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Olympians share how UCLA experiences paved their way

Adam Krikorian coached the USA women’s water polo team to two gold medals. The former water polo standout drew inspiration from other athletes and coaches during his time in Westwood. (Jintak Han/Assistant Photo editor)

By TuAnh Dam

Sept. 26, 2016 11:21 p.m.

Kevin Love was back for one more eight-clap.

Not as a basketball player, but as one of the UCLA Olympians honored this past weekend during the UCLA and Stanford football game.

At halftime, 100 current, former and future Bruins across 19 sports marched onto the field of the Rose Bowl to form the Olympic rings.

Rafer Johnson, Jenny Johnson Jordan and Adam Krikorian were the three honorary captains. Krikorian, a former UCLA men’s water polo standout, guided the women’s national team to two consecutive Olympic gold medals.

The Pac-12 Women’s Water Polo Coach of the Century was considered too small and undersized to compete at the international level, but he turned his attention to coaching and helping others reach the top of the podium.

Krikorian absorbed what coaches and athletes at UCLA preached – the work ethic of Lisa Fernandez, the preparation of Stein Metzger, the character of Sue Enquist, Al Scates and John Wooden that all looked for from their student-athletes – and carried it with him to London and Rio.

“When you’re surrounded by great people, no matter what you’re doing, there’s really no excuse other than to excel.” Krikorian said.

Women’s basketball pioneer Ann Meyers Drysdale said the people in Westwood established not only a high standard for all Bruins but gave them perspective as well.

“You have great pride in not only what you accomplish but also do for your country and for your university, and you don’t want to let it down.” Meyers Drysdale said.

Wooden, Johnson, Ducky Drake and Meyers Drysdale’s own brother, Dave, contributed to an environment that fostered success decades later.

Three-time gold medalist Lisa Fernandez said the atmosphere at UCLA nurtures success and confidence, and draws out what it takes for Division I athletes to make it to the next level.

[Related: UCLA Honda Cup winners inspire generations of women athletes.]

Fernandez led Team USA to three gold medals from 1996 to 2004 as a pitcher for the the national softball team. The Pac-12 Player of the Century had honed her skill for four years under legendary coach Sue Enquist, helping the Bruins to two national titles and two runner-up finishes.

With the return of softball to the Olympics after a 12-year hiatus, the assistant coach is eager to instill the same toughness and dedication her coaches taught her to current Bruins.

“[To be an Olympian] takes the mentality to do what it takes to win.” Fernandez said. “It’s people who are willing to do (what) the others won’t that separates the good from the great. It’s the person that’s training when no one’s watching, when they’re trying to achieve something and won’t be satisfied until they do. It’s something instilled here, and we instill in the kids now.”

 

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TuAnh Dam | Alumna
Dam joined the Bruin as a sophomore in 2014 and contributed until after she graduated in 2017. She was the Sports editor for the 2016-2017 academic year and spent time on the football, men's basketball, gymnastics, women's water polo, men's soccer, men's tennis, women's tennis and women's golf beats.
Dam joined the Bruin as a sophomore in 2014 and contributed until after she graduated in 2017. She was the Sports editor for the 2016-2017 academic year and spent time on the football, men's basketball, gymnastics, women's water polo, men's soccer, men's tennis, women's tennis and women's golf beats.
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