Alumni Spotlight: Kalei Mahi '04
10/6/2025 4:00:00 PM | Block S Club
Former Student-Athlete Spotlight (September Edition)
Kalei Mahi '04
Women's SwimmingKalei's journey is the kind of story that defines what it means to be a Syracuse student-athlete: courageous, resilient, and committed to lifting others while chasing her own excellence. If you saw Kalei as a young child or watched her fight through her debilitating back injury, you might not have imagined she'd turn into a record-setting swimmer. But after you hear her story of resilience and determination, you will understand why she is a two-time Abbie Bigelow Award winner for courage.
Kalei was a so-called "flight risk" growing up, having her parents dive in the water fully clothed to save her more times than they can count. Her parents put her into swimming lessons which helped her stay safe around the water and it even helped tremendously with her severe asthma she had growing up. What started as a safety lesson quickly turned into passion.
Kalei grew up playing other sports such as volleyball and water polo, but no other sport matched the level of focus, confidence, and energy she felt from swimming. She loved being in a sport where she was in full control of the outcome of the competition. Even though other sports didn't capture her attention like swimming, Kalei still has a lot of respect for non-water sports, stating "it takes a special athlete to thrive on land, and I am not one of them."
Although land and water sports have clear differences in competing styles, what remains the same is that each athlete must be mentally strong. The mental strength to overcome adversity like a sudden injury is often overlooked. If you've never had an injury that affected your performance, you may not fully understand the impact injuries can have on an athlete's mental health.
Kalei suffered from a back injury in college that caused her to wake up at 5am some days just to give herself enough time to get out of bed without triggering a back spasm before practice. "I competed at meets where I couldn't feel my legs after a race and sometimes would have a trainer waiting at the end of the pool with an ice bag and a portable tens machine ready to go," said Kalei. She was offered a medical retirement, but she refused. She wanted to finish what she started. She wanted to finish strong, medal at the Big East, and compete all four years and she did just that.
Finish strong is an understatement, Kalei placed at the Big East Finals all four years and capped her collegiate career as a record holder in the 100 Breaststroke, a legacy she is deeply proud of, especially knowing the swimming program at Syracuse no longer exists. Her talent and excellence continued even out of the pool as Kalei carried those same qualities of grit and leadership into her professional life.
Kalei has built a 20+ year career in brand marketing, working alongside some of the most respected names in the world including Sony, American Express, AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, YouTube, eBay, and Sephora. Whether leading influencer campaigns or shaping brand strategy, Kalei brought the same discipline and collaborative spirit that defined her years in the pool. Kalei now owns her own company called NextGen Legacy NIL, where she helps student-athletes and their families navigate the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness landscape. Every athlete she works with gets a personalized plan tailored to their goals, values, and comfort level. She helps athletes tell their story, advocate for themselves, and prepare for opportunities that extend beyond their playing careers. Her ethos is rooted in education, intention, and protection, ensuring that the next generation of athletes has both the tools to succeed and the guidance to do so responsibly.
Kalei's journey shows us all what it looks like to not give up and keep pushing. She could have stopped back in college with her back injury, but she knew she had a bigger purpose. Kalei embodies the values of Syracuse athletics: courage, resilience, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to the athletic community.
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Stay connected with Kalei here:Â https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleimahi/
Would you like to be featured in the next 'Block S' Club Alumni Spotlight? We'd love to share your story! Fill out the interest form HERE and we'll be in touch! We plan to highlight one men's student-athlete and one female student-athlete each quarter. Read our last alumni spotlights here.
Players Mentioned
