Jesse Smith: Here's Why the California State Games is Special
Jesse Smith is an American Water Polo player and four-time Olympian.
He is a current member of the U.S. Men’s National Team, and has been a member of the Olympic team since 2004, winning a silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games. Smith is a southern California native and is now a sitting
Community Advisory Board member for the California State Games organization. We spoke with Jesse about his position with the California State Games and why he thinks the organization is important for California's amateur athletes.
WHAT INTERESTED YOU ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA STATE GAMES TO BECOME A SITTING BOARD MEMBER?
The California State Games has committed to promoting and nurturing the health, education and competitive spirit of California's youth. Just like LA84, Challenged Athletes Foundation, and the 2028 Olympic organization, the Cal State Games organization has a big impact on our youth communities. There's a ton of storied expertise in the rest of the board: Willie Banks, Olympian; Earl Edwards, UCSD Athletic Director; Tracy Lamb, Consultant National Olympic Committees; Buck Martin, City of San Marcos Parks & Recreation; Steve Schell. So my role as an active Olympian has been to say, Yes, to any requests made of me and to remain committed to help in the future.
WHAT MAKES THE GAMES UNIQUE OR SPECIAL COMPARED TO OTHER SPORTING EVENTS OR ORGANIZATIONS YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF?
I believe Sandi Hill has a long term vision to help youth through shared sporting experience and creating opportunity. She's proven that by remaining committed to implementing her vision for so many years; especially the efforts she and her team have put in during the last four years. That's pretty special and a huge component of why I love being involved in the organization. The organization also hosts a great
Opening Ceremonies that really evokes the experience of being in the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics. I love that feeling of representing something bigger than yourself. It's hard to mimic the Olympics at the local level but the athletes at the Cal State Games get a chance to represent their sport in front of ten to twenty thousand people. It's a pretty special opportunity.
CLEARLY, SPORTS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS YOU ARE AN OLYMPIAN! WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO SPORTS AND SPECIFICALLY, WATER POLO?
Great question. Sports are important to me because they gave me the opportunity to learn so many things. I've always been a student of the game. As I've gotten older that "game," has really expanded and evolved to be a student of "life." I love seeing sport icons like Bill Walton, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ryan Nece (UCLA), John Thomas O'Sullivan (San Diego) demonstrate their excellence in careers post sport. Water polo is a great metaphor for business because you are always almost drowning, until you are just crushing and winning everything. It's similar to that. I transitioned from individual swimming into team oriented water polo. Water polo was one of the first team sports in the Olympics. I love the team aspect.
WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND PARTICIPATE IN THE CAL STATE GAMES? HOW COME?
Cal State Games are so great because they really are available to a lot of athletes. They even have water polo, [laugh out loud]. I love the diversity in the games and the inclusion. Great stuff really! I think everyone who can participate should go for it, because it's a great way to experience a taste of what the
Olympics Games are all about!
YOU'VE FREQUENTED THE OPENING CEREMONIES A FEW TIMES. WHAT DRAWS YOU TO THIS EVENT, AND DOES IT BRING BACK MEMORIES OF ANY OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES?
Yes, the Opening ceremonies absolutely makes the California State Games unique. I love the experience of meeting so many great people and getting an opportunity to represent your sport and your community. Seeing the teams circle the stadium waving to fans, the live music and speeches, even skydivers flying our flag in! So special! Go USA!
The
California State Games is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a quality amateur athletic event to foster the Olympic dream. Your
donation will help us continue to provide competitive events for California’s amateur athletes and provide them the Olympic experience.
