Update: The USA Women’s Water Polo Team defeated Italy Friday, Aug. 19, winning the gold medal in the Rio Summer Olympics. The win marks the first time a women’s water polo team has won the gold more than once. A Seal Beach resident is a member of the U.S. team. For a profile of Seal Beach’s gold medal Olympian, click on “Full story” below.
Rachel Fattal came to love water when she was just 3 months old, according to her mom. As she grew up, the Seal Beach native competed in three sports: swimming (obviously), volleyball and water polo.
Now she’s an Olympian.
Rachel, 22, is looking to make a splash in the Rio Summer Olympics. Next Tuesday, Aug. 9, the USA Women’s Water Polo Team will face the team from Spain in their first game at the Rio Summer Olympics. Rachel will be in the game. The women’s team is currently ranked the No. 1 water polo team in the world. Following the Tuesday game, the US team is scheduled to play against China on Aug. 11 and Hungary on Aug. 13.
If you plan on watching the games, keep your eyes out for No.
4—that’s Rachel, playing the attacker position. If you’re not familiar with water polo, that’s a leadership position in the game.
According to her aunt Angi Biscan, Rachel is one of just 13 athletes on the women’s water polo team.
Rachel and water have been a perfect match for just about her entire life. “Rachel learned to love the water at the Lakewood-Weingardt YMCA as a 3 month old,” according to Maria Fattal, Rachel’s mom. According to Maria Fattal, older Lakewood-Weingardt YMCA members remember Rachel joining her mother and her older brother Ryan in the pool when Rachel was just a baby.
“She never took lessons at the YMCA but spent a lot of time in that pool from 3 months until 4-1/2 years old, when she joined the Seal Beach Swim Club,” according to Maria Fattal.
Before joining the Swim Club, then 4-year-old Rachel took swimming lessons in the McGaugh Elementary School pool.
Rachel Fattal attended Los Altos Brethren School (in Long Beach), McAuliffe Middle School, and Los Alamitos High School.
“She was CIF Player of the Year in Water Polo 2012, and she swam in the CIF Swim Finals in the Relays 2012,” according to Maria Fattal.
“From there Rachel attend UCLA to play college Water Polo and red shirted this year, her senior year, to train with the National Team,” according to Maria Fattal
Rachel also spent time on the beach. According to her mom, she also spent a few summers as a Junior Lifeguard.
Last year, Rachel was named the most valueable player during FINA Water Polo World Championships in Kazan, Russia. She scored 18 goals for the team, leading the team to a gold medal.
For more information about the USA Women’s Water Polo Team, visit http://www.usawaterpolo.org.
