Jenna Flynn's Olympic Triumph
By Mira Reddy Sep 25 2024
Leland Alumni and water polo superstar Jenna Flynn brought pride to the school’s community as she gave it her all at the Paris Olympics 2024. Along with support from her family, the school’s coaches, Stanford coaches, and adoring fans, Jenna Flynn earned her spot on the nation's water polo team and had the opportunity to perform on an Olympic stage.
For the past three summer Olympics, Team USA remained undefeated in women's water polo, winning one gold medal after the other. In this year's Olympic games, Jenna Flynn contributed greatly to Team USA’s success especially in their first game against Greece on July 27. Team USA had maintained a steady 9-2 lead by the halftime buzzer and finished the game with a final score of 15-6, with Jenna Flynn scoring 4 goals; more than any of her other teammates.
“It is a great honor to be playing in the Olympics and representing my country. I was quite nervous going into the game since it was my Olympic debut. However, scoring a goal affirmed my confidence and ten years of experience to continue forward,” Jenna Flynn said.
Water polo significantly shaped the trajectory of her life. In an interview with NBC News, Flynn recalled herself at eight years old, eagerly observing Maggie Steffens, one of the best women in the sport, and her role model. Additionally, Flynn’s family is one of her largest influences, influencing her to continue playing water polo.
“I had two older sisters playing water polo and I was lucky to play with one of them for one year in high school. My younger sister Christina is also a big inspiration to me. She’s the youngest child, and she’s grown up watching me and our older sisters play. Through the Olympics, I hoped to show that this is a path she can take,” Jenna Flynn said.
When Flynn tried out for the school’s water polo team in her freshman year of high school, the coaches immediately took note of her talent which would benefit the team immensely for the next four years. As her high school years progressed, she won the Central Coast Section and Blossom Valley Athletic League Player six times. Additionally, she was a player in the Junior Olympic team for 18-year-olds that placed third overall and was a six time Junior Olympic All-American.
“She had an immediate impact as a freshman by helping lead us to our third straight section title. She continued to be a leader in and out of the pool over the next three years. In her senior year, she played with an injured hand and still put up 161 goals that season. Even after graduating, Flynn has returned to help coach the team at times during the summer,” Eric Rise, Athletics department, said.
Flynn’s achievements in high school were only the beginning of what was to come throughout her athletic career. She featured in exclusive water polo events such as the Junior Olympics, the Pythia Cup in Greece, and the Youth Pan American games in Trinidad, Tobago, and Couva, where she was named the most valuable player. Additionally, she is a present member of the USA senior national water polo team and is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion. At present, Flynn will return to play for Stanford university in her sophomore year of college.
“I hope to return for the 2028 Olympics, but I can’t say for sure with the possibilities for injuries and I don’t want to jinx myself. The Olympics were such a great experience and I would love to come back,” said Flynn.
Unfortunately, Team USA’s water polo team did not win a medal in Paris this year, losing the bronze medal match against the Netherlands on August 10. However, with such a powerful Olympic history in water polo and talented players like Flynn, we can expect to see much more of their phenomenal performances again in four years.
About the Contributors
Mira Reddy is a freshman at Leland High School, a Staff writer, and a Media team member. This is her first year in journalism. She loves to swim, spend time with family and friends, read books, eat food, and watch Netflix.
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