For the second time in three years USA Women’s Senior National Team athlete Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo) has been named the FINA Women’s Water Polo Athlete of the Year. The honor for Steffens comes on the heels of another banner year for the USA Women’s National Team that saw gold medals at the FINA World League Super Final, Kirishi Cup, and FINA World Cup. Steffens, previously honored for her efforts in 2012 en route to an Olympic Gold Medal, helped the United States turn in one of their most dominant years in recent history in 2014 with the squad losing just once in major tournament play.
“I am so, so honored, the night was very special to me and I will always remember it, it was a true honor. I felt very fortunate to be recognized with my fellow athlete of the year recipients. These events are always very humbling, I still watch videos of (male water polo player of the year) Filip Filipovic to this day to learn from him,” said Steffens. “I wouldn’t be where I am without my teammates, so this award truly is more of a tribute to our team as a whole more than anything else,” she added.
The FINA Athletes of the Year 2014 were unveiled last night in a memorable Gala “Soirée des Etoiles” (Evening of the Stars), held after a successful two-day FINA World Aquatics Convention and FINA Swimming Coaches Golden Clinic. Less than two days before the start of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) also being held in the Qatari capital from December 3-7, the Aquatics Family paid a sincere tribute to its great stars in the six aquatic disciplines.
Water Polo News courtesy of USA Water Polo.
