speaker-0: Welcome to this. Thank you. Yeah.

speaker-1: Water Polo Expert Talk. Get the insights.

speaker-1: Yeah. you already mentioned that you have to be, let's say, mentally stable and able to be in a situation that to restart your mind during Olympic Games. Now we have then the next Olympic Games, which then the Olympic Games where you arrived as the yeah, as a champion, just to want to defend the title at the end, in Rio. How difficult or how different was the situation when you come as a champion or Olympic champion then to the next Olympic Games? Is it something different, what makes it to you or your minds and your mental situation before the before the Olympic Games then start again? Or Well, those Olympics in two thousand sixteen were different since we we played with a completely different team than the London Olympics and it requires some time to build the confidence between the players, to to build friendship, to build connections. And we had some problems during the preparations for all this but which we managed to overcome. And we did beyond imaginable for us in that time reaching the finals. So I cannot say that we we couldn't win, but we just I I d I don't feel that we were on a level high enough mentally to be able to to face an opponent opponent like we had in s Serbia who the team that hasn't had a lot of changes during their whole era. in in the period of let's say ten ten years while we had so many new players coming coming and going so we were trying to find a a perfect team to to compete at the Olympics. So the situation was a bit different. We were mentally working on it but

speaker-0: in the end I don't think we I think the the silver for us was the maximum at that time and there isn't anything that we can say more about it than just just to be sorry that we couldn't f at least put more effort into trying to to bring the game into into equalizing level. So we it it it it took us pretty hard after the after the finals. We were all down and blue and I think but in the end I think we were all aware of the situation and that that silver was actually at that point the highest that we could do. Yeah, so especially when you know all the things going around your difficulties and things going around around the around the team before the before the Olympic Games you already mentioned, yeah. So that you have switched so many guys in and out and so many things going around in inside the team. That you can say, okay, at the end silver is really the maximum and the best we can achieve at this end, based on all the things going around at the moment. So which is I think you already mentioned that you are really down at the after the game. But I I don't know how many how many weeks or day days months it took really to to get to come to this conclusion. So When you say r it right now that you're really say, Okay, this was the best we can do during these games and silver was the maximum, that it's really then the opinion right now, how much time does it take to come to this kind of conclusion, yeah? So which is not really there after the match during the next couple of weeks.

speaker-0: Well, f first of all i you have to go through the period of sorrow after winning after losing the the Olympic finals. And that's some s th that's not something y y it's really easy to to cope with. And but w when the time passes a few months you when you when you when you think about all the all the things that happened and you have to with a clear mind they have to make some conclusions and I think I think this this was something that crystallized few months after the final so it it few days even weeks after after the after losing the the gold medal match you are you're not capable of thinking about anything a little long but something as serious as this. So you need all the emotions to to calm down, to get into a new routine, to start a new season with the club, to to restart and then to rethink all the things that have happened before and that have passed. As I already said, I could imagine that it took a while really to c overcome this kind of experience. And then we have these kind of let's say yeah, Tokyo Olympic Games, which is yeah, the postponed games and all the COVID games and how was to to play these kind of games then For for for for every athlete in in in that period was hard. Playing in the bubbles, in the doing all the tests, not making connections with people around you and just staying all together locked up basically. so at at the most decisive game in the quarterfinals against Hungary, we just had opponent that was

speaker-0: way better than us in in every aspect of the game and once you start playing bad against Hungarians it's not easy to come back. And that's exactly what we did. We we started poorly and when you receive some stupid goals on this le this level, there isn't it's very hard to come back. So all the situation around us was kind of fuzzy. It wasn't it wasn't We weren't on on the on the level we were ex we were supposed to be for this kind of competition, but it's not a justification for the for the result. I mean we all had every single athlete in the in the world had this had a similar problems, but apparently someone did it overcame all these problems better and in the end ended up a as a winner. So we also have regrets about this, but th these are this is all part of the school, life school that that teaches you that puts you in different situations, different difficulties and you just have to work work with them and end up smarter after after all these things. So mm I can say that I've gained some kind of experience for maybe for the future generations that I can transfer these thoughts and and experiences too and again it was bad but we all we can all learn something something out of it. Yeah, yes, absolutely, yeah. So it was not only bad for for the for you or for you for for the teams and for the people who are in Tokyo during the sample because it's totally different also to to watch these games, yeah. So it's totally so i in in yeah, so from right now in the perspective back, it's really strange what was happening during these years of the the pandemic. So yeah. and then

speaker-1: Let's let's come to the next one. So we have Paris twenty-four. over sixteen years then from Beijing to to Paris. so which is for sure the first thing is which is unbelievable. and then we have yeah, then again a final. So how was it then to to come to to to Paris to play the the Olympic Games then? Yeah, well you know what I said before, it took me a few months to to give it a good thought about losing the finals and I still haven't done it for the for the f after the Paris because I'm still feeling feeling the finals and I still think about the game and but I think it was a completely new team. we changed the the change of generations. and these new guys had already won world championships, European championships, they've so they've gained experience in in in these three three years that were they did incredible r results. I came only for the Olympics and part of my role was also to to help them understand the importance of of of the Olympics but not n not only the importance but maybe to calm them in a in a situations that might that they might f feel easy, you know, w when when w when you when you relax and think that you've done your job now, that's the moment when you have to slap yourself and say, Okay, the job is not done yet. And we did a tremendous job during the preparations for the Paris, the whole atmosphere was great. we did heavy heavy trainings and we were well prepared. And after reaching the finals, I think we were aware that we have strength and knowledge and we our value is good enough to to reach and to go to the end. but in the end I think the I would say psychological preparation for the game

speaker-0: was not on the level as it was supposed to be and the opponent was from the start was better psychologically. Physically I wouldn't say that we were we were we were there in the game, maybe even better. But psychological aspect from our side was was not we were on the level you are s you are required to be to play the Olympic finals. I'm still thinking about it, I'm still thinking about the mistakes we've done, before the game, during the game, and it's very hard to to acknowledge to yourself that you haven't done any everything that's in your power to to win that that game. And I will be sad still the rest of my life for not for for l for losing this for skipping this opportunity I had. within the reach of my hand and to win another gold Olympic medal. So but I I c I I shouldn't and I couldn't could not say that I'm unhappy with winning the Olympic medal, Olympic silver, but you know there is a there's this bitterness in me that says, Okay, we could have done it better. At least to to have a better performance. Yeah, so even when you say okay, you have the chance, yeah, so then the goal is really to to win the the maximum, so which is then the gold medal. But okay, so when it's at the end a silver medal, so for everybody else is would be silver medal tot totally great. but when you're part of the of the team which is playing for gold, then maybe silver is not really the thing you're reaching for, yeah? Yes. Yes, but okay.

speaker-1: I absolutely. Yeah. So maybe then we come back to a little bit let's say happier situation and good story and positive story. We already mentioned the new format four X4 water polo, which is happening during last week in Dubrovnik. So maybe you can give us a little bit of your let's say summary. about your experiences, about your opinion about this new format from the world aquatics. before the the tournament I was part of the team we played exhibition game so the referees and the and the the whole system can be can be checked once again before the tournament. And I must say from personal experience it's very, very exhausting to play this new format. Basically you don't have any tactics. There is tactics but It's all about physique, b about swimming, shooting, and the the ball is smaller, the goal is smaller, the whole field is smaller and shorter and it requires more energy and more stamina from from every individual to be able to compete in this kind of competition. And I was first two two days I was really against this, but w as the tournament went forward Good games emerged, good teams, and it was from the stands it was really exciting to watch, especially since I was cheering for Croatia. to watch all all the athletes fighting. it's still a bit confusing for the for the audience, for the referees, and I'm sure that a lot of changes will be made in the future, but we have to give it a shot, give it an an opportunity to to develop.

speaker-0: And to see what will come out of all this. I don't think this format is good for the professionals to be I I I wouldn't want this format to replace the war-polo we know. But maybe this could also be like an upgrade for for part of beach water polo, for manifestations, for for different kinds of exhibitions and Because I'm I'm maybe old fashioned, I like tactics, I like playing against another play with with my with my head, not only with my physique. And we will see what will what will come out out of this format. I I see a lot of positive thinkings, thoughts, but it's still it's still far away from the world we know and w which we love. And I just hope that it will not replace the the Warpolar we we play, the the old traditional one. Yeah, yeah. So in this case I think most of us are also, let's say, old fashioned. you you say it old fashioned. but I think when I understand it correctly from the official statement from the Word Aquatics, already said okay, this is not a an action on a format which has to be replaced or will be replacing the normal water polo as such, because it should be a lighter format, yeah. So to bring water polo in areas of the world where it's not really easy to to play the normal water polo, for example, and then bring the l people from the from the new format for X four to the hopefully at the end, somewhere, to the to the old normal traditional way to play water polo. So which then it's a fair deal, yeah. So I would absolutely also not like to replace the normal football by this one, but

speaker-1: From the things I saw on the on the internet or social media or whatever, so it was really an event. Yeah. So it was really event an event thing and all the things going around around the pool. So which is not not really necessarily the the the fact for a normal normal water polo tournament. I'm also glad I'm also glad the first edition took place in Dubrovnik. We had we had great weather and I I'm sure all the all the guests felt comfortable and I think the the new format was well introduced from let's say from our side and as you said it is more to to make it more popular in the in the in the countries where classical world pol not known and to to spread the awareness of the

speaker-1: Yeah, so I'm I'm really looking forward to maybe more events like this. Yeah. So maybe this we will have also some tournaments over the next couple of months and years here in Germany. So which is to be fair not so attractive like in Dubrovnik, yeah. So which is near to the sea and old harbour and so on. So so which is not then do we have really to find a good location here in Germany. but I think there you are Let's say in a pole position against Germany. Yeah, but well you should try, not only Germany but all the countries should try and and this this format can be played also in lakes, in in rivers, not only in the sea, so it's it's it's it's something that f for the summertime I think it's it's a good choice to try. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. So w which is to come back to my my my my point at the very beginning. So around the area where somebody's living or playing water polo. So which is easier to play during the summertime in Croatia water polo than in Germany. So because in Germany we have let's say at first of all not this kind of weather, yeah. So and then we do not have really so much facilities near to the sea, near to the beach. so which is w which is makes it more attractive to play water polar in Croatia, to be honest.

speaker-0: Okay. so at at the at the end I have five questions for you. five questions where we would like to have a let's say short answer or quick answer. so the first one is the first word comes to your mind when you hear Olympic Games. First word. London gold I mean from obvious reasons. absolutely. the biggest change in water polo since Beijing two thousand eight. the dynamics of of and and physicalities of of the game. Everything is much faster, everything is more physical and so those are the biggest changes.

speaker-1: the best goalkeeper you ever faced. Oof. I had the privilege to face a l a lot of good good goalkeepers, but I would like to to stay silent answering this one. I don't want to offend anyone, but if I have to choose I would always go for the creation goalkeepers. Biach, Pavich, Vichan. I mean these are all incredible in incredible goalkeepers and I know them personally and I'm i i i i it's a bit personal. the hardest defender you play against. the hardest one is is is the one that doesn't use only his muscles but his head. And I had also great opportunity to play against Daniel Schwarga, Andrea Pelinovic, Tamas Kashar, Sandro Sukno, all the players on my side that marked Felipe Perone to mark these last two decades of of War Apollo and to play against them with the head but

speaker-0: Not only with the muscles and that's something that that s stands out w w w when you speak about them. Mm-hmm. Yeah, so which makes sense. so last one is the most emo the most emotional pool or area you played in. emotional. Well I'm I'm a local patriot, so you know playing in Dubrovnik is always been a dream for me when I was a kid and I'm still living this. and but also we I must mention the Bella Comedy in in in in Budapest where we had so many hard games against Hungarian teams and on Margit Siget you know playing in front of Hungarian crowd it's it really is something S something special special also for for guys like you.

speaker-0: Yes, exactly. Perfect. Good. So that's all for today. So Maro, thank you for joining the podcast today. So I wish you all the best for the next couple of weeks and months for for your upcoming games and tournaments. so what comes next up then for you? You already mentioned that you're in a preparation time with you. so what comes up next for you? I don't know, the season has just started. We have so many games ahead of us. I'm looking forward for this season. I don't know if I will play next season or two more seasons. That's something I will decide along the way. But as long as I'm still physically capable and able to to compete with the younger younger generations I feel confident to to continue doing so and I just hope my my my body will be able to To endure all these new things ahead of me. Perfect. Yeah, so then all the best for you and your your buddy. Yeah. So hopefully we see you not only this season, so maybe also another season after that. Thank you.

speaker-0: Thank you for having me and I I I hope you will you you will continue with all the all the good work and you have another you have so many more great Waterpol experts talking about their careers and talking about Warpol in general. Yeah, yeah, so that's absolutely the plan. So we have some something in the pipeline, yeah. So hopefully maybe with your as example, all the other guys are also coming to the broadcast so that I'm not have to ask, so maybe then they come from from their side. so I'm happy to to do it anyway. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Looking forward. Thank you. And yeah, talk to you soon and see you somewhere around Europe. No worries. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.