Have you found your triathlon training
and racing has helped you with polo?
It definitely has. Physically, both sports
require core balance, coordination,
and lots of leg strength. Mentally, polo
requires focus and determination and the
ability to push fear aside, which is similar
to triathlon training and racing.
Which would you say is the ‘tougher’
sport in terms of athletic ability?
Triathlon pushes your physical and
mental capacity beyond your perceived
thresholds, testing your physical and
mental limits to reach the finish line.
But polo has given me more bruises
and is definitely more dangerous!
How challenging has it been, being
a female in a male-dominated sport?
Whether it’s fighting my way in the swim
portion of the triathlon or riding off an
opposing team in polo, I have to stand my
ground. I don’t look so tough so I enjoy
proving my toughness in sports! I was
flattered during the season when a player
from the other team came up to me after
our game and said, ‘Wow, I pushed into
you very hard in a ride-off and you didn’t
budge and stayed focused on the play.
You’re one tough girl! Good job out there.’
The US appears to be streets ahead of
other countries in terms of women’s
polo. Do you feel there is still room
for improvement? Absolutely, there
are leagues, such as WCT Women’s
Championship Tournaments, dedicated
to the growth of female polo players,
which is great for the continued
development of the sport. I played
in a WCT 10-Goal tournament at
Eldorado Polo Club – it was a very
competitive and open/fast match!
What is your current goal handicap?
My first season was 2016, where I played
in tournaments governed by the United
States Polo Association. I am rated a B or
-1. The rating system is pretty unique. As
a polo patron, the lower rating can work
in your favour as it can free space to have
higher rated professional polo players on
your team. In a game, the handicap rating
of each player is added together to equal
the handicap rating for the team.
Tell me more about your team? I created
Team Prima Polo for the 2016 season, which
30
BMW INTERNATIONAL POLO
‘ entally, polo requ es focus and determinatio
and the ability to push ear aside which is
similar to iathlo aining and racing.’
made its debut in the 1-goal tournament
at Empire Polo Club from January to April
2016. We did very well and had the most
team wins over the three-month season.
Next season, Team Prima Polo will be playing
in a 4-goal tournament and the players will
change to meet the 4-goal handicap.
Is the aim to play professionally?
With a full sponsorship, I could aim for a
professional rating in two to three years.
I’m currently looking to represent a brand
or corporate sponsor to help me
get there! If I don’t pick up a long-term
full sponsorship, I will just play when