Sean King, Class of 2007

What initially drew you to water polo, and when did you start playing?

Before joining Trinity, I had played a lot of football in and outside of school, but I was also a club swimmer at Bromley. During a Year 7 class swimming lesson, my PE teacher suggested that I give water polo a try, so I did and really enjoyed it.

How did you balance your academic and athletic commitments during your time as a student-athlete?

Not that well, in all honesty!

Can you share a memorable moment or game from your water polo career?

Without doubt it would be the first game of the London Olympics against Romania. The double doors to poolside opened for us to walk out and the noise of 5,000, mostly British, supporters was special. I was doing my best to hide it, but I was very emotional; it was even difficult to walk up the steps and onto the podium for the presentations before the game.

As soon as it was announced that London would host the 2012 Games in 2006, I had dreamt of being part of the British team and I guess it hit me at that very moment. I channelled that adrenaline and energy to win the swim-off and become the first British player to touch a water polo ball since 1956!

What specific skills or attributes do you think contributed most to your success in water polo?

I was quite a late developer and not necessarily one of the best players till around U16. Playing other sports, from a young age, meant I was extremely fit and robust and they gave me an array of transferable skills, which made me a better water polo player. I have always found it hard to motivate myself in individual sports, but am driven by being part of a team and having a clearly defined role.

How did you overcome setbacks or failures along the way?

There are two low points that standout from my playing career. One was from 2010, and as I was finishing my degree, when I was informed that my UK Sport funding was to be withdrawn and I would no longer be part of the Senior National Team. I can still remember the conversation with my parents, who were an incredible support throughout my career, following the BUCs Finals in Sheffield, about what was next. The coach at the time left his position a week or so after that news and I received a phone call asking that I meet the new coach, who immediately brought me back into the squad.

The second was at the test event in the lead-up to London 2012. We did not play any official games in the pool prior to the Games, but we did have a two-day training camp. During an internal game, I blocked a shot with my left hand, which left my thumb in absolute agony. I was rushed to hospital where I was informed that I had torn the volar plate in my thumb and I would be out of action for eight weeks (the Games started in six!).

I was so determined to get back as quickly as possible and will be forever grateful to our physio and S&C coach at the time, who built me a programme to keep me as active and fit as possible. I was only cleared to play in the Olympics on the day before selection was made and had to play right up until the competition itself in a soft cast and heavy strapping.

The reality is that very few athletes experience more highs than lows in their careers. I guess I never lost sight of my ultimate goal to represent Great Britain in an Olympic Games, but I was fortunate to be surrounded by an incredibly supportive team of coaches and, most of all, family.

Can you describe the camaraderie and team dynamics within your water polo team?

They are, and always will be, my closest friends. The bus journeys and locker room are the things I miss the most. Twelve years on, we try to get together once a year and it’s immediately like we’ve never been apart. We know that we will always be there for one another.

What role did your coaches play in your development as a water polo player?

There are three coaches deserving of a mention. Marshy introduced me to water polo and was integral to me developing a lifelong love for the sport. He is still, without question, the best coach in the country at doing this. On leaving Trinity, I worked with Jim Caulfield, who poured hours into developing me technically. Under Jim’s guidance, I progressed from a good junior club player to be voted in the Pan-Pacific Games Best 7, then the fringes of the Senior National Team, as a 16-year-old.

Finally, I was fortunate to play with and be coached by my close friend Andrei Iosep. Andrei captained Romania in London 2012 and won everything as a player in a career that saw him play in Croatia, Italy, Spain, USA and Hungary. We were teammates in CW Navarra, where he completely changed the way I thought about water polo at that time. He has been the biggest and most positive influence on my own coaching. He became Great Britain coach for a short period, and we achieved the best results in my time playing for the national team. He is now the head coach in CN Barcelona, one of the top Spanish clubs, and we remain in regular contact.

What changes would you like to see in the development of water polo, particularly at the grassroots level?

This is a difficult one, because it’s hard to know where to start! I have a good friend in Worthing who has created a Swim School called Drenched. It is different from traditional swim schools in that boys and girls are also taught water polo alongside developing their swimming. It has grown to now cover six locations across Sussex, bringing a number of kids into the sport who ordinarily would not even be aware of its existence. The creation of more swim schools with the opportunity to learn water polo too around the UK can only benefit the sport and participation levels - and ultimately the national team performance too!

What were some of the most memorable lessons you learnt from your water polo career?

I guess something that has always stuck with me is how I have never forgotten how people made me feel, both good and bad. The best people I was fortunate to work with or be around were experts at building connections with everyone and making you feel valued.

How has your experience in water polo influenced your life beyond the pool?

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I received through my career in water polo. Firstly, I will always have somewhere to stay, all over most parts of the world, but primarily Central and Eastern Europe. It was perfect preparation for my current role, managing, working with, and getting the best out of our people.

Can you highlight some memorable moments or achievements from your time coaching at the school?

We’ve experienced more than our fair share of success in the past decade, but my proudest and most memorable moments are always the Old Boys fixtures. Winning is great, and we strive to do so at every opportunity, but our main aim is to expose as many Trinity students to water polo as possible.

What are the core values or principles you instil in your players both in and out of the pool?

I think there are two that stand out. While the past few years have been hugely successful in national competitions, our aim each season is to be among the top six schools. Linked to this is that we understand the importance of being good losers, and respectful victors! Secondly, discipline is key. If you attend training regularly, then you play. Our students set up the environment every session - hats, balls, goals but they also make sure they leave it as they found it. Having won the U15 title earlier this year at Habs Boys School, I was particularly proud when, after the medal presentation, I looked up at the balcony to see our team cleaning up rubbish from the spectator gallery.

In your opinion, what sets apart a successful water polo programme at senior school level?

We get great buy-in from our students, which means training is always well attended and we are well prepared come the business end of the season. Our senior students play a crucial role in this, not only as role models, but in connecting and encouraging our younger students. I will be forever grateful to our current U6th students who have made it “cool” to be a water polo player!

Over the years, how have you seen the landscape of school water polo evolve, and what key changes have you observed in training methods or player development?

More schools are taking up the sport, which is fantastic, and employing specialist coaches to run their teams. This has meant the standard has risen significantly. The number of girls schools competing has also grown exponentially. The English Schools Final this year was shown on a live feed for the first time, as both the senior boys and girls finals were held at the same venue. The game itself has become less static, with a greater focus on movement and swimming rather than competing 1-1, with more major fouls given and therefore opportunities to play man up/6-on-5.