What does it take to adapt as a professional athlete across Europe’s top water polo leagues? In this episode, our guest Tamás Sedlmayer — a seasoned player with international experience — reflects on his career in Germany, Italy, and now back home in Hungary.

He shares a behind-the-scenes look at the competitive landscape of each league: from Germany’s top-heavy structure, to Italy’s grueling travel schedule and tough matches, to Hungary’s intense but logistically smoother setup.

Beyond the pool, Tamás compares life in Berlin, Trieste, and Budapest — and reveals why Trieste remains his favorite city. He also opens up about pre-game rituals, his love for Italian cuisine, and the toughest opponents he’s faced over the years.

For young athletes, his advice goes far beyond sport: resilience, mindset, and finding light in difficult moments. Finally, Tamás discusses the challenges and ambitions of his current season — leading one of Hungary’s youngest teams through a rebuilding phase, with the goal of breaking into the top eight and pushing even higher.

👉 You’ll hear about:

Key differences between the German, Italian, and Hungarian leagues

Life as a pro athlete moving between cities and cultures

Personal routines, favorite memories, and career lessons

Advice for the next generation of athletes

Season goals and the reality of leading a young team through change

🎧 Press play and be inspired by the balance of competition, culture, and personal growth.

🔗 Listen now:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Webseite

💡 If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with a friend who loves sports, culture, or personal growth. Your support helps us bring more inspiring stories to you!

In this episode of the Water Polo Expert Talk podcast, we welcome Tamas Sedlmayer, a highly accomplished Hungarian water polo player. Born and raised in Budapest, Tamas has played for several top clubs across Europe, including stints in Germany (Spandau) and Italy (Trieste), and is currently part of the Semmelweis team in his hometown.

Tamas shares his remarkable journey — from discovering his passion for the water at just three years old, to signing his first professional contract at 17, and going on to compete on some of the sport’s biggest stages. Among his career highlights are:

🥈 Silver medal at the 2012 U18 World Championships in Perth

🏆 Champions League winner in 2019 with Ferencváros

🎩 Representing Hungary’s national team

In this inspiring conversation, Tamas talks about the challenges and rewards of elite sport, the crucial role of swimming technique in water polo, and the lessons he has learned from coaches and setbacks throughout his career. He also shares his perspective on the development of water polo in Hungary compared to other countries.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about water polo, sports development, and the mindset behind high performance.

In Part Two of our conversation, legendary Serbian water polo goalkeeper and Olympic champion Branislav Mitrović shifts from player to mentor, revealing his philosophy and approach as a coach. He talks about how he prepares goalkeepers for the highest level, what skills and mindsets he prioritizes, and why the role of the goalie has become even more crucial under modern water polo rules.

Branislav shares valuable recommendations for young goalkeepers, explains the right and wrong ways to select future goalies, and challenges coaches to rethink how they assign this vital position early in a player’s career. In his words, “Without a good goalkeeper, you can’t win anything.”

We also explore why goalkeepers remain underrated, his thoughts on how talent identification should happen, and — in a fun moment — whether he remembers playing against anyone from Germany. Plus, we finish with five rapid-fire questions for Branislav, resulting in some surprising and insightful answers.

In this episode, Serbian water polo legend Branislav Mitrović shares deeply personal stories of his life and career, offering a rare glimpse beyond the pool. From his beginnings in Novi Sad to the grand stage of the Olympics, Branislav reflects on the experiences that shaped him — and reveals the one value he credits as most pivotal in his journey: discipline.

He also responds to statements about himself and his legacy — honest, reflective, and sometimes surprising. Listen to hear what discipline has meant throughout his career, and how it remains his guiding force.

Throughout the episode, Mitrović emphasizes that discipline, even above talent, has been his most important value — the foundation of his consistency, resilience, and success. His reflections on maintaining focus, work ethic, and mental toughness offer a meaningful take-away for athletes and listeners alike.

🎧 Listen now and get inspired by a champion’s mindset – straight from the man who’s lived it.

🎙️ Episode Title: "Living the Present – Vince Vigvári on Pressure, Progress & Passion for Water Polo"

In this second episode with Hungarian national player Vince Vigvári 🇭🇺, we dive deeper into the mindset and experiences of one of water polo’s most exciting young talents.

Vince opens up about the emotional penalty shootout in the Olympic bronze medal match 🥉🎯, what it taught him, and how the Olympic Games differ from the World Championships 🗼 vs 🌎 — especially when it comes to atmosphere, energy, and global visibility.

We talk about the European heartland of water polo 🔥, its expansion into other parts of the world like Asia 🌏, and how that could help the sport grow and reach new fans. Vince also reflects on the semi-final win over Spain in Fukuoka 🇯🇵, where he scored a key goal to help Hungary advance.

2023 was a golden year for Vince: U20 World Champion and Senior World Champion — all in one month 🏆🏆. But as he says himself: “That’s the past. I like to live in the present.” 🔄

We also explore:

🏆 His outlook on the upcoming Final 4 of the Champions League 2025

🧠 His tips for young water polo players — and what it really takes to succeed

🏫 What clubs and systems need to provide to support youth development the right way

🎧 Tune in now to get real insights from a rising star who’s already done it all — and is just getting started! 💪🔥

Meet Vince Vigvári, the Hungarian water polo sensation who achieved the rare feat of winning both the U20 World Championship 🥇 and the Senior World Championship 🏆 in 2023. Now playing for Barceloneta 🇪🇸, Vince shares his journey from early beginnings to international stardom.

In this episode, Vince discusses:

- Growing up in a sports-centric family, with a father who was a Hungarian champion and a brother who also plays on the national team 👨‍👦‍👦

- His initial foray into tennis 🎾 before dedicating himself to water polo at age 8

- The experience of representing Hungary at the 2024 Paris Olympics 🗼 and the intense bronze medal match against the USA

- The challenges and opportunities of moving from Hungary to Spain, embracing new cultures and styles of play 🌍

- His perspective on the differences in water polo across countries and the universal passion for the sport 🤽‍♂️​

🎧 Tune in now to hear Vince's inspiring story and gain insights into the world of elite water polo! 🔥

In this episode, we dive into the mindset of a true water polo champion. Our guest, Unai Biel, is the newly crowned World Cup 2025 winner 🥇 — adding yet another major title to his name after already helping Spain secure their first-ever European Championship win 🇪🇸.

Unai shares what it means to be part of a team that constantly pushes each other to improve 💪, and reflects on the unforgettable experience of his first Olympic Games in Paris 2024 🗼 — with eyes already set on what’s next 🎯.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Champions League clash against FTC ⚔️, Unai emphasizes that while each game matters, the ultimate focus remains on qualifying for the final tournament 🎟️. We also explore how he processes losses 🧠, how the coaching staff break down each match in detail 📊, and why striving for improvement is a never-ending journey in high-level sport 🔄.

If you’re looking for tips on becoming a better water polo player, Unai offers firsthand insights, habits, and advice that can help shape your own game — whether you're just starting out or aiming for the top 🚀🤽‍♂️.

👉 Tune in now and get inspired by one of the sport’s rising stars! 🎧🔥

🎙️ New Episode Out Now – Waterpolo Expert Talk Podcast

In our latest episode, we welcome Unai Biel, one of the rising stars of international water polo and the MVP of the 2025 World Cup Final between Spain and Greece! 🏆🇪🇸🇬🇷

We dive into Unai's journey from a six-year-old swimmer in the Barcelona area to becoming a key player for CN Atlètic-Barceloneta, Spain’s powerhouse club. How did it feel for a young talent to join such a prestigious team? Was it overwhelming—or just the push he needed to grow?

💬 “I earned so much great input from the other guys,” Unai shares, giving us insight into Spain’s unique water polo philosophy—where experienced players take young athletes under their wing.

Now, the tables have turned: Unai is becoming that kind of mentor himself. Curious to know who helped shape his early career? Or who his personal water polo idols were growing up? 👀

We also explore the cultural clash—and harmony—of growing up in a region where football is a religion and FC Barcelona looms large, yet water polo quietly thrives in its own stronghold.

🌊 Whether you're a fan of the sport or just discovering water polo, this episode offers inspiration, personal stories, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become one of the best.

👉 Tune in now to hear Unai’s story, his challenges, his victories, and what the future holds for him—and for Spanish water polo.

🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.

This is Part Two of our conversation with Alex Bowen from Team USA 🏅, fresh off winning the bronze medal in water polo at the Paris 2024 Olympics 🇺🇸🇫🇷.

What does it feel like to be in an Olympic shootout 🎯, carrying the hopes of your team, your country, and everything you've trained for? Alex takes us inside that pressure, where trust between teammates is everything—and where belief can make or break you. That’s the essence of team sports, and water polo in particular 🤽‍♂️.

We reflect on unforgettable moments, like the overhead image of the defense shutting down Mandic 📸, and the heartbreak of not playing for gold 💔. Alex shares how a familiar situation against Hungary in Fukuoka reappeared in Paris—but this time, he made a different choice. A new mindset, a full Olympic experience from start to finish, ending with the medal ceremony 🎉.

Now, with the bronze medal in hand, Alex looks back at the long road—the team rebuilding, the resilience, and everything it took to stand on that podium 🥉.

This episode is about more than sport—it's about pressure, trust, and the comeback.

🎙 New Podcast Episode with Alex Bowen – Team USA & Olympic Bronze 2024! 🏅🌍

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Bowen, one of the key players in Team USA’s incredible journey to winning bronze at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris! 🥉🔥 He takes us behind the scenes of the tournament, sharing what it was like to compete on the world’s biggest stage, the intensity of a penalty shootout in a medal game, and why these Olympics were crazy in the best way possible.

But Alex’s life isn’t just about water polo. We also dive into his personal journey—navigating a long-distance relationship, making the move from France to Spain, and preparing for an exciting new chapter with his upcoming baby. On top of that, he talks about how his season with Sabadell is shaping up and why he loves working with guys like Fynn Schütze as they push forward.

From Olympic highs to personal milestones, this episode is full of raw emotions, behind-the-scenes insights, and inspiring stories.

Tune in and don’t miss it! 🎧✨