Sandy Nitta

Sandy Nitta was only 15-years-old when she made the 1964 Olympic team, swimming for Montebello High School and the Commerce Swim Club. She also played water polo in the off-season. Nitta later started working for the city of Commerce as a lifeguard and as a swim coach for the novice swimmers at Commerce SC. She also offered her swimmers the chance to play water polo in the off-season, which led to a career as a water polo coach.

In 1980 Nitta became US Women’s National Team coach, staying in that position until 1994. She later coached the Queensland (AUS) StTeam, the Brazilian Women’s team, Team Vegas from 1994-99 and 2004-14, the Tualatain Water Polo Club in Oregon, and she coached a Masters team to the 2006 Women’s Masters World Championship. In 1977 she also hosted the first International Women’s Water Polo Tournament in Commerce, with teams competing from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Australia, which led to future international events for women.