DOMINANCE AND PARITY ON

The U.S. women’s water polo team enters the 2021 Tokyo Olympics DOMINANCE the most of it if you get the chance to play. We are preparing with computers, as the defending champion with a lot to prove. In 2016 at Rio, the United States AND PARITY but not feeling those emotions. We are training six to seven hours a day six days a week. Then we do recovery became the first country to win backto-back gold medals. Since women’s water polo became an Olympic sport ON DISPLAY work and video work.” * * * in 2000, Team USA is also the only country to medal in each Olympiad. IN TOKYO Meanwhile, Serbia is the defending men’s Olympic champion, defeating

As they prepare for an Croatia 11-7 in the 2016 gold medal unprecedented third straight title, their While the U.S. women have dominated match. Italy defeated Montenegro 12success has allowed the sport to grow as well. “It is important for us to make international water polo since 2015—winning their second straight Olympics in 2016 plus 10 to earn the bronze. Croatia won the 2017 Worlds, defeating Hungary 8-6 in the final, the game better,” believes U.S. team three World Championships in 2015-17-19—a while Serbia defeated Greece 11-8 captain Maggie Steffens. “We want different men’s champion has emerged at for bronze. Italy won in 2019, topping to build up women’s water polo into something girls want to play. We want each of the last three major international Spain 10-5, while Croatia defeated Hungary 10-7 to finish third. people to be a part of the sport. How competitions—Serbia (2016 Olympics), Croatia As for the United States, the men’s can we propel the sport forward? (2017 Worlds) and Italy (2019 Worlds). team qualified for the knockout stage Hopefully, we can keep passing the in 2019 after going 2-1 in the group torch forward.” BY DAN D’ADDONA stage, but lost 11-9 to Greece. At Rio,

The U.S. defeated Italy 12-5 in the Americans went 2-3 in the group the final in 2016 in Rio to claim stage and did not advance to the gold. Russia won the bronze. The U.S. also won the 2019 World quarterfinals in Rio—something they Championships with an 11-6 win over Spain in the final. hope to change this year.

The preparation for this year’s Olympics have been completely “Us playing abroad has been a huge opportunity,” says U.S. different with the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the Games and player Alex Bowen. “We have 11 players in Greece playing limiting international competition the past year. professionally. We are able to keep some amount of team cohesion.

“It has been difficult to scout opponents,” shares U.S. goalie We are able to see high-level players by playing in the Champions Ashleigh Johnson. “We have been trying to visualize our opponents League. We really get to see some of these players at their best, so more and working on it that way. From the video that we have and we know what to expect from them.” what are seeing, we are doing a lot to prepare ourselves. Once we Having players in the Champions League means there are more get there, we will be ready. We are gearing up.” players playing at a professional level on the U.S. roster than in

The change in training and mindset has been different, but it has years past. still led to improvements. “Usually, the national team is split between the U.S. and Europe,

“How lucky I am to get to practice against Ashleigh Johnson and this time there are more in Europe, and we have had some group every day,” says Steffens. “That will help us get better and improve. training out there,” says U.S. player Ben Hallock. “It is going to be Preparation does really build confidence. But it is definitely tough a very difficult challenge. There is a reason why a lot of this team is not to play games. It gives you a perspective and gratitude to make in Europe. This is a huge confidence boost for everyone.” v