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Courtney MATHEWSON
Sport Water Polo
NOC United States   
GenderWomen
Born14 Sep 1986 in Orange, CA, USA
Height1.70 m
Weight 70 kg
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
Anaheim, CA, USA
Higher education
Sociology - University of California, Los Angeles: United States
General Interest
Hobbies
Cooking, travelling, spending time with family and friends, reading, baking, playing beach volleyball and tennis, supporting the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey team. (nbcolympics.com, 16 Jun 2016; usawaterpolo.org, 2014; Athlete, 17 Jul 2012)
Famous relatives
Her sister Lauren has competed in swimming at university level in the United States of America. (uclabruins.com, 2008)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
She began playing water polo because she no longer wanted to go to swimming practice, and wanted to take part in a team sport instead.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
US water polo players Coralie Simmons and Adam Krikorian. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2012)
Awards and honours
She received the 2008 Peter J. Cutino Award. It is given annually to the best male and female water polo player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] in the United States of America. (uclabruins.com, 2008)

In 2008 she was named National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] Division I Player of the Year and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation [MPSF] Co-Player of the Year. She was also named in the All-NCAA Tournament first team. (uclabruins.com, 2008)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up water polo at age eight in Orange County, CA, United States.
International Debut
Year
2009
Competing for
United States
Location
Montreal, QC, CAN
General Interest
Nicknames
Court (Athlete, 17 Jul 2012)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Everything happens for a reason." (usawaterpolo.org, 2014)
Further Personal Information
Family
Husband Chris Morinello
Languages
English
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (collegiatewaterpolo.org, 13 May 2016)
Other information
RETIREMENT
She retired from competitive water polo after winning a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "It is like a storybook ending for me." (ocregister.com, 21 Dec 2016; excellesports.com, 03 Mar 2017)

FOUNDER
She is the co-founder of Dream Gold Water Polo Clinics [DWGP]. "Myself and two of my 2012 Olympic teammates formed DGWP after our success in London. For us, it's a way to give back to the sport that has provided us with so many wonderful experiences. Our company teaches water polo skills and fundamentals to young children all over the nation. Through Dream Gold, we hope to inspire young child to dream and reach their goals, whether it be through water polo or any other avenue." (nbcolympics.com, 16 Jun 2016)

PLAYING WITH THE BOYS
She enjoyed playing mixed water polo as a teenager. "I played co-ed up until I was 14. It's great to show that you can go head-to-head at that age and really compete [against boys]. Water polo has taught me so much about myself, instilled those values of hard work and competing, and helped shape the person I am today. Those are things I learned at a really young age because the sport provided that for me." (collegiatewaterpolo.org, 13 May 2016)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA Team  
1 2012 London, ENG Team  
World Championship
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2015 Kazan, RUS Team  
5 2013 Barcelona, ESP Team  
6 2011 Shanghai, CHN Team  
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2014 Khanty-Mansiysk, RUS Team  
1 2010 Christchurch, NZL Team  
Pan American Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2015 Toronto, CAN Team  
1 2011 Guadalajara, MEX Team