Sharks Set for Tokyo with Olympic Water Polo Selections

The 13-strong Australian Olympic Men’s Water Polo Team for Tokyo has been announced by the Australian Olympic Committee, featuring two four-time Olympians.

Rhys Howden and Richie Campbell both equal the Australian Olympic Water Polo record making their fourth Olympic Team, Aidan Roach, Joel Dennerley and Aaron Younger return for their third Games, George Ford makes his second Team while seven players make their Olympic debut. 

The team boasts strong family connections, with two sets of brothers – Blake and Lachlan Edwards and George and Andrew Ford – making up more than a quarter of the squad.

The Aussie Sharks have had one of their most successful Olympic quads, winning silver in the 2018 World Cup and bronze in the 2019 FINA World League Final.

Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo Ian Chesterman welcomed today’s announcement.

“Congratulations to the players selected today, it’s a fantastic achievement,” Mr Chesterman said. “While the players are hard at work in camp in Canberra, I’m sure their very proud families, friends, clubs and supporters around the country are celebrating this Olympic milestone.

“This has been an exceptionally committed Olympic quad for the Sharks who have overcome many obstacles along the way to be ready to match it with the best in the world in Tokyo. “

“I want to particularly highlight Rhys and Richie, both making a remarkable fourth Australian Olympic Team. Making one Olympic Team is a special achievement, to make four shows incredible talent, determination and commitment to excellence.

“Thank you to Water Polo Australia for supporting and developing these players from young athletes having a go to being ready to perform on the world’s biggest sporting stage.”

The Sharks have been drawn in pool B with three of the top four finishers from Rio 2016 in Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro, as well as 2019 World Championship silver medallists Spain, and Kazakhstan. They will open their campaign on 25 July against Montenegro.

Captain Aaron Younger, selected for his third Olympic Games, said leading this team into Tokyo is an honour.

“It is an incredible moment for me, especially to be able to lead such a special group of guys,” Younger said. “The guys make my job as captain really easy, but to be leading this group that has been working together for so long means a lot to me.”

"We have spent the last four years together building for this moment, so to finally be able to go there is a great feeling. Everyone has really taken on a new energy, it should be a good experience for everyone.”

“For the team, the biggest thing is the results we have achieved together over the last four years. The results that we have achieved in this cycle will give us confidence going into the Games. We need to hit the ground running when we get to Tokyo and be ready from that first moment and start from where we finished off two years ago at the World Championships.”

Blake Edwards will make his debut in Tokyo, alongside younger brother Lachlan, something the pair will cherish forever.

“It’s a massive privilege and honour to be selected on the Olympic team, but to be able to share that with my brother as well is something really special,” Edwards said.

“We’ve got a lot of experience in the team, mixed with some debutants like myself. But the game doesn’t change, we’ve played water polo our whole lives and we just have to stay focused on our processes.

“We’ve done all the preparation that we can to put ourselves in the best position possible, so we just need to trust in that and enjoy the moment.”

Aussie Sharks Head Coach, Elvis Fatovic paid tribute to the entire men’s squad.

“While it is very exciting to finally be able to announce our team, after so much hard work has been put in over the last 18 months, it is also mixed emotions as we won’t be able to take our full squad with us,” Fatovic said. “We congratulate the 13 players selected but we want to thank those who also didn’t make the team but have helped get us to the Olympics.

“The strength of this team is in just how much time they have spent together… they are so familiar with each other which will be helpful in a team sport.

“We can’t wait to have our first scrimmage against the USA before we get to Tokyo, which is where we will reconnect with our captain Aaron Younger.  In the last cycle we have delivered great results at the World League Finals, World Cup and now we can’t wait for the first competition to get underway in Tokyo.”

AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM FOR TOKYO – WATER POLO MEN