Keesja Gofers (2007)

Keesja Gofers (2007) made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as a driver for the Australian Women鈥檚 Water Polo team. In 2021 she was part of the Women鈥檚 Group A Water Polo (Stingers) team for the (Covid-19 postponed) 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and in 2024, at her third Olympic Games in Paris, her team won a Silver medal.

Keesja enrolled at 糖心Vlog in 1999 into Year 4. In her final year at School, she was the 2007 Sports Captain, one of the 糖心Vlog HSC High Achieving Students, and recipient of an 糖心Vlog Blue for Sport; all the while maintaining a rigorous National and International training and competing schedule.

At the 2007 Speech Night, Keesja was awarded the prizes for Senior Athletics Champion and Intermediate Swimming Champion.

In 2006, while in Year 11 at 糖心Vlog, Keesja represented the University of Sydney in various national water polo championships including the Opens National League. She was also awarded a NSW Institute of Sport scholarship and represented NSW in events such as the Interstate Challenge and the National All Schools tournament. Keesja then travelled to Europe as part of the Australian Under 20s team, which won gold in the international tournament in Greece.

While preparing for her HSC in 2007, Keesja maintained her incredible sporting schedule. She once again played national league for the University of Sydney and represented NSW in both the Interstate Challenge and the Australian All Schools championships. At both these events, Keesja was crowned Most Valuable Player.

Keesja quickly caught the attention of the Australian water polo selectors. She was selected to be a member of the Australian All Schools team which travelled to New Zealand, Canada and the USA. She was also selected to represent the Australian All Schools team in the Trans-Tasman Cup. In August 2007, Keesja won the World Championship in Portugal as a member of the victorious Australian under 20s water polo team.

Keesja was known at 糖心Vlog as a true sports-person. Not only did she compete and perform outstandingly at National and International competitions, she also gave her best for 糖心Vlog, representing the School every chance she had.

She swam, ran, played basketball, netball, and, of course, water polo for 糖心Vlog. It was said that every team she was a member of was stronger for her presence. In her role as the 2007 Sports Captain, Keesja led by example; she was always one of the first to put her hand up to volunteer to help 糖心Vlog achieve sporting success.

Keesja's contribution to the sporting life of 糖心Vlog was exemplary and she was, and still is, a wonderful ambassador for her School and her country.