|
|
Courtney
MATHEWSON |
Sport |
Water Polo |
NOC |
United States
|
Gender | Women |
Born | 14 Sep 1986
in Orange, CA, USA |
Height | 1.70 m |
Weight | 70 kg |
|
|
|
|
|
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) |
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 |
|
| |
|