The team behind the team is sometimes the untold story of an Olympic Games and in Tokyo our Australian Women’s Water Polo Team, the Aussie Stingers, have three women who are helping lead from experience.
Dual Olympian and Sydney 2000 gold medalist Bronwyn Smith, dual Olympian and Beijing 2008 bronze medalist Rebecca Rippon and Sydney 2000 Olympic swimmer Dr Rachel Harris, are three of support staff helping our Aussie Stingers on their Olympic journey.
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And while the pressure of athletic performance may be off as they assume roles as support staff, their dedication to the task at hand has by no means diminished.
For Smith, her gold medal winning performance helped inspire a new generation of players, including the likes of current Aussie Stingers Rowie Webster and Bron Knox, who both attribute their Olympic aspirations to that historic win in 2000.
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21 years later, Smith is back in the Olympic Village with the Aussie Stingers, this time as the Team Operations Manager.
“I’m loving being back in an Olympic environment, I have memories flooding back and it is so nice to be around all the athletes from the other sports, it is really exciting. It has been such a long build up to this Olympics so it is great to be here,” she said.
Smith has been with the current Aussie Stingers since 2016 and has seen first hand how the squad has adapted in what has been a challenging Olympics preparation.
“They are a really impressive group of girls and they have a good team culture, they support each other and that is a fantastic quality for them to have going into these games. I have enjoyed being around them, seeing their work ethic and I am really proud to be a part of their support team,” said Smith.
In the coaching corner is Rippon, who returns to the Olympic Games for the first time since winning bronze with the Aussie Stingers in Beijing, as the Assistant Coach.
“I think when I was a player, it was your dream, it was what you spent all those years working towards, so to be selected was this dream come true. Coming in as a coach, I think it is still a part of the dream to come here as a coach but I am so pumped for the girls, so excited and I can’t wait for them to go out there and do what we did and put their hearts on the line and go out and give it everything.
“The girls are a remarkable group who are always looking out for each other and they are always looking to see what they can do better and be the best that they can be whatever that is.
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"I think the thing has impressed above everything is that care for each other and when we say we are all in this together they genuinely mean it and that they are looking out for themselves, their best mate, the rest of the team, the staff and they just want to do everything for each other not just with their own Water Polo goals in mind,” she said.
The Tokyo Olympics will be the Games like no other as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. While the team doctor has always performed an integral role within any team, that role has taken on special significance in 2021.
Thankfully for the Aussie Stingers, Dr Harris not only brings her medical expertise but her first hand Olympic knowledge as an athlete also.
“The last Games that I went to was 21 years ago, which feels like a long time ago. To be on the other side now and to see the excitement on the athletes faces is just awesome.
“I feel so honoured to be on a team with two other Australian Olympians, as well as the rest of our incredible staff...it’s great to see past Olympians from other sports here in the village as well. Being an Australian Olympian is just a great family to be a part of.”
“This Olympic cycle has been such a journey, it hasn’t been an easy one... they (Aussie Stingers) are so resilient and agile and they have just been so amazing in doing what they need to do and the same for the staff as well.
“Covid has added a lot of pressure and you never really know what is around the corner but they have just got on with the job. I think they have been really good at understanding that the medical team will make the best possible decision at the time for them, and they have been accepting of those decisions no matter how difficult they are at the time. They can get on and train and allow the medical team to support them as best we can. It's a landscape that is always changing.
As news broke within the Athletes Village that Brisbane had secured the 2032 Olympic Games, both Smith and Harris spoke fondly of the significant impact that a home Olympic Games can have on individual athletes, the sports as well as the whole Australian community.
“It is so exciting, it was the best time of everyone’s lives, not just ours, as athletes, getting to compete there but having an Olympics in your home city is just unbelievable," said Smith.
“I know us winning gold in Sydney just inspired so many more kids to play and to hear the stories of all those girls who were there watching us and wanted to be like us and here they are now is just amazing.
“It is a great opportunity to showcase our sport again when everyone is watching because Australian’s really do get on board with these events so it is a great opportunity for our sport.
“I have got young kids playing (water polo) and for me to think ‘wow, imagine if they could aspire to be in a home Olympics like I got to experience’... that would be just amazing. It is exciting for all the kids out there right now to work hard and be a part of a home Olympics,” she said.
Dr Harris echoed Smith’s comments saying: “It was so special, at the time I was pretty happy with how I did, I came twelfth in both the events that I swam in at the Games. I think it is hindsight that has made it seem even more special to realise that getting to an Olympics is amazing even if you didn’t get a gold medal or reach a final.
“That hometown advantage and appreciating what your country can do for you is such an amazing experience.
“I think for me one of my most special times was walking out on the pool deck as the first Aussie that competed, in the 400 IM the crowd hadn’t seen an Aussie previously, so to walk out there and have 8000 or so people cheering for you, it felt like being a rockstar. I am so excited for another generation of Australian athletes to be able to do that for themselves and realise their dreams in front of a home crowd,” she said.
While so much excitement among the Aussies camp is for another home Olympics, it is not lost on any of the current Olympians the task at hand for the Tokyo Games.
For the Aussie Stingers, they’ll be able to walk onto the pool deck with the confidence of knowing many experienced professionals are in their corner, including three fellow Australian Olympians who have walked in their shoes before.
The action all kicks off The Water Polo competition kicks off on Saturday 24 July, with the Aussie Stingers women’s team set to face Canada at 4.30pm AEST.
#HaveAGo at Water Polo
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Water Polo
WHAT IS WATER POLO?
Water Polo is Australia’s most popular aquatic team sport, that is designed for participants of all backgrounds and abilities. Two teams face off across four quarters, with the aim of throwing the ball into your opponent's goal. Each team has seven players, including a goalkeeper, and all play without their feet ever touching the bottom!
WHAT DO I NEED?
Just your swimmers and a towel! When you jump in the water you will be given a cap and a ball to play with your team!
WHO CAN PLAY?
Everyone 5 to 95+ years – water polo is a great sport for all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities focusing on water safety, team spirit and ball handling.