UCLA coach, Olympic medalist celebrates softball’s return in 2020
The International Olympic Committee voted softball back into the lineup of Olympic sports last week, much to the UCLA assistant coach Lisa Fernandez’ liking. Fernandez was a member of the inaugural gold-medal winning team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. (Ken Shin/Daily Bruin)
By Louie Greenwald
Aug. 8, 2016 12:00 a.m.
Softball is returning to the Olympics in 2020, a move that one three-time gold medalist said was a long time coming.
Lisa Fernandez, a four-time All-American pitcher who led the Bruin softball team to two NCAA championship victories, was surprised when the International Olympic Committee decided to drop softball from the games after 2008.
“Everyone was shocked,” Fernandez said. “And at the end of the day, we didn’t get any explanation as to why it was removed.”
Fernandez, a member of the first U.S. Olympic Softball team in 1996, was overjoyed when she got the news that softball would be returning to the Olympics.
“It’s an incredible opportunity,” Fernandez said. “It’s going to elevate our sport.”
While you won’t see any members of the current UCLA squad at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Fernandez feels a number of Bruins past and present, including rising senior shortstop Delaney Spaulding and recent graduate outfielder Allexis Bennett, could make the 2020 roster.
A U.S. Olympic Hall of Famer and now an assistant coach for the Bruins, Fernandez may be joining some of her players at those 2020 games.
“I have been approached, and I have added my name to that Olympic pool of coaches so we’ll see what the future holds,” said Fernandez.
Whether or not she makes it to Tokyo, Fernandez is confident that softball will stick as an Olympic sport.
“I’m looking forward to it being a mainstay,” said Fernandez.
Email Greenwald at [email protected] or tweet @louiebgreenwald.
