{{short description|American water polo player (born 1985)}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = | image_size = |fullname = Elsie Ann Windes | caption = | birth_name = | nationality = | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|6|17}} | birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S. | height = 5 ft 11 in | weight = | country = {{USA}} | sport = Water Polo | turnedpro = | coach = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's water polo }} {{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games }} {{MedalGold | 2012 London | Team competition }} {{MedalSilver | 2008 Beijing | Team competition }} {{MedalCompetition | World Championships }} {{MedalGold | 2007 Melbourne | Team competition }} {{MedalGold | 2009 Rome | Team competition }} {{MedalCompetition | Pan American Games }} {{MedalGold | 2011 Guadalajara | Team competition }} }}
'''Elsie Ann Windes''' (born June 17, 1985) is an American water polo player. After playing for the University of California, Berkeley, she joined the United States national team in 2006. She helped the U.S. win a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
==Career== ===High school=== Windes played on the water polo team at Beaverton High School. She was the 2003 Oregon State MVP and led her team to the 2003 state championship. She also earned all-league honors three times.<ref name="calbears">[http://www.calbears.com/sports/w-wpolo/mtt/windes_elsie00.html "Elsie Windes"]. calbears.com. Retrieved August 13, 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226010343/http://www.calbears.com/sports/w-wpolo/mtt/windes_elsie00.html |date=December 26, 2010 }}</ref>
===College=== Windes started her college career at the University of California, Berkeley in 2004. As a freshman, she scored 33 goals to rank second on the team. She led the Bears in scoring the following year, with 51 goals, and was a third team All-American. In 2006, Windes led the team again, with 40 goals. She was named to the All-American second team. She scored 23 goals as a senior in 2007. She has the eighth-most goals in school history.<ref name="calbears" />
===International=== Windes joined the U.S. senior national team in 2006. In 2007, she scored five goals in the FINA World League Super Final and four goals in the Pan American Games, helping the U.S. to first-place finishes in both tournaments. In 2008, Windes had five goals in the FINA World League Super Final, as the U.S. finished second. She won a silver medal with the U.S. at the 2008 Summer Olympics, scoring one goal.<ref name="usawaterpolo">[http://www.usawaterpolo.org/NationalTeams/PlayerBio.aspx?ID=35 "Elsie Windes"]. usawaterpolo.org. Retrieved August 13, 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711022454/http://www.usawaterpolo.org/NationalTeams/PlayerBio.aspx?ID=35 |date=July 11, 2012 }}</ref>
At the 2009 FINA World Championships, Windes had six goals to help win the gold medal. She then scored five goals apiece during gold medal runs at the 2010 FINA World League Super Final and 2010 FINA World Cup. In 2011, Windes scored three goals in the FINA World League Super Final and four goals in the Pan American Games to help the U.S. earn a berth in the 2012 Summer Olympics.<ref name="usawaterpolo" /> At the Olympics, she won a gold medal with the U.S.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=8263824 "Olympic water polo gets 2 first-time winners"]. sports.espn.go.com. August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.</ref>
==Awards== In 2020, Windes was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elsie Windes (2020) |url=https://usawaterpolo.org/hof.aspx?hof=230 |website=usawaterpolo.org |publisher=USA Water Polo |access-date=December 16, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://usawaterpolo.org/sports/2018/11/28/trads-hof-inductees-html.aspx |website=usawaterpolo.org |publisher=USA Water Polo |access-date=December 16, 2020 }}</ref>
==Personal== Windes was born in Portland, Oregon. She resides in Huntington Beach, California. She is {{convert|5|ft|11|in}} tall. Her father and sister both played water polo.<ref name="usawaterpolo" />
==See also== * United States women's Olympic water polo team records and statistics * List of Olympic champions in women's water polo * List of Olympic medalists in water polo (women) * List of world champions in women's water polo * List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Sports links}}
{{United States women's water polo squad 2008 Summer Olympics}} {{United States women's water polo squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Windes, Elsie}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Portland, Oregon Category:American female water polo players Category:Water polo centre backs Category:Water polo players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Water polo players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in water polo Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in water polo Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo Category:Water polo players at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in water polo Category:California Golden Bears women's water polo players Category:Beaverton High School alumni Category:21st-century American sportswomen