The 2020 & 2016 Olympic Gold medalist attended USC where she was a member of the 2013 NCAA Championship team. In addition to water polo, she’s also a two-time U.S. surfing champion winning the title in 2009 and 2010. Versatile talent in the pool, took time away from Team USA in 2017 to resume professional surfing career.
 
INTERNATIONAL/CLUB
Netted 4 goals at 2024 World Aquatics World Championships in Doha...Notched 8 goals at 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago...Tallied 2 goals at 2023 World Aquatics World Championships in Fukuoka...Scored 5 goals at 2023 World Aquatics World Cup in Long Beach...Recorded 4 goals at 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest...Posted 7 goals at 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo...Notched 2 goals at 2021 FINA World League Super Final in Athens...Tallied 8 goals at 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju...Scored 2 goals at 2019 FINA World League Super Final…Recorded 6 goals at 2019 FINA Intercontinental Tournament...Scored 9 goals at 2018 FINA World Cup...Tallied 5 goals at 2018 FINA World League Super Final...Scored 9 goals at 2018 FINA Intercontinental Tournament...Tallied 6 goals at 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...Dropped 4 goals in 2016 FINA World League Super Final...Added 5 goals to help Team USA qualify for 2016 Olympic Games...Scored 6 goals to help team to Gold-medal win at 2016 FINA Intercontinental Tournament...Posted 2 goals during 2015 FINA World Championship, assisting Team USA to Gold...Tallied 8 goals during Team USA’s win at 2015 Pan American Games...Notched 4 goals at 2015 FINA World League Super Final in Shanghai...Recorded 7 goals for Team USA’s run for Gold at 2015 FINA Intercontinental Tournament...Tallied 7 goals in helping Team USA to Gold at 2014 FINA World Cup...Scored 6 goals in Gold-medal effort at 2014 FINA World League Super Final...Led team in scoring with 13 goals on way to Silver at 2014 FINA Intercontinental Tournament.
 
COLLEGE
Attended USC from 2010-2014 where she majored in communications and minored in occupational science…NCAA Championship in 2013...2^nd Team ACWPC All-American in 2014… 2^nd Team NCAA All-Tournament…1^st Team All-MPSF…2013 3^rd Team All-American…2^nd Team All-MPSF…1^st Team NCAA All-Tournament…2012 2^nd Team All-American…2^nd Team All-MPSF.
 
HIGH SCHOOL 
CIF Championship with Newport Harbor in 2008...1^st Team All-CIF in 2009 and 2010...Orange County Register Athlete of the Year and Water Polo Player of the Year in 2010...U.S. Surfing Championship in 2009 and 2010...Four-year member of USA Surf Team...Honor student...Played club for Newport Harbor.
 
PERSONAL
Lists her CIF water polo and U.S. surfing championships as her most thrilling sports moments...Also competes on World Surf League Qualifying Series…Enjoys surfing and traveling in her free time...Won NSSA National Surfing Title a month later in 2013. A member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority…Father Sandy was member of USC swim team from 1964-68 and swam in 1964 and 1968 Olympics.
 
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

• 2024 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, DOHA, QATAR, 1ST PLACE
• 2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, SANTIAGO, CHILE, 1ST PLACE
• 2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, FUKUOKA, JAPAN, 5TH PLACE
• 2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CUP, LONG BEACH, UNITED STATES, 1ST PLACE
• 2022 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1ST PLACE
• 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES, TOKYO, JAPAN, 1ST PLACE (Took place in 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic)
• 2021 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, ATHENS, GREECE, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 HOLIDAY CUP, PRINCETON, NJ, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 CANADA CUP, MONTREAL, CANADA, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA, 1ST PLACE
• 2019 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1^STPLACE
• 2019 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, PERTH, AUSTRALIA, 1^STPLACE
• 2018 FINA WORLD CUP, SURGUT, RUSSIA, 1^STPLACE
• 2018 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, KUNSHAN, CHINA, 1^STPLACE
• 2018 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 1^STPLACE
• 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, 1^STPLACE
• 2016 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1^STPLACE
• 2016 OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT, GOUDA, NETHERLANDS, 1^STPLACE
• 2016 FINA WOMEN'S INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, LEWISVILLE, TX, 1^STPLACE
• 2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, KAZAN, RUSSIA, 1^STPLACE
• 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, TORONTO, CANADA, 1^STPLACE
• 2015 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1^STPLACE
• 2015 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 1^STPLACE
• 2014 FINA WORLD CUP, KHANTY-MANSIYSK, RUSSIA, 1^STPLACE
• 2014 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, KUNSHAN, CHINA, 1^STPLACE
• 2014 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, RIVERSIDE, CA, 2^NDPLACE

 
FUN FACTS
Instagram:kaleighgilchrist
Twitter:@KGilchrist15
 
What was the moment you knew you wanted to represent your country in the Olympic Games?Was it always in the sport of water polo?
I must have been about 10 years old. I knew a little about the Games because of my dad, and that was just about the time I really started falling in love with water polo.
What is your hidden talent?
I can catch grapes in my mouth from long distances.
What is your favorite karaoke song?
“Man, I Feel Like A Woman” by Shania Twain
If you could compete in another sport during the Olympic Games what would it be and why?
Surfing. 
What is one thing you have to have with you when you travel?
I just started bringing a film camera on every trip.
Biggest superstition if you have one?
I have to be capped by Makenzie and give Rachel a little slap on the booty before games. 
What is your biggest fear?
Drowning from a big wave.
What are two truths and a lie about you?
I can do the worm. 
I can do the splits.
I speak four languages. 
Do you have a nickname? How did you get it?
KG, Kales, Barrel. The first two are from my real name, and the third is courtesy of Coach Barnett from high school. 
What song would be included on your life's soundtrack?
“Sweet Caroline” 
What advice would you give your younger self, and what would you remind your older self?
I would tell my younger self to not be scared to dream big and pave my own path. I would remind my older self to be kind to everyone who crosses my path, be grateful, and enjoy the journey. 
Etc.: Thank you to the sport of water polo for giving me such an amazing opportunity. Thanks to all my past and present teammates and coaches. You all have pushed me to become a better water polo player and a better person every single day. And, of course, thanks to my amazing family for their endless love and support throughout the years.