Heather Petri
Encyclopedia
Heather Petri (born June 13, 1978, in Oakland, California
) is an American water polo
player, who won the silver medal
with the US women's national team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
and also won a bronze medal
at the 2004 Summer Olympics
. Her position is attacker.
Petri began playing water polo on the boys' team in high school, but helped begin a girls' water polo program at Miramonte High School
and was team captain for two years. In 1997 she was recruited by UC Berkeley coach Maureen O'Toole
, and played collegiate water polo from 1997-2001. Petri earned All-America
and All-MPSF
honors at Cal in 1998 and 1999 and finished her college career with 96 goals. She sat out her senior season as a member of the first US women's Olympic water polo team, and graduated from Berkeley in 2002 with a degree in integrative biology. She played for Rari-Nantes, a professional water polo team in Florence, Italy, for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 season, and is currently a member of the US senior women's team.
In March 2007, Petri competed in the 2007 World Aquatics Championships, representing the United States. After a series of victories, the United States won the gold medal, becoming world champions. Petri also won a gold medal in the 2003 World Aquatic Championships in Barcelona, Spain. She is now a two time World Champion.
At the 2008 China Summer Olympic games, she and the American team lost 8-9 in the Championship game
to the Netherlands and took home the silver medal.
for the 2009 FINA World Championships. She currently plays for the Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni
, Greece, with whom she won the 2010 European Championships.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
) is an American water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
player, who won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
with the US women's national team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics
The water polo competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia saw Hungary’s return to the gold medal platform and the introduction of the women’s tournament...
and also won a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Olympic Aquatic Centre where women competed for only the second time in the event at the Summer Olympics....
. Her position is attacker.
Petri began playing water polo on the boys' team in high school, but helped begin a girls' water polo program at Miramonte High School
Miramonte High School
Miramonte High School is a public high school located in Orinda, California. It is part of the Acalanes Union High School District, which has a college preparatory program, with 15 Advanced Placement courses offered. Over 98% of its graduates go on to college. 320 students graduated in 2005, with...
and was team captain for two years. In 1997 she was recruited by UC Berkeley coach Maureen O'Toole
Maureen O'Toole
Maureen O'Toole is an accomplished American water polo player and coach. In over 30 years in the sport, she set multiple firsts for women in water polo, received all the top honors, and in her time was recognized as one of the best water polo players in the world.O'Toole started playing water polo...
, and played collegiate water polo from 1997-2001. Petri earned All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and All-MPSF
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation is a college athletic conference whose member teams are located in the western United States. The conference participates at the NCAA Division I level.-History:...
honors at Cal in 1998 and 1999 and finished her college career with 96 goals. She sat out her senior season as a member of the first US women's Olympic water polo team, and graduated from Berkeley in 2002 with a degree in integrative biology. She played for Rari-Nantes, a professional water polo team in Florence, Italy, for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 season, and is currently a member of the US senior women's team.
In March 2007, Petri competed in the 2007 World Aquatics Championships, representing the United States. After a series of victories, the United States won the gold medal, becoming world champions. Petri also won a gold medal in the 2003 World Aquatic Championships in Barcelona, Spain. She is now a two time World Champion.
At the 2008 China Summer Olympic games, she and the American team lost 8-9 in the Championship game
Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament
The women's water polo tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from 11 August to 21 August at the Beijing's Ying Tung Pool....
to the Netherlands and took home the silver medal.
Career
In June 2009, Petri was named to the USA water polo women's senior national teamUnited States women's national water polo team
The United States women's national water polo team represents the United States in international women's water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is one of the leading teams in the world since the late 1990s....
for the 2009 FINA World Championships. She currently plays for the Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni
Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni
The Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni, or "NOV" is an aquatic sports club, founded by local sportsmen in 1937 in the seaside resort of Vouliagmeni, south of Athens, Greece. The club is located on the eastern edge of the Mikro Kavouri peninsula, adjacent to the Astir Palace Hotel and overlooking the...
, Greece, with whom she won the 2010 European Championships.