She didn’t win “Most Likely to Become Famous” in high school for nothing (and it didn’t take her long to become famous either). Kaleigh is a truly amazing person. When you get to know Kaleigh you realize it really does take a certain type of personality to win a gold medal and have such a good reputation to go with it.
I was lucky enough to grow up with Kaleigh, go to Newport Harbor together, and then follow each other to USC. Not only was she a two-sport National Champion, Captain of the water polo team, and excelled in school, but she also managed to rush Pi Phi and remain extremely social throughout it all. She’s the type that could go out to a big party, make her rounds with everyone, then wake up at 5AM for a surf session in Manhattan followed by weights and practice for water polo. Meanwhile, I’d still be in bed… Her stamina and energy just never seemed fair to be honest!
In the last decade she’s accomplished so much, from winning a GOLD MEDAL in Rio to starting two companies and becoming an ambassador for The Young and Brave- AND I know she’s only scratching the surface to her potential!
She’s got a gold medal around her neck and a heart of gold inside her! If any of her competitors are reading this I’ll let you in on a little secret… She’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet! If you haven’t met KG yet then I hope one day soon you can because she’s incredible. But until then, read below to get a little glimpse at her insane life and hopefully capture some tips on how she does it all…
What gave you the dream to go to the Olympics?
I grew up in a family of Olympian’s with my dad, aunt and uncle all competing in two Olympic Games. I don’t think I realized the impact of their careers until later on. I was young, competitive and dreamt of performing on the world’s biggest stage and winning a gold medal for my country with teammates who turned into family.
You won a GOLD medal at the 2016 Olympics- What was that experience like?
It’s a pretty indescribable moment. Your entire life, you dream of and work for that very moment. To have it come true was one of the most exhilarating feelings, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without an amazing team, coaching staff, family and community.
What is your favorite memory from the Olympics?
I have three “favorite” memories that all hold a special place in my heart for different reasons. First, during opening ceremonies, Team USA was chanting “U-S-A” right before we entered Marcana Stadium. That was the moment when one of my dreams came true. I officially became an Olympian and was able to represent my country and be surrounded by other successful and inspiring athletes. That night, the world put aside their differences to come together and celebrate -sport-. The Olympic family is real and something I am so proud to be a part of. Second was when we were on top of the podium, gold medals around our necks, singing the national anthem. We had a team discussion in 2013 based around a quote, “start with the end in mind”-we all agreed our end was on top of the podium. To come full circle was fulfilling, but as cliché as it may sound, the most fulfilling part was the entire journey. To win next to teammates who became family was just icing on the cake. Last, but most certainly not least, was finally being able to hug my family afterwards. We were all full of happy tears and those hugs were the best of my life. My parents and sister have sacrificed so much for me to pursue my dreams to the point where my dreams became some of theirs. If I had to pick a favorite it was the family hug.
How many family/ friends came to Rio to watch you? ( it seemed like a lot!)…
I was fortunate to have family and friends fly down to Rio to cheer the team on. We had a crew of about 20, but the support didn’t stop there. The love I felt from all my friends and family back home made the win even more amazing. Another quote we discussed often was “the team behind the team.” As athletes, we often don’t discuss how selfish it is to be the best. We focus on ourselves, we miss out on birthdays and holidays and are often too tired. The team behind the team is the idea that there are so many people that go unnoticed to help the team succeed and to help me succeed. Through all the selfishness that occurs there is even more gratitude.
What lessons do you think you’ve been taught during this journey with going to the Olympics?
I’ve learned so many lessons throughout the journey, but a couple that stick out to me are gratitude and hard work. The support I felt at the Olympic Games from my teammates, friends, family and community was one of the coolest things about the entire journey. It gave me a stronger sense of gratefulness for all the people in my life and pushed me to play my best. Hard work was a staple in the journey as well. The hard work the entire team put in lead us to the top. We worked hard in and out of the water and reaped the benefits. I learned from my coaches and teammates what hard work looks like. This pushed me to do more behind the scenes that most don’t know about so I could have the girls rely on me more in the water.
How did your family facilitate the importance of this sport you love? Did your family members play sports?
I couldn’t be more grateful for my family and their support. I never felt too pressured in my career. I grew up a “tomboy” and played every sport. It really just came down to my competitive spirit of wanting to be better than the boys. Once I gravitated towards water polo and surfing my parents supported my decision and did everything in their power to put me on the right path to success. Like I mentioned earlier, my father, aunt and uncle swam in two Olympic games each. Many people may think there was some sort of pressure to do the same, but that wasn’t the case. It was them supporting my choices.
What did you do to keep away any haters who weren’t supportive of your dream?
I was fortunate to not have many people who didn’t support my dream. The outpour of love from my family, friends and community outweighed the negative.
How did you know you could do it- go to the Olympics and win?
Obviously, I dreamt of the Olympics since a young age, but the process didn’t happen overnight. I gained some recognition during high school that got me recruited to a top collegiate school, then again at USC I had some success and gained recognition through the national team. I started ticking off the monthly and yearly goals and as I did, the goals became bigger and bigger. On the national team we can confidently say that we trained harder than any other team and because of this, we had the gold medal confidence we needed.
How do you set goals after winning a gold medal? What is next?
To be honest, I don’t think we discuss post Olympics enough. Personally, it was one of the toughest times I’ve been through. I was also going through some personal change that added to the difficult time. Achieving your lifelong goal at the age of 24 there is a feeling of now what? Luckily, I had surfing to focus my attention on, but it still took months to be “me” again. To help with the transition, I set smaller goals. Sometimes, when you focus on the end goal, it seems unreachable. When you can set daily, weekly and monthly goals, you can see the small gains and hold on to them. Before you know it, the small gains become big gains.
Did you ever want to quit?
I had moments, years ago, when I didn’t know where my passion was and what sport to pursue, but now that I have (somewhat) of a plan for the next few years I’m a lot more grounded. With that being said, there recently hasn’t been a moment I wanted to give up. Sure, there are moments that I’m tired and wish I could sleep in, but there hasn’t been a moment where I hate what I’m doing. As soon as the moment comes is the time to re-evaluate my plan. Perspective is big for me. I try to maintain a positive perspective (although hard at times) and realize that I get to surf and play water polo for a living. I don’t think it gets better than that!
What advice would you give a young person pursuing their dreams -sports related or not..
Have the courage to go after those dreams. Enjoy the journey – all of it. The valleys bring just as much importance as the peaks.
With the Summer Olympics a few years away how do you prevent burnout and stay motivated?
Having two sports allows me to have twice as many goals. I set weekly, monthly and yearly goals. Being able to focus on the smaller goals rather than just thinking of the Olympic games helps with staying motivated. Also, being able to just enjoy the entire journey is important. I get to travel the world and be surrounded by some pretty cool people. If I don’t focus on the present, I will never truly enjoy what I get to do.
How do you manage a (VERY POPULAR!!) social life while also remaining an elite athlete?
Balance has always been a big part of who I am and something I am still trying to master. Friends and family are more important than my sports and being able to spend time with them is something I try to do often. I find, having an escape from sport, allows me to be more focused when I am training.
What does your weekly workout schedule like?
Right now, I have a unique opportunity to manage both sports. Polo kicks back up in May so the schedule will change a little, but for the first half of the year my days consists of some polo, some surfing, some cardio and some strength and conditioning. A usual day would be :: wake up at 6AM, 6:15-7:15AM beach walk with mom (an Alta coffee in hand), surf session with coach from 8-10AM, weights 10:30AM -12:30PM, lunch, polo 3-5PM and depending on the amount of load and part of training, I may add in a spin class or run for extra cardio. In addition to the training, recovery is extremely important to me. I make time for chiropractor, massage, acupuncture, stretching and sleep.
You need a lot of stamina for what you do…what type of foods or diet to you try and stick to?
I don’t necessarily stick to a strict diet, but over the years have gained a better understanding of how nutrition affects my performance therefore have become more aware of what I put into my body. With that being said, I believe there is a time to buckle down and a time to splurge.
How do you juggle being an elite TWO SPORT athlete? How do you balance your time and efforts?
I started both sports at the age of 8 so it’s just become a part of who I am. I love surfing and water polo that I couldn’t imagine my life without either. Throughout the years I’ve been more conscious of when to focus on one sport more than the other.
Surfing will be added to the next Olympics! How will you decide which sport to pursue and when do you have to make that decision?
There’s still some questions regarding qualification process for the Olympic Games for surfing. It’s the first time it is in the Olympics so they are having a low number of competitors therefore only two women from each country get a spot. It is going to be difficult to be one of those two people. I am just taking it year by year and month by month trying to perform my best in each sport and see where I end up. Polo is a team sport and the team depends on one another therefore I have to be more aware. I am still competing for a spot on that team and this quad it’s going to be very difficult to be on that final roster.
Where is your favorite surf spot?
I’ve surfed so many fun waves around the world, but there’s nothing quite like a good day at home in Newport with all your buddies out.
You’re quite the world traveler- what are some of the coolest places you’ve been to?
Every trip and every country brings something special, but some of my favorites are Fiji, Canada and New Zealand.
Not only are you an elite athlete but also an entrepreneur! (Seriously though- where does the time come from!?!) Tell us about your businesses and why you started them?
I guess I like to keep myself busy haha. I Miss South Central is a college alumni t-shirt company. It started by making my own t-shirt saying “I Miss South Central” for my first homecoming as an USC alum. I had such positive feedback that making a company became a no brainer. It’s definitely a fun side project to connect a community of people with the same love and nostalgia for college. Secondly, my teammate Kami Craig and I started Camps4Champs. C4C are customized water polo camps that teaches a solid skill set both in and out of the water. Kami and I love inspiring the next generation. Both companies have taught me a lot about the business world which will help when athletics end.
What are some of your favorite things to do when you are home in OC?
I travel a lot, so when I am home, I just like to catch up with friends and family and enjoy Newport. I have to hit my favorite food spots which consist of Alta coffee, Al Cap, Bear Flag and Ho Sum. My favorite activities are duffying in the harbor, bike riding/walking on the boardwalk and of course, surfing.
What do you see yourself doing in 10-15 years when you’re done competing?
Sport has been such an intrinsic part of my life that I hope to still be involved once my competitive days are over. I would love to continue Camps4Champs, supporting The Young and Brave foundation and have thought about broadcasting post competition. I understand that there is more to life than sports, but I do love them and I’ve learned so many life lessons. In 10-15 years I would I love to share my passion of sport with a happy and healthy family.
