Danville's Maggie Steffens Named Best Female Water Polo Player of 2012

Nobody in the world played water polo better than Maggie Steffens in 2012.

The Monte Vista High grad scored a tournament leading 21 goals at the London Olympics, including five in the gold medal match to lead the United States over Spain.

(Related: Gold! Maggie Steffens Scores 5 to Lead U.S. Over Spain)

Last week, water polo's international organization, Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), named the 19-year-old the top women's water polo player on the planet in 2012.

"I always dreamed of being the best, at whatever I did. That's just how my dad raised me, 'always strive to be amongst the best' and 'always represent your last name, Steffens,'" Steffens told USA Water Polo last week. "To know that that dream has actually come true, wow. Words can't even describe the feeling. I do have to pinch myself because to me, my teammates and the girls I play against internationally are the people who I have learned from and helped me become the player I am today. They are the ones who I consider to be the best in the world and getting to play with and against them is what has made me better."

Steffens played with her sister Jessica on the gold medal winning team, and the two were honored by the town in August for their accomplishment.

"I played all different sports growing up, but when I knew I could go somewhere with water polo near the end of middle school, I always had support from teachers, coaches, really good friends and family to get to where I am today," Steffens said at the ceremony.

Steffens will begin her collegiate career at Stanford this spring. The Cardinal are the defending national champions.

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