Fresh out of water: 10 Sharks to make Olympic debut as water polo team is named for Paris
The men’s water polo team has shaken things up ahead of the Olympics, with selectors hoping 10 fresh Sharks will make history in Paris and bring home the men’s first ever Olympic medal.
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Australia have named 10 debutants in the men’s water polo team for the Paris Olympics in the hope of ending the Sharks lean run at the biggest sport events in the world.
Only three members of the 13-man squad - co-captains Nathan Power and Blake Edwards and his younger brother Lachy Edwards - have been to the Olympics before after they each made their first appearances at Tokyo.
The rest are all rookies with head coach Tim Hamill saying it could work in Australia’s favour because the squad is fearless.
“What you’ll see from the Aussie Sharks in Paris is that we’re an extremely enthusiastic and motivated group,” he said.
“And we don’t fear any opponent. I’m excited to see how we all perform on the world stage and in the big dance in two months’ time.”
Eight of the squad members come from New South Wales and will join their remaining teammates in Canberra in the coming weeks before heading to Europe to finish their preparations before heading to the French capital.
“The Aussie Sharks are a very hungry team, and right now the focus is on the hard work that we still need to do between now and Paris,” Power said.
“It’s a team where the guys come from a lot of different backgrounds and different journeys. We’ve got 10 Olympic debutants, but 10 very different stories of how their Olympic dreams have come true.
“The crucial step for us in the build up to Paris will be our European tour, it’s the biggest factor for us and our preparations. Getting to go across to Europe early, we’re travelling through some very strong water polo nations, and looking forward to getting some more game time and repetitions against other elite level nations.”
The Sharks have qualified for every Olympics since 1948, except for 1968 and 1996.
They have never won a medal and have only advanced past the group stage twice, in 1992 and 2012.
Despite the team’s lack of success, co-captain Blake Edwards said the new-look Sharks squad was packed with talented players who had the ability to challenge any of the other 11 countries that have qualified for Paris.
This will be second Olympics but the first as a dad – with son Jude born on Mother’s Day earlier this month.
“It was a big driving factor to go again this cycle - we weren’t able to share the experience with our family and friends in Tokyo. I’m sure there will be many tears shed by mum throughout the two weeks. I’m extremely proud to be standing there with Lachy again - he’s overcome do much this cycle and he’s going to be a huge asset to our team.” he said.
“It’s always good to reflect on the journey, and it’s obviously a little different to making your first team.
“The thing that’s exciting for us is that we know that our best can really change anyone in the world and so knowing that our best is good enough to challenge any team. The outcome or possibilities are endless.”
The Sharks are drawn in pool B for Paris alongside Tokyo Olympic champions Serbia, bronze medallists Hungary, Japan, Spain and hosts France.
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