Chaz Poot

As a kid, Chaz Poot started his journey in the water after winning a state gold medal in nippers. As his high school days came around, the 14-year-old Cronulla local started playing water polo as it was his best option to play a summer sport that involved water.

After developing as an athlete through the Sutherland Shire Water Polo Association and the NSW Institute of Sport for many years, Chaz finally got his chance to shine for his country in 2016, at the Junior World Championships.

Playing in all seven of Australia's games and scoring 12 goals in the process, Chaz cemented himself as a crucial player for the junior Aussies.

In 2018 he achieved more success, this time domestically, as he won the Australian Water Polo League with the Sydney University Lions.

As time went on and the pandemic passed, Chaz deservedly made his senior international debut at the 2022 FINA World League Intercontinental Cup, where Australia ended second in the competition after a narrow 7-6 loss in the final against the USA.

After impressing for the Sharks, Chaz went on to play in 17 World Championship games in 2022, 2023 and 2024 plus competing at the 2023 FINA World Cup in Los Angeles.

Becoming a staple in the Aussie Sharks setup, Chaz had the opportunity to move overseas, where he played for Spanish team CN Sant Andreu in Barcelona.

It hasn't come without its challenges, as Chaz has had to overcome not one, but two stress fractures in his back.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics Chaz and the Sharks recorded statement wins over defending Olympic champion Serbia, host nation France and Hungary in the group stage.

Finishing second in their group, it gave Australia a place in the men's Olympic quarter-finals for the first time since London 2012.

A penalty-shootout loss to the USA in the quarter-finals sent the Sharks into the 5th-8th classification games and they came away in 8th place, up from the team's 9th overall placing at Tokyo 2020.

Dual Aussie water polo Olympian John Cotterill is Chaz's sporting hero.