STANFORD, Calif. - Former Cardinal standout Dani Jackovich has qualified for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics as a member of the Australian national team.
Jackovich, who competed at Stanford from 2014-17, becomes the 15th player in school history to represent the Cardinal at the Olympics, and only the second outside of Team USA alongside Gurpreet Sohi (Canada) in 2020.
A two-time ACWPC All-American who finished her career with 106 goals and 11 hat tricks, Jackovich was also a four-time ACWPC All-Academic recipient and three-time MPSF All-Academic selection. A biomechanical engineering major, Jackovich was a member of three NCAA championship teams (2014-15, 2017) and the 2014 MPSF title squad.
A native of New Lenox, Illinois, Jackovich moved to Australia to play water polo in 2019. Through membership in their league, Jackovich has been able to secure visas, residency and citizenship necessary to maintain eligibility and compete for Australia in world aquatics competitions.
"It's a surreal feeling," said Jackovich. "My path to realizing this dream hasn't been the most conventional. There was a point where I believed the dream would never come true, but my love for the sport kept me playing and traveling the world. The journey I've taken to get to this point makes it all the more special that I can finally say my childhood dream has come true."
A center forward for the Aussie Stingers, Jackovich will make her Olympic debut for an Australian squad that finished fifth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and fourth at last year's World Championships. Jackovich competed for the Cronulla Sharks senior club team.
The Olympics women's water polo competition is a 10-team tournament that runs from July 27-Aug. 10.