Water polo brothers share house and same dream ahead of Tokyo 2020
With parents who played high level sport, it’s no surprise these brothers have the goal of making a splash for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics next year.
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They live together, travel together, train together and now brothers Blake and Lachie Edwards have their sights set on playing together at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Blake admits he and his brother are well suited to water polo with his father Robert playing at a world championships level for Australia and mother Lyn a former elite swimmer.
“You could say we were almost bred for the sport,” said Blake, 27, who grew up in Melbourne but lives with his brother at Drummoyne while he trains to be a mortgage broker.
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The water polo brothers and teammates have the chance to impress selectors when Australia takes on Croatia in a series of international matches in Sydney this week.
Both Blake and Lachie missed the Rio Olympics but as regular members of the senior squad since 2018 are putting all their efforts into 2020 selection.
“We didn’t make Rio. It was tough,’’ Blake said.
“But I think our personal disappointment has made us stronger. We really want to challenge ourselves and the experience has seen us grow as players.’’
Their size difference means the brothers will be pitted against other teammates, rather than each other for their specialist positions in the team.
“He’s the younger brother. He’s three times the size of me and he always wins the physical battles,’’ laughed Blake of his 195cm, 120kg younger sibling.
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“I’m a driver, I do a lot of post stuff.
“He’s the big centre taking up space in the goal.’’
The Aussie Sharks are hosting Croatia, one of the leading teams in the world and medallists at the last six world championships, in three Test matches this month.
Ahead of each Test match, the Australian women’s water polo side, the Aussie Stingers, will hold showcase matches with local sides.
The first matches are at Sutherland Leisure Centre on December 17 at 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
The second matches are at Drummoyne Pool on December 19 at 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
The third matches are at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on December 21 at 1pm and 3pm.