Terry Schroeder (USA) Honor Water Polo Player, Class of 2002
Terry Schoeder was inducted into ISHOF as an Honor Water Polo Player in 2002 for his stellar career in the sport. Very rarely will you find an Olympic athlete in one of the roughest Olympic sports who has the easy demeanor and control of emotions as Terry Schorder. Selected captain of three Olympic water polo teams, at 6 feet 3 inches, 210 pounds, he became one of the best players in Olympic history to play the two-meter position, the quarterback of the offense. For over 15 years and four Olympic Games, Schroeder was the USA team leader and one of the most revered players in international competition.
He became USA Water Polo’s only four-time Olympian. His 1980 team was dismissed due to the Olympic boycott, so he refocused and became the captain of both the 1984 and 1988 teams where Team USA won silver medals in Los Angeles and Seoul. He retired in 1988 but made a comeback in 1990 where he was elected team captain for a third time and placed fourth in Barcelona in 1992. In 2008, Schroeder coached Team USA Water Polo to a silver medal. Terry is one of a few individuals to have won medals both playing and coaching water polo.
In 1984, he received the distinct honor of being selected to pose nude as a model for sculptor Robert Graham. The result was a nine-foot bronze statue that stood at the entrance to the LA Coliseum which served as the 1984 Olympic Stadium. The headless sculpture was to be representative of all Olympic athletes. It still stands today and will now welcome athletes and visitors at the LA28 Games.
Terry was the Head Coach of Water Polo at Pepperdine University, his alma mater, for 39 years, a role he began in 1986. He retired, two years ago but stays involved as senior advisor, helping as needed.
That same year, 1986, Schroeder graduated Cum Laude as a Doctor of Chiropractic, a third-generation family tradition. Terry’s grandfather, father, brother, sister, brother-in-law, wife, cousins and other relatives totaling 59 family members are all chiropractors.
Terry and his beautiful wife Lori, live in Westlake Village, California and have two grown daughters. Terry keeps in touch with local Olympians in the Los Angeles area, and hopes to volunteer with LA28 at some point, if they need his help and expertise.