Over the course of three Olympic Games, they were the ruthless heartbreakers. In Paris last week, they were the heartbroken.
The U.S. women’s water polo team lost their last two games in cruel fashion — Australia edging them by a goal in a penalty throw shootout, and the Netherlands scoring a game-winner with less than a second to play — stopping their streak of earning medals in six consecutive Olympics, including a remarkable strand of three golds.
“I’m super grateful to represent this country,” said Ryann Neushul, the third sister from Santa Barbara to play for the U.S. team. “This Olympics reminded us that you don’t just walk out there wearing ‘U.S.A.’ and win. A lot of things have to go right. It’s difficult to win all the time.”