Irvine-based USA Water Polo sees the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics as a success, with a bronze medal for its men’s team, and its women’s team placing fourth after a last-second loss to the Netherlands in its bronze medal game.
The Paris games “capped a remarkable run of dominance by our women’s team and the fruition of many long years invested in our men’s program,” CEO Christopher Ramsey told the Business Journal.
“We were the only water polo nation in the world to finish within the top four in both men and women’s water polo. Although the women’s string of three straight Olympic gold medals came to an end, their achievement since 2009 is one of the greatest runs by any team in the history of our sport,” Ramsey said.
As for the men’s team, “legendary player Denis Varga noted after our (bronze medal) game with Hungary, our men can still get better, which sets up well for the 2028 games in LA.”
USA Water Polo, whose $16.1M in revenue last year placed it No. 34 among OC’s largest nonprofits, has committed to giving $12 million to Irvine to build a new three-pool aquatics center at the Great Park that’s estimated to cost around $90 million, though it is not expected to be ready in time for the 2028 Olympics.
The national teams trained for the Paris games in Walnut.
Any local water polo enthusiasts/gluttons for punishment looking to join a pick-up match with the Netherlands’ national teams in four years won’t have to travel far.
Mission Viejo this month was selected as the Netherlands Olympic Committee’s primary pre-games training site for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Facilities in Mission Viejo will serve as TeamNL’s training spots for sports including athletics and swimming, and team sports such as handball and volleyball, the city said.
Said Mayor Trish Kelley: “Mission Viejo has a long history of supporting Olympians and Paralympians from around the world, and we believe our world-class facilities will properly prepare TeamNL for LA28.”
Perhaps the third year will be the charm for Irvine Co.’s Donald Bren?
The OC Board of Supervisors this month approved 10 honorees for its second class of inductees at the Orange County Hall of Fame, and once again the most influential businessman in OC’s history didn’t make the cut.
Alongside Richard Nixon, guitar maker Leo Fender and actress Michelle Pfeiffer, among others, several business execs with restaurant ties did make the cut this go-around.
The late Carl Karcher, of Carl’s Jr. fame, is an inductee, as is Pick Up Stix founder and philanthropist Charlie Zhang, along with the three philanthropy-focused brothers that run Wahoo’s Fish Taco and other food concepts, Wing Lam, Ed Lee and Mingo Lee.
Last year’s inaugural class included business execs Frank Jao, William Lyon and Henry Segerstrom, along with Olympic gold medalists Amanda Beard, Greg Louganis and Kobe Bryant.
