DOB: 5/16/1992 Age: 24 Height: 5’9’’ Hometown: Newport Beach, CA

Born and raised in Newport Beach, CA, Kaleigh Gilchrist hit the water at an early age and never looked back. It was a perfect combination of water polo, surfing and the competitive spirit that lead Kaleigh to where she is today.

Throughout her high school years at Newport Harbor she continued to excel in both sports winning a CIF Championship in water polo along with representing her country as member of the USA Jr. Surf Team competing against the world's best. For her efforts she received the Orange County Athlete of the Year in 2010.

Kaleigh competed in her last and most prestigious amateur event in the summer of 2010 where she brought home an unprecedented back to back win at the USA surf championships. Later that summer she began her collegiate career at the University of Southern California.

At USC not only did Kaleigh excel in athletics and academics she also expanded her interests to include philanthropic endeavors through Pi Beta Phi women's sorority. It was there where she truly mastered life's balance.

As a captain, Kaleigh lead her water polo team to a NCAA championship. A month later she won another championship for her school, this time as a NSSA collegiate surfer.

Kaleigh graduated from USC in May of 2014 with a Bachelors Degree in Communication and a minor in Occupational Science.

With an Olympic Gold Medal in hand, Kaleigh is now committed to transitioning back to surfing. While her near term goal is to qualify for the WSL Womens Championship tour, she is very excited that surfing has been added to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and plans to do whatever she can to represent US once again in the Olympics, 56 years after her father swam in his first games in the same city.

Water Polo: 2016 – Gold medal - Women’s Water Polo - Rio Olympics – Scored 6 Goals 2016 – FINA World League Super Final – Gold Medal – Four Goals 2016 – FINA Intercontinental Tournament – Gold Medal – Six Goals 2015 – FINA World Champions 2014 – FINA World Cup Champions 2014 – All American & MPSF First Team 2013 – NCAA Champions

Surf: 2017 – 4th place Shoe City Pro QS 2016 – QS events – two heat wins – first three events back 2014 – 1st place American Pro Surf Series 2013 – NSSA College National Champion 2012 – 4th place US Open Pro Junior 2011 – 9th place ISA World Games in Panama 2010 – Champion U18 U.S. Surfing Championships 2009 – Champion U18 U.S. Surfing Champions