Ashleigh Johnson was the first African American woman to make the United States Olympic water polo team in 2016, when she qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Not only was Johnson the only African American on the team, but she was also the only girl NOT from California. Ashleigh grew up in Miami, playing water polo with her three brothers and one sister. The Johnson kids attended Ransom Everglades School, a well known swimming/aquatics powerhouse in the South Florida area. After making a statement in South Florida as a four-year letter winner and starter on her school’s team, she led her team to three consecutive Florida State Championships. In addition, she earned All-Dade County honors throughout her career, while also earning all-county honors in swimming, twice.
She went on to attend college at Princeton University, where she received All-American Honors for most of her collegiate career. Johnson and the USA Women’s Water Polo Team won Olympic gold, with Ashleigh as goalie in 2016, in her very first Olympic experience.
Ashleigh currently competes for Ethnikos in Greece… From 2018-19, she played for NC Vouliagmeni in Greece…Finished third in Final Four of European League Championships and finished second in Greek league; Prior to that, she competed for Ekipe Orizzonte in Sicily 2017-18, finished third in Final Four of European League, and finished second in Italian League.
And let’s not forget, she competed in her second Olympic Games in Tokyo, in 2021. Ashleigh and her USA Teammates came away with gold, beating Spain in the gold medal round. Ashleigh was credited with the most saves.
Let’s al get ready to cheer on the future Hall of Famer in Paris this Summer!
Watch this great video of Ashleigh from CBS MORNINGS from 2020 Olympics Coverage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRFGaI_8-ik
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- 2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, SANTIAGO, CHILE, 1ST PLACE
- 2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, FUKUOKA, JAPAN, 5TH PLACE
- 2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CUP, LONG BEACH, UNITED STATES, 1ST PLACE
- 2022 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, SPAIN, 3RD PLACE
- 2022 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1ST PLACE
- 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES, TOKYO, JAPAN, 1ST PLACE (Took place in 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic)
- 2021 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, ATHENS, GREECE, 1ST PLACE
- 2019 HOLIDAY CUP, PRINCETON, NJ, 1ST PLACE
- 2019 CANADA CUP, MONTREAL, CANADA, 1ST PLACE
- 2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, LIMA, PERU, 1ST PLACE
- 2019 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA, 1ST PLACE
- 2019 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1STPLACE
- 2019 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, PERTH, AUSTRALIA, 1STPLACE
- 2018 FINA WORLD CUP, SURGUT, RUSSIA, 1STPLACE
- 2018 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, KUNSHAN, CHINA, 1STPLACE
- 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, 1STPLACE
- 2016 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1STPLACE
- 2016 OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT, GOUDA, NETHERLANDS, 1STPLACE
- 2016 FINA WOMEN’S INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, LEWISVILLE, TX, 1STPLACE
- 2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, KAZAN, RUSSIA, 1STPLACE
- 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, TORONTO, CANADA, 1STPLACE
- 2015 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1STPLACE
- 2014 FINA WORLD CUP, KHANTY-MANSIYSK, RUSSIA 1STPLACE
- 2013 FINA JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, VOLOS, GREECE, 1STPLACE