The Dodd brothers have long shared titles that reflect their close bond: brothers, teammates, best friends.

And now, they share the title of Olympic medalist.

UCLA men’s water polo’s redshirt junior Chase Dodd and freshman Ryder Dodd became the first pair of brothers to compete on the United States men’s water polo Olympic team since 1988. The attacking duo contributed a combined 11 goals to Team USA’s bronze medal finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Chase and Ryder’s journey to Olympic glory has always been intertwined with their deep familial bond anda connection that stretches both in and out of the water.

Growing up in Long Beach, California, the brothers were inseparable from a young age, often seen playing water polo together at their local club. This early exposure to the sport, coupled with their parents’ guidance, laid a sturdy bedrock for their later success.

“You have someone in the pool that’s greater than just a teammate. For example, I know what he’s going to do before he knows what he’s going to do, and vice versa,” Chase said. “That connection and that bond we have between each other, it’s something that you can’t just have with any teammate.”

Before joining each other in the pool for Team USA, both men were accustomed to water-based competition – albeit in varying forms. Ryder simultaneously competed in swimming and water polo, while Chase used to sail competitively before transitioningto water polo.

Ryder recalls his earliest memories of water polo when he was just six years old watching his older brother dominate in the pool. The moment left a lasting impression on the younger Dodd, sparking a passion for the sport that would grow stronger over time. Seeing his older brother compete, Ryder was inspired to follow in Chase’s footsteps, setting the stage for what would become a shared journey toward the highest levels of the sport.

Chase and Ryder had the chance to play high school water polo together for one season in 2020 before the older Dodd graduated and landed in Westwood to play at the Division I level, and the younger Dodd transferred to JSerra Catholic High School.

But the two weren’t separated in the pool for long – Ryder joined Chase as the youngest player on the U.S. Senior National Team at just 16 years old. Since then, the two have traveled the world together, competing atthe 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and the 2024 Aquatic Championships in Doha, Qatar.

“We work really well together,” Chase said. “We’re like peanut butter and jelly: One without the other is good, but it’s still not the same as when we’re both put together.”

Ryder, at just 18 years old, set another milestone by becoming the youngest player on the U.S. men’s water polo team since 1964. The 2024 CIF Player of the Year recently graduated from JSerra, where he helped lead his team to an undefeated season en route to a CIF-Southern Section Division I Championship.

Before garnering any collegiate water polo experience, Ryder found the back of the net in every match of preliminary play in Paris.

“The biggest thing that my brother’s taught me is just always do things with intent,” Ryder said. “We had a saying, justto ‘put your signature on everything,’ and I think my brother’s really taken that to heart, and he’s taught me the same thing.”

With the Olympics behind them, the Dodd brothers are preparing to bring their bronze medal experience back to Westwood.

After deferring the 2023 season to train for the Games, Chase will return for his junior year after scoring 39 goals, the third most of the team, during his sophomore year in 2022.

And after reaching the Olympic podium this summer, the Dodds are united in a common goal for the season: a national championship.

“The interesting thing with both Chase and Ryder – they’re very different, but they share a passion and intensity that’s unmatched,” said UCLA men’s water polo coach Adam Wright. “They go out after each other with that intensity and passion, and then when it’s all said and done, they’re brothers, and it’s really special. Those two are really, really special.”

In Paris, the Dodd brothers weren’t the only Bruins in attendance. Two-time Olympian and 2017 NCAA champion Max Irving joined them on the team, offering mentorship throughout the Games.

“I learned so much from him (Irving), obviously not just from a water polo standpoint, but just from a human being standpoint,” Ryder said. “He’s a phenomenal guy, really taught me a lot about the game.”

The Dodds’ success in Paris is the latest chapter in UCLA’s storied legacy in the Games. The last time the U.S. men’s water polo team stood upon the Olympic podium was the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Wright steered his team to a silver medal.

“For us, at UCLA, it (the brothers’ bronze) means the world. Before I ever was a student-athlete at UCLA ora coach, that’s what UCLA has always been about, so many Olympians, the list goes on and on,” Wright said. “To add to that is really special. Illustrious history with players from our program means a lot.”