Freddie Pearson, Class of 2017

Since leaving Trinity, Freddie has gained a BSc in Business Management from the University of Manchester and has since returned to London to pursue a career in the creative arts. Freddie is a television/ film actor, model, and photographer, living between London and Los Angeles.

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

I started playing water polo at the age of 12; I’d been thrown into swimming at a very young age, but scoring goals and taking part in the more competitive environment was more attractive to me than just repetitively completing lengths in a swimming pool. I joined Beckenham Water Polo Club through the swimming set up, and my older brother and I found ourselves playing every Sunday evening. It became a staple in our development as teenage boys.

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

I’ve always had a work hard, play hard mentality - I’m incapable of doing one without the other. Competitive sport became a release for me mentally, and physically; I always had an abundance of drive and energy, so playing sport gave space for my academic endeavours. The discipline and time management skills required to succeed at international sport often overflowed into other areas of my life, including academia, so there was a knock-on effect that definitely helped.

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

My first international cap for Great Britain is a moment that I’ll treasure for ever. I was competing for my country against Romania in Bucharest, and it felt as if all the hours of sacrifice and dedication had been worth it for that one moment alone. I feel chills down my spine even now, having had the opportunity to sing the national anthem alongside boys from across the country that I’d known for most of my teenage years. My mum was also able to travel out and watch me play; she had sacrificed so much and dedicated an abundance of her time to get me there. That cap is as much hers as it is mine.

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

I was never the most technically gifted athlete, nor the most intelligent - but what separated me from others was a relentless will to win and an engine inside me that would not stop. I wasn’t the fastest or the strongest, but I always felt like I had a point to prove - you’d have to drag me out of the pool if it wasn’t on my terms. Losing was never an option for me, and that mentality carried me through to many victories that may have looked as if they’d been in the depths of defeat.

How did you overcome setbacks or failures along the way?

I’m very fortunate to have two incredibly supportive parents. My dad worked very long, late hours and my mum would drive me to 5am swimming sessions and pick me up at 10.30pm training sessions before dropping me home, where dinner was already made. Being knocked back and giving up because of setbacks wasn’t something I ever considered, especially when my parents had sacrificed so much to help me pursue my dreams within sport. I’m also a big believer in the saying: you either win, or you learn. Therefore “failure” was only ever an opportunity to grow and learn.

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

I can’t remember a better feeling than experiencing all the highs and lows of sports as part of a group. It made the victories even sweeter, and you really learnt about your peers, and yourself, when things didn’t go the way you all wanted. Some of the friendships I’ve built in sport are the strongest I have, because they’ve seen the ugliest parts of me - and have still stayed by my side. But also, the laughs and moments shared in the back of minibuses driving to Manchester, Solihull, Liverpool, Reykjavik or Ljubljana - places I’d have no other reason to go - are core memories of my development that bring me a lot of joy to look back on.

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

I think only as time goes by, and as you get older and gain perspective, do you realise how influential certain individuals have been in your life. The patience and support that was shown to me during my time at school was special. I struggled academically; I had so much energy all the time that I didn’t know how to control, I was easily distracted, I didn’t like listening to others, and I really didn’t enjoy training - all attributes that I’m sure at times made me a nightmare to coach. I was fortunate that I had a coach such as Ian Marsh, who was always so passionate and really used his experience to guide young athletes. He’s a great example that sometimes the old ways are the best ways, and wisdom isn’t something that should be taken for granted.

Sean King was a massive figure in my development as an athlete, but mainly as a person. I watched Sean play at the London Olympics, so to then find myself playing alongside him at national level, and being coached by him at school and international level, was a special journey. He always looked out for me inside and outside of the pool, and without him, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to stay at Trinity for as long as I did.

I know both Marshy and Sean would’ve got a lot of pleasure from putting me back in my box when I needed it most, but even more so from watching me succeed - which they both played a huge part in.

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

Funding and exposure. It always breaks my heart a little that the one sport I happened to be really good at, was a sport no one had ever heard of. It’s the most challenging sport, and only after stopping playing and losing swim fitness can I really appreciate just how impressive water polo players are.

Having access to a swimming pool at school is a massive privilege that not many children in the UK are able to enjoy. With greater funding and exposure from platforms across the country, I’m sure the sport would greatly benefit and be appreciated for the spectacle it brings.

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

I wouldn’t be the person I am today, I know that much. Waking up at 5am in the mornings, training at lunch and after school, jumping into a cold pool while half asleep, learning how to manage my time, finding the balance between work and play, and making short-term sacrifices for long-term gain - the sport has given me all the tools to succeed in life.

I started playing men’s water polo at the age of 14. I was regularly drowned, beaten up, dragged, kicked, and pushed - I’ve had my fingers broken, contact lenses roll behind my eyes, and I’ve been dropped from the international setup two weeks before a competition I had trained for six years to compete in - and I wouldn’t change a single thing about any of them. I know that doesn’t exactly sound like I’m selling the sport, but no competitive endeavour will toughen you up like water polo - it really is a game of sink or swim, and that’s a great lesson for life.