Australia to Russia in a matter of just a few weeks.
During its time overseas, the competition, style of play and
atmosphere have been an adjustment, but Team USA has nothing but
high expectations.
“It doesn’t faze you,” Golda said of the huge
crowds. “We sometimes call it the circus because it’s
like a show where people are watching you, screaming, and going
crazy.”
More importantly, traveling overseas has not just been for water
polo, nor for sightseeing. It has really been an eye-opener.
Golda’s experience in foreign countries has helped her
realize not to take anything for granted.
“I’ve seen some things that have blown my mind away,
and it has made me realize how good we have it here,” Golda
said. “I’ve grown, and it’s made me put a lot of
things in perspective and made me appreciate everything I have
““ the freedom, the lifestyle and just the everyday
things.”
It has been more than an Olympic experience for Golda.
It has been the experience of a lifetime.