Heather Moody (born August 21, 1973 in
Rexburg, Idaho) is an American
water polo player, who won a
silver medal at the
2000 Summer Olympics. She was team captain of the US Women's National Team that captured the
bronze medal at the
2004 Summer Olympics in
Athens, and the only member of the team not from California. Her position is center forward.
In 1999 and 2001, Heather was United States Water Polo Player of the Year.
In September 2001, Moody became the first American woman water polo player to play professionally, when she signed with top European
Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni in
Greece. She had been approached by a number of international club teams, but chose the Greek club after consulting with women’s national team coaches
Guy Baker and
Kyle Kopp, the latter of whom played in the Greek professional league for four years before retiring in 2001.
In June 2005, Bill Barnett resigned as coach of the U.S. women's water polo team because he couldn't come to terms on a contract. Heather Moody, serving as assistant coach, became interim head coach at the FINA World Championships in Montreal one month later. The
rookie coach guided the United States to the championship game in women's water polo in July 2005, but lost to Hungary 10-7 in two overtimes. In September,
Guy Baker replaced Heather Moody as head coach of the U.S. women's water polo team, leaving his positions as national team director and head coach of the U.S. men. Moody resumed the role of assistant coach.
In...
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