Greece was the form team of the year with incredible World Cup and World Championship successes. But it was the fate of United States of America that was to prove the dominant talking point as the year unfolded.
It started badly for the new-look USA team under the guidance of the now legendary head coach Adam Krikorian. The youngsters who turned out for the Division I World Cup qualifier in Alexandroupolis, Greece found out just how tough international water polo is.
Image Source: Alsion Cohen (USA) and Mirela Guiral (ESP)/World Aquatics
The opening match was against Olympic champion Spain and that went the way of the Europeans 16-11 after being 9-2 down early in the third period.
Hungary was the next team to upset USA with a resounding 12-7 difference. On day three, Greece put paid to any hopes USA was going to defend its World Cup crown, losing 20-7.
USA lost to Italy 13-12 in the crossovers; nudging out Israel 10-9 and losing to Hungary in the play-off for fifth 10-6, a slight improvement on day two. Krikorian had immersed many new players into his programme, but would have to bypass the World Cup finals and return to the World Aquatic Championships to defend that crown in Singapore some months later.
Image Source: Maryn Dempsey (USA)/World Aquatics
What the losses meant to USA were not as powerful as several other countries gaining the knowledge that they could beat the North Americans. They would need that knowledge and skills obtained for the Worlds.
World Aquatic Championships
Come the World Aquatics Championships, USA was boosted by star players and defeated China, Netherlands and Argentina to top its group. The real action was about to start. USA pummelled Japan in the quarterfinals, setting up a semifinal clash with Greece who lost to Hungary in the rounds and had to come through the second round; hammered France and pipped Australia in the quarterfinals — one more match under its belt and tough clashes all the way.
Image Source: Christina Siouti (GRE)//World Aquatics
Vasiliki Plevritou scored a hat-trick in the final quarter as Greece won the period 5-2, claiming the gold-medal berth 14-10. There was still a bronze medal on hand for USA.
In the bronze-medal play-off, Spain was the opponent after losing badly to Hungary two days before. Spain led 4-2 at the quarter and 7-4 at halftime before USA trimmed it to 11-9 at the final break. USA won the quarter and was 13-12 down with 1:26. However, the fairytale win did not occur and USA was denied a 12th medal and missed the podium for the second time since finishing fifth in 2023 — 10 years since the last time it was outside the medals.
USA has reigned supreme for so many years but now it is time for change and Greece made sure its many tilts at stardom could be surpassed with ultimate glory. This it did in style with golds in Chengdu, China and Singapore City. This was more like USA.
Greece, inspired by Foteini Tricha with her 22 goals and the 43 amassed by Maria Santa, Vasiliki Plevritou and Maria Myriokefalitaki combined, survived Singapore, swimming away from Hungary early in the final for a 12-9 victory after three four-goal advantages as early as the second quarter.
Image Source: Ioanna Stamatopoulou (GRE)/World Aquatics
This was despite the 13 saves by Hungary’s Boglarka Neszmely. However, goalkeeper-of-the-tournament Ioanna Stamatopoulou made 14 as Greece’s defence proved near-impregnable.
Greece went into Singapore as the best team in the world after winning the World Cup final series in Chengdu, China, triumphing 19-14 over Italy; 15-13 over Netherlands and 13-9 against Hungary in the gold-medal final.
Image Source: Emily Ausmus (USA)/World Aquatics
Greece had beaten Hungary 14-10 in the Division I series; fell to Spain 14-8; dumped USA 20-7; bowed to Netherlands 11-10; downed Olympic silver medallist Australia 12-8 and finished with a 15-9 loss to Spain. This was all grist for the mill for the greater prizes to come.
Like USA, it’s not always about winning. The journey can be very tough and the ups come with downs. It’s all about peaking for the ultimate prize and performing on the day.
Rising Stars
While the old guard of Rita Keszthelyi, Dora Leimeter and Dorottya Szilagyi hold sway over the Hungarian women, youngsters Kata Hajdu (19), centre forward Eszter Varro (19) and Panna Tiba (18) are starting to settle into the top flight.
Spain continues to roll out its tried-and-tested stars and will need to inject youth at some point in the near future. Carlota Penalver is the youngest at 19.
Bronte Halligan (29) is still making an impact with the Aussie Stingers while Sienna Green is the youngest at 21.
Netherlands’ captain Sabrina van der Sloot is still performing at 34 while Pien Gorter is just 19.
Image Source: Greece with one of its two gold medals//World Aquatics
Greece’s team is slowly aging but Tricha at 20 and Santa at 21 are backed by Dionysia Koureta at 20 and Nefeli Krassa, who is nearly 18.
USA’s sole player under 20 is rising star Emily Ausmus who hits the mark on December 12.
Italy pair Morena Leone and Paola di Maria are still 20 while evergreen Roberta Bianconi is a flourishing 36.
China had Zhang Jingwen playing brilliantly under Spanish maestro Miki Oca and she only turned 17 last September.
Lesser Lights
Congratulations to Japan on making the top eight in Singapore while Croatia made an impact this year and Great Britain beat France for 11th as the Olympic host slips down the rankings.
Singapore impressed with its plucky play and South Africa was happy to fill 15th place and a fifth successive championships off bottom place.
The future is bright for women’s water polo at both ends of the spectrum.
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