BUDAPEST, Hungary – Former Sun Devil Kelsey White was selected to represent South Africa in the 17th Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) Water Polo Championships. White is the third athlete with Sun Devil ties competing in the international tournament, joining current Sun Devil Lena Mihailovic and former Sun Devil great Rowie Webster who are both members of Team Australia.
A member of the South African national team since 2010, Kelsey White is the lone captain of the South African squad participating in the FINA World Championships.
"I feel honored every time I get to represent my country in Water Polo. I am fortunate to Captain the team and play with the best players in the world," White said. "Competing at such a high level is so exciting and I love every minute of it."
She is competing in her fourth FINA World Championships for South Africa, the last of which was in 2015 at the 16th FINA World Championships in Kazan where she recorded four goals in four games. She also tallied four goals in four games at the 15th FINA World Championships in Barcelona in 2013. South Africa has been the only African country to qualify for the past four FINA World Championships, thanks in large part to the contributions of White.
A mainstay on the South African water polo senior national, Kelsey White has experienced success as the captain, leading her country to a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth World Championships in Aberdeen. She has also spearheaded many fundraising efforts to create unprecedented financial support to not only help the South African senior national team, but also to kick start youth programs around the country as well. Because of her efforts, water polo is now one of the fastest growing sports in the country. "Water polo has taken me places and I hope to develop young players to try and see the World through their water polo," White stated. "The more exposure we get at international level the better we become. I am blessed to be coaching the sport that I love so much."
White is now coaching water polo in South Africa. She is the current head coach of the women's water polo team at the University of Witwatersrand and St. Mary's Waverley School, both located in Johannesburg. "Developing the sport in South Africa is of huge importance to me as I feel that there are many young talented players that would also thrive off similar circumstances and I hope to try be a part in getting water polo players over to the USA," White said. She was recently one of three finalists for the 2016 Gauteng Sports Coach of the Year Awards honoring the Province's best athletes and coaches.Sun Devil head water polo coach Todd Clapper recognizes his former player's efforts to help establish the sport in her home country, "I am very proud of Kelsey as a player and an advocate for the growth of SA water polo. She has invested a lot of heart and soul into creating better opportunities now and for the future of SA polo players."
White spent four years at Arizona State (2009-12), totaling 89 goals and finishing 10th in school history with 58 career assists. She saved her best season at ASU for her last, setting career highs in both goals (32) and assists (25) while adding 19 steals. White looks back at her time at ASU with fond memories "My opportunity to play 4 years as a Sun Devil was one of the greatest experiences of my life."
South Africa was placed in Group B of the FINA World Championships with the United States, Spain and New Zealand. As part of group play, South Africa went 0-3 facing some of the toughest competition in the tournament. White scored a goal in South Africa's loss to Brazil in the 13th-16th place semifinals. South Africa will take on Kazakhstan at the Margaret Island Alfréd Hajós Aquatics Complex in Budapest,
July 24th at 1:30 a.m. in the 15th place game.
A member of the South African national team since 2010, Kelsey White is the lone captain of the South African squad participating in the FINA World Championships.
"I feel honored every time I get to represent my country in Water Polo. I am fortunate to Captain the team and play with the best players in the world," White said. "Competing at such a high level is so exciting and I love every minute of it."
She is competing in her fourth FINA World Championships for South Africa, the last of which was in 2015 at the 16th FINA World Championships in Kazan where she recorded four goals in four games. She also tallied four goals in four games at the 15th FINA World Championships in Barcelona in 2013. South Africa has been the only African country to qualify for the past four FINA World Championships, thanks in large part to the contributions of White.
A mainstay on the South African water polo senior national, Kelsey White has experienced success as the captain, leading her country to a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth World Championships in Aberdeen. She has also spearheaded many fundraising efforts to create unprecedented financial support to not only help the South African senior national team, but also to kick start youth programs around the country as well. Because of her efforts, water polo is now one of the fastest growing sports in the country. "Water polo has taken me places and I hope to develop young players to try and see the World through their water polo," White stated. "The more exposure we get at international level the better we become. I am blessed to be coaching the sport that I love so much."
White is now coaching water polo in South Africa. She is the current head coach of the women's water polo team at the University of Witwatersrand and St. Mary's Waverley School, both located in Johannesburg. "Developing the sport in South Africa is of huge importance to me as I feel that there are many young talented players that would also thrive off similar circumstances and I hope to try be a part in getting water polo players over to the USA," White said. She was recently one of three finalists for the 2016 Gauteng Sports Coach of the Year Awards honoring the Province's best athletes and coaches.Sun Devil head water polo coach Todd Clapper recognizes his former player's efforts to help establish the sport in her home country, "I am very proud of Kelsey as a player and an advocate for the growth of SA water polo. She has invested a lot of heart and soul into creating better opportunities now and for the future of SA polo players."
White spent four years at Arizona State (2009-12), totaling 89 goals and finishing 10th in school history with 58 career assists. She saved her best season at ASU for her last, setting career highs in both goals (32) and assists (25) while adding 19 steals. White looks back at her time at ASU with fond memories "My opportunity to play 4 years as a Sun Devil was one of the greatest experiences of my life."
South Africa was placed in Group B of the FINA World Championships with the United States, Spain and New Zealand. As part of group play, South Africa went 0-3 facing some of the toughest competition in the tournament. White scored a goal in South Africa's loss to Brazil in the 13th-16th place semifinals. South Africa will take on Kazakhstan at the Margaret Island Alfréd Hajós Aquatics Complex in Budapest,
July 24th at 1:30 a.m. in the 15th place game.