USA Water Polo's Ashleigh Johnson on her inspiring impact outside the pool
Two-time Olympic water polo champion Ashleigh Johnson has become used to breaking barriers.
The 29-year-old, who became the first African American woman to compete for Team USA in water polo at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, says that she takes pride in her impact outside the pool.
“The longer that you play a sport, the less it becomes about you,” Johnson said, according to NBC News. “I remember when I was young on this national team and just starting to find my footing, I didn’t understand why it was important for me to be here. But I understand now. As a Black woman of Caribbean descent in this sport, I definitely feel a special obligation to be a light for little Black and brown girls—and boys—who may be interested in swimming and water polo. That’s really special and is a priority for me.
“It’s so cool to see how inspiring the sport can be,” Johnson said later. “These kids sometimes share their experiences, their struggles, and the chances are I’ve been through something like they have been and [I’m] able to give them some words of encouragement. We’re all unique in some way, but we’re all so similar in other ways. And getting to have these experiences with the kids makes us all really strong.”
In addition to her Olympic triumphs, Johnson was also a member of the 2024 U.S. squad that won the gold medal at the World Championships in Doha.
