Long Beach’s Wilson High Continues Olympic Legacy with Water Polo Star Max Irving and Rising Track Athlete Rachel Glenn at 2024 Paris Games
Written By: Jackie Rae
Music fans know that Long Beach, California, is well known for putting West Coast Hip-Hop on the map. Names like Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and Nate Dogg have long been solidified in Hip-Hop royalty. So it's possible Snoop's appearance at the 2024 Olympics was tied to his successful music career and his affiliation with the city that has produced countless Olympic athletes, thanks to one high school.
Wilson High School in Long Beach isn't just known for its academic and athletic excellence—it's a powerhouse in producing Olympic talent. With an incredible 38 alumni having competed in the Summer Olympics, Wilson might hold the record for the most Olympians from a single U.S. high school. Wilson's influence on the global stage is undeniable, from legendary two-time gold medalist diver Pat McCormick in 1952 to the latest stars like water polo player Max Irving and high jumper Rachel Glenn.
Irving is one of a tiny group of Black water polo players to ever compete in the Olympics. A three-time All-American, he played at UCLA, where he helped lead the team to the 2017 NCAA Championship. He racked up 12 goals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, netted nine goals at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships in Doha, was second on Team USA with 25 goals at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, and his accolades go on.
His most notable accolade is being on the men's water polo team that won a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The bronze medal was the first medal the men brought home for the United States in 100 years.
He is part of a long list of Wilson High School alumni who continued to win medals during the Olympic games. "There's been a lot of talent that's come out of Long Beach," says Shannon Fisher, Wilson's head track coach. "Wilson has produced some phenomenal athletes over the years." And that's not an exaggeration. The school boasts nine gold, 12 silver, and seven bronze medalists across a variety of sports, including aquatics, volleyball, and track and field.
One of the newest additions to this long line of Olympians is Rachel Glenn, a 22-year-old high jumper competing in her first Olympics. Fisher reflects on her journey, sharing how Glenn, who only started high jumping a few years ago, was driven from the start. "(Glenn) was consistently asking what she could do to make herself better," Fisher recalls. "For her to be competing with the top in the world after just a few years in the high jump is amazing."
Glenn, a 2020 Wilson grad, has always focused on attending the Olympics. "We're going to be famous; we're going to the Olympics," she declared in a video shared by Fisher. While her talent initially blossomed in hurdles—she's a top American in the 400-meter hurdles—this year, it was all about the high jump. And Fisher believes her journey is just getting started. While Glenn did not win a medal in the 2024 Olympics, Fisher says it was just her first time and believes great things are yet to come. "She has a possibility of making it to the hurdles next time, in LA 2028."
With Glenn and Irving both representing Wilson in Paris, there's no shortage of pride back home. Wilson's 72-year Olympic legacy is proudly displayed in its gym, where memorabilia hangs alongside state championship banners. Alumni from the school have competed in every Summer Olympics since 1952, except for the 1980 Moscow Games boycott.
"It's a proud moment when people walk into that gym," says co-head track coach Neil Nelson, himself a Wilson alum. The school's diverse athletic programs and the unique makeup of Long Beach—a blend of races, classes, and economic backgrounds—have created a breeding ground for Olympic talent.
Though official confirmation is pending, Wilson High is believed to have produced more Summer Olympians than any other U.S. high school. As the next generation of athletes chase their dreams, Fisher is hopeful Glenn's success will inspire even more Bruins to aim for greatness. "Helping create good human beings is probably the best part of it all," Fisher says.
With the Olympic flame burning brightly for Wilson alumni, the future of Bruin athletics looks golden.