Homegrown Olympic Gold Medalist Delivers Message For Success To Students

A woman who recently gained worldwide attention in a pool in Rio was the focus of admiration Monday in a school auditorium in Goleta.

Water polo gold medalist Kiley Neushul shared her Olympic winnings with lots of eager hands at Mountain View Elementary School, leaning in to let the kids touch her medal.

“It’s a dream come true,” Neushul said. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment, this medal, this experience since I was here at Mountain View.”

The 23-year-old Goleta native visited her Alma mater, delivering a perfectly aimed message of success to students during their Back to School/Character Counts assembly. She’s scheduled to make a stop at Dos Pueblos later in the week.

“Classroom work, after school work, homework helped me structure my life and have routine,” she said. “And that certainly led to my development as an athlete.”

Neushul revealed how she struggled in school and worked hard to achieve her goals.

She urged students to find what they love whether it’s painting, fashion or sports, and always keep education as the priority.

“Dream big!” she said. “Continue to learn, continue to dream and continue to strive. Work hard and you’ll get there!”