00:00:00: Welcome to this podcast, water Polo Expert Talk. Get the insights. Team Korea. So I don't know if we mentioned it, at least gold medalist, of, Olympia, several times. European championship, winner, world champion. So are there any titles you, you missed in your career? Not so far. Not so many. Practically no. yeah. Practically no. Any title. I was always in the teams that were winning the titles.

So which is the next dream comes through then, I: guess. for me it's a privilege that I can still play on the highest level. That's something that is inspiring me. That is, motivating me. so are there any, tournaments or matches that you could really, have the best. Memories are the most, emotional memories maybe, for, so are there any matches or tournaments you say, okay, this is really the most emotional one for me. In my generation, when we won world championship, that was. The most emotional tournament in my entire career. Yeah, because we were really young. not many people around us expected and believed that we could win, world championship that was really emotional for me. Since the beginning of the tournament. I remember that we had some troubles in the group stage.

And after we won an, amazing competition winning against Italy, Hungary, Croatia, and Spain. practically all the best teams in four matches. So, that was the first: big result of my generation. So that was Something immersed for all of us. Yeah. So, at least when you say, okay, this is really the first, let's say big title of these, Group of people. Yeah. So of, for the country then it was the beginning of our era. from this moment until Tokyo 2021, we were there and we won a lot.

We were. A lot of gold medals and a lot of gold medals in a row in one period. So that's why this generation was so special. this was really then the world championship. what about the Olympic games? So also, all the other guys coming to the podcast, which are also attendees of the Olympic Games says, okay, this is something, for all the players that read. The biggest, tournament and the biggest thing. And how was it for you to attend with the Olympic games the first time and then to win it twice? So, which is, to be honest, the best of the best then, And then you mentioned also the story or the: history connection with your father. how, how was, then this in your mind, regarding your relationship with the Olympic Games? for, for, for, for every kid, probably and every player. It's like a dream just to, to go once in at Olympics. And that was the same, same thing with me. So my first Olympics were in Beijing, and it was impressive for me. I saw so many big athletes that before I was watching on the television only. So in one big village. And something completely new for me, comparing to other competitions, it's, you cannot compare it. I mean, it's, it's something different. All, all the atmosphere of the Olympic Village, all the importance that Olympic games bring to each athlete.

So it's, something not comparable to other: competitions. when you are in the water, you don't feel this difference. it's not a different ambience that, you never experienced before. most players play European championships or world championships, big games also when you jump in the water and the game starts, you don't think anymore about the importance of the Olympic games. The other thing is, all the other guys says, okay, when I attended the, the first time, it's really, as you mentioned, really overwhelming with the emotions and all the things Around the, around the pool. different culture, different food, so many stars, surrounding, And then the next time, when they have the chance to attend the next time, then it's more Okay. I can a little bit more focus on my, my area, you know? So I agree. Really. I agree. The first time. Yeah. So the first time it's more, first time is Yeah.

You are a bit shop each of us. Yeah. I, I, I, I would say because the, all this, because it's completely different comparing to everything: previous, some of the players went to university at games. Yeah. It's similar, and I, I, I've been in Mediterranean games before in 2005, but it's still, it's comparing to this, it's nothing. And, are there any, Special memories you have really in front of the knockout phase in those kind of tournaments. Yeah. So when you go in the quarterfinal, semifinal, Bronx medal match, goat medal match, for example. so this must be really, an unbelievable situation. What is the key factor for the Olympics in that you should really isolate yourself and your team from the, entire atmosphere of Olympic games of village. because at the end, it's your team and your, teammates together with coaches that need to be.

like a stone that mm-hmm. in one piece that: can, can, react in these specific moments. And this, as you said, this quarter, final stage is, huge. that's probably the biggest pressure that some of, most of the players feeling during the, the career. This, this day of quarter final is, this is huge. This is huge, huge moment for, for every athlete. And this is something different comparing to other competitions because you got in your mind, if you, if you pass, you, you get chance to, to bring home the medal. If you lose, it's the worst day of your career. Yeah. and is there a difference, in terms of the feelings or the pressure from the mental point of view, you mentioned the quarterfinal or the semi-final, for example. But when I would imagine I have the gold medal match in front of me.

I think this is maybe then. The next level of stress somehow. So is it this: case? maybe not stress, but it's really then it's another level of sport on this level, It's full of pressure, tension every day I would say. That's normal. That's, this is part of the business. Yeah. This is the, it's, it's continuously battled with emotions, I would say. And about the state of, of your state of mind, individual state of mind, how you look on the, on the, on the facts. How you look on the, some specific moment during the competition, and it's. It's pretty much psychology. this tournament is very much psychology, the Olympic Olympic, especially Olympic Games tournament. So are there any, advice or experiences from your part of view, for you person advice? So it's to be prepared.

Yeah. To be prepared. I mean,: first of all, each athlete should be very happy that he's got opportunity to be there in the, Highest peak, I would say in the sports to just touch the, transition of Olympic games of, this atmosphere. That got a chance to maybe, fight for the medal at the end. So first thing, first idea should be, first state of mind should be happiness at the beginning. And when you start to talk, it's something that you work so hard during your childhood, during your life, to arrive and then you are there. So first of all, all of the athletes should be proud themselves.

And then, that's what I said before. It's in team sport. It's very important how they. That, that you, that you fight together with your teammates in every moment, not just in water for one hour, but in every, in every, specific: moment during the Olympic game tournament. you need to survive all the hard moments together. that's the difference between individual and. Team sports, these Olympic games. Usually the winners are the best teams, not the best individuals. The winners are the teams that find the best balance between the players, not the one with the best individuals on the paper. Part of preparation, this mental preparation. many things, using psychologist as it's not something that you learn when you are young. How, how you gonna, reacting this, this moment. Nobody can learn you. This, you can be. Partly prepared during your childhood, during your, education, sport education in the junior national teams but this specific moment is something else.

At the end, it's really then, to: enjoy the moment. Yeah. So not to feel maybe so much prayer to enjoy the moment because in my opinion, it's because you prepare yourself for your career for this. some fear could exist of course, but it should be put on the side because confidence comes. In my opinion comes from the previous work, Not from talk. Yeah. So it, it's not really, a fear, but it's, maybe kind of some kind of respect. Yeah, of course, but it's a good respect. So not to have so much fear and so much pressure that you are not able to anymore enjoy what you're doing.

So, that's really then influenced by each other. Yes. also, you played also during your national career. you mentioned you won, in a row. So many titles with, so many great other players. What was, let's say, one or two, teammates from your current, career, in your national team where you say, okay, these are the, two or three: persons I would like to, play the next couple of years again together. So are there any special teammates, from the past, during your career where you can say, okay, this are my. F let's say favorite. not favorite. Yeah. Yeah. Had the national team mates. I had a national team of Serbia, Philipp, Philipp, and Vic. I would say two of them. we spent a lot of time together. So spend this, all this period, 15 years together in national team. So these two guys are something different comparing to others. When I, if I could choose some place to play with there, that would be two of them.

So as you mentioned, yes, we are closed, Still close. hanging around. regarding the new, or actual generation in the, national team. I'm pretty sure that you are really close. based on your history, what is your opinion on the current team of Serbia?: Last year they won Olympic gold medals. they are still strong. among the best, which is the. Most important, and I think they could go three more years until Los Angeles. Maybe with a few changes, but they could stay among the favorites for medals in any competition. most of these guys have played before in a national team, so I know them really, really well. I'm. Still in contact with most of them. I wish them all the best in any match and competition now. Mm-hmm. And the biggest thing, when they need any, any advice from you. So they, they're up to, my doors are open always for them.

Yes, Of course. Perfect. regarding also, we mentioned the point regarding young sports and young athletes, at the beginning. what is your view or your, Opinion on the development these days. regarding young athletes, in water: polo, I guess you also worked during your off season, as a coach. Yeah, so I worked as, I had some camps, clinics, Yes. I've been Involved in this also. what are your, let's say, most important, items, which has to be addressed these days, or which are the most important things, kids have to learn, about water polo these days? they should not forget to play, a play sense in sense, like to enjoy the game. With all the, With all due respect for the coaches about the technical skills, tactical skills, but eliminate this sense of joy for any kid, it's not good. So that's something that I.

noticed that it's, maybe the kids are, maybe because they play, they're playing less than before, in front of the building house and on the streets. Maybe that's the reason why they got less imagination for the game.: Maybe there's the reason that this is something that I am always, when I speak with the kids, I'm trying to, to push them to show this creativity. during the training and during the game. Yeah. Not to bend this, I think that's very important, with all this technical, tactical skills. Okay. There are some phases in the development of the. kid, every kid that you need to concentrate more on swimming, more on, passing the ball. More on Leg work, but this is something that I noticed is missing more and more. Mm-hmm. 300 generations. Yeah. So not to lose the fun to play the game. Yes. with the underline of, play. Yes, yes. and also the creativity. Yeah. So we have these kind of discussions in other sports.

Yeah. For example, in soccer or football here in Germany. Yeah. when you really train. of the last couple of years in all these trainings and, development center of: each, city and so on, really specific of a specific position after this, specific position was not the best way. They have to be more, flexible, as you mentioned. Yeah. So they have to really read the game better, so they have to react better, to be creative. And these creativity is not really then available for most of the kids when they're really limited or any specific trained in a specific position. And, this, from, from, from my point of view, this, view about development young kids is really changing. Every 10 years. Yeah. I agree with your impression. Yes. And it changed from my beginning to these days a lot. So it's more than 25 years since I started to work seriously, let's say in water polo. It's changed a lot, what is the, possibility for coaches today?

They got much more: knowledge about, much more researches about. training, swimming trainings, trainings, out of the pool in the gym, on the nutritional, effects. even for kids, they get too many options. And they got possibility to find something. Good from these options and for, for the co for the coaches, it's more simple. They got, really much more knowledge that they can reach than before 25 years ago or 30. Yeah, absolutely. And it's more, more public. It's more, it's more reachable than before. And also the, the, the, the content on the information for coaches, for example, is reachable as it's available and it's much more available, during these days.

But, it's not. Easy to find in most of the cases. Let's say, and maybe this is something, coaches area, community, whatever, can: maybe, be a little bit. More, better to exchange information, between each other and, have, meetings, online, in presence, so that there's more exchange between the coaches. Yeah. So, and this is maybe the piece I, would like to enhance a little bit more. it's really missing from my point of view, the Exchange of information, experiences and opinions this is maybe something we can do a little bit more better in the future. Definitely. I agree. There is, a big space to improvement in waterfall. in any aspect. So maybe then we have the chance to improve here with a little podcast. the information that's the good.

To listen and to hear something, some different point of view maybe? Yes. Mm-hmm. Why not? so coming to the, to the actual situation maybe, from, from you, what are the next. Big things coming up for you. Yeah. So it's not the, the summer break, more or less it's over.: Sometimes it's over. No, I, I, I did already one month of reparation with my current club, so I mean, Craig, that's Ky. we are starting the season on Saturday. We will start, this year we will play original league, Serbian and Monte Ian Clubs will play together. League. Mm-hmm. eight. Eight of eight top clubs from five from Serbia. Three from Montenegro will play the first division. And nine more, I think second division. so 14 rounds plus the final four, and I think it'll be in the June, next June. So you should come to watch. Why not? And it should be somewhere, on the open pool. That could be very interesting. First time that they, and in my opinion, that's very, very positive that they decided to move it more in the.

In the summer. So it'll be first time actually that we will play some important club: competition in the summer, because it'll be end of June and, end of June. Yeah. after the final four of Champions League, so multi, I think it's one 11 to 13th of June, and that would be end of June, the original Final Four. so that's the really start of the season Saturday, and then in October, champions League starts We will have this break in December and January because of European Championship. Mm-hmm. And, that's, that's, that's it for time. Happy. I'm happy to, to, to take apart in another season and another season of Champions League. Yeah. So are there any expectations, from you for the league at least? I think we are the first favorite, in the league this regional league and in Champions League. We got, big expectations. Very good team. our goal is to go on the final four.

Yeah. based on everything I heard so far, regarding the actual preparation,: phase and, the team, around you, it's good to go in the league, with a good feeling. A good goal, why not? I wish you all the best, then for the league, for sure. so maybe when it fits to the schedule and the calendar next year, so why not to, to come to, Montenegro or to Croatia again? Yeah. So, Montenegro, Serbia, yes. for the final four of the Regional League? Yes. Oh, perfect. Yeah. So. I have to think about a little bit more about that. So I would like to close, the talk today with you, with a little, five, fast questions. Okay. at least, maybe, fast answer from you. Okay. so the, the first one is, you are, pre-game ritual. are there any items? I put my cap. I put double how you say?

I dunno. I make double hip. that's the only thing that I'm doing all the time. Okay. So when you do it only once, that's, maybe not a good sign. Yeah.: Perfect. it counts sometimes on the small things. the most important goal or match of your career? Olympic. Olympic Finals maybe? Yes. would say yes. A goal. I don't know actually the goal, but most important mention to Olympic finals. Yeah. for sure. if not water polo, what other sports, would you do? maybe basketball or handball. One of them, which is also very popular In your area. Yeah. Basketball is popular. Very, very popular. Handball was, was so, so now, at the moment, not like, it's not like in Germany, not so big. Yeah. So basketball is also very popular in Germany during these days. Yeah, yeah. I think this question, we already covered a favorite teammate you ever played with.

These two guys? Yes. That's Perlovich and Philipp? Yes. Mm-hmm. which German player or: team, you remember the best or the most? I remember very well, this generation of Mark Pulitzer. the goalie. And, Serbian guy, Marco Savage was playing. For a lot long time in Spano and national team. So I remember this younger generation, the coach Hagen star of course. And, I, who was in there. I remember all of those players that played in my generations. Now I'm not maybe bested with the names, but Yes, I remember. And Germany was in one period. very good rival. Yeah. So maybe then we come back to this, Situation somewhere in the future. good to hear that you remember, mark, polit in this case, because it's coming from the same club like me or myself. So he's starting together with me playing in the second league in Ladson, 30 years ago.

It's a long time ago. So, yeah, water polo, community. It's, sometimes, a little bit small community. Sometimes: it is, but but it's, it's also the quality of water communities because you can connect with a lot of people. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So you, really then connected, as you mentioned, over the pool, above, with same kind of people or same group of people over the last 30, 40 years. Yeah. So it is really a friendship, based on the water polo. Yeah, it's true. Cool. So that's it. So you are done with the, with the five questions at the end. so in this case, it's really was a pleasure to talk to you. thanks for your time, taking the time to talk, with us. and yeah, as already mentioned before, so maybe then we have the chance to see each other, somewhere around the, around the world without the pool. I, I hope it was pleasure for me as well. Thank you for inviting me. you're welcome and, all the best then for the next season for you and your team. And, yeah. Wish you a nice day. Thank you. You too.