Rowie Webster off to make a splash at Olympic Games in women’s water polo team

EXPLODING from the water and on to the world stage, Victorian Rowie Webster is on her way to Rio.

Rosie Webster is on her way to Rio with the water polo team. Picture: Alex Coppel

EXPLODING from the water and on to the world stage, Victorian Rowie Webster is on her way to Rio.

The 28-year-old will today be announced as a member of the women’s water polo team as momentum builds ahead of the Olympic Games in August.

The selection of the Victorian Institute of Sport athlete marks the culmination of more than a decade in the pool, having successfully competed at London 2012.

“We came home with a bronze medal but this time we are striving for gold,’’ Webster said. “We are definitely in the medal prospects but the USA are the No.1 team to beat, so they will be our target.’’

The team utility and key goalscorer, Webster is the sole Victorian selected for the squad.

“I dreamt of competing at the Olympics as a five-year-old but I probably never imagined it would be as part of a water polo team,’’ she said. “I first tried it as a teenager and was terrible but each day I have been striving to get better.’’

Webster said she was even more inspired after London. “It is just so great to be part of something bigger and it’s so inspiring to be around so many other talented athletes,’’ she said.

But it is not without its challenges. She will spend 42 of the 48 days leading to the games travelling and training.

The team flies to Hungary and Montenegro before the first stoush against Russia. She said the team wasn’t focused on the controversy. “We will have our blinkers on and just be focused on our own success.”

Originally published as Rowie Webster off to make a splash at Olympic Games in women’s water polo team