GRAND CHAMPION

Live Beautifully

The Woman Redefining Polo


By Jayne Chase

MELISSA GANZI IS MORE THAN A PLAYER—SHE IS A FORCE RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF POLO. HER JOURNEY FROM LEARNING THE GAME ON HER FIRST GIFTED PONY TO BECOMING THE MOST DECORATED FEMALE SNOW POLO PLAYER IN THE WORLD IS A TESTAMENT TO HER DETERMINATION, GRACE, AND VISION. SHE HAS NOT ONLY BROKEN BARRIERS IN A HISTORICALLY MALE-DOMINATED SPORT BUT HAS ALSO EMERGED AS A GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR POLO, CHAMPIONING ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSIVITY, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLAYERS.


For centuries, the sport of polo has captivated nomads, royalty, and military men alike. Its earliest version, played between 600 B.C. and 100 A.D., served both as a pastime and a means of military training. Today, polo is embraced around the world, from private polo clubs to professional leagues, played passionately by men and women.


Among the sport’s most celebrated figures is Melissa Ganzi, the world’s leading female snow polo player. A tall, blonde beauty with a radiant smile and gracious presence, Ganzi was first introduced to the sport by her father-in-law, Wally Ganzi, who gifted her first polo pony. Immediately, she fell in love with the game and has been playing ever since.

Since those early days, Ganzi has brought more than her love of horses to the playing field. She has made history as the first woman to win the Monty Waterbury Cup in Saratoga Springs in 2001, the 35th St. Moritz Bendura Bank and Aspen Snow Polo tournaments, and the Richard Mille AIULA Desert Polo Tournament. “This is the best time to be a female polo player now,” she says enthusiastically. “There are so many more opportunities for women, and there are more tournaments and sponsors. The sport is no longer a 'good ole boys' one, but a sport that is now made up of 50% women. But the true athletes,” she adds with pride, “are the horses. I love them the most, and each has its own personality.”

That love, combined with her unwavering drive, defines her both on and off the field. “I need to stay in shape with various dryland training, including pilates, stationary cycling, and weight training. It’s necessary to maintain a healthy diet and get at least eight hours of sleep every night. This sport requires all your strength, so it’s important to stay healthy.” Yet, her greatest victory came in 2021, when she beat stage 2 breast cancer. With the support of her family and medical staff at Calaway Young Cancer Center in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where she received “cutting-edge care and radiation treatments,” she won her greatest tournament. “I’m thankful to be able to continue my passion for polo with my family and friends for many years to come.”



Pausing to reflect, she continues with great conviction. “There is still a lot of work for me to do for the sport. I love breeding and training polo ponies as well as cultivating younger players for the sport. We are finishing our 7th successful season of 26 goal World Polo League, which my husband and I founded, and along with my philanthropic work for the Museum of Polo, the Hall of Fame Polo Training Foundation, and organizations that specialize in helping the disabled. There is plenty of work to do. I want to see the sport grow and reach all walks of life,” Ganzi concludes with a smile. “I plan on promoting polo at the local, national and international level for generations to come.”



For more information: www.worldpolo.org

Images by Nick Mele photography