Speaker 2: Today we to Bundesliga player and former national player Ben Reibel. Welcome to this podcast. you

Speaker 2: Get the insights.

Speaker 2: Every time you people who were at the Olympic Games, for everyone it 9 plus Ultra. And was, as you said, the final dream to play So those who could really implement it achieve it, they really yes. It was a dream to whole thing and work it. Have you spoken to participants who were at the Olympics? What their experiences? Or did you them fix what the idea was? I talked with my father a times and he the Olympic Games in 1992 as his highlight in his memory. always that 1992 the Dream Team the first time. My girlfriend also played the Olympic Games and I am close to that. feeling that the and the whole sports world are coming together. That's something very special. It's a shame that it didn't out for me, but I think the dream and the work that was put was for it. Yes, that's kind like with the national team itself. In the end, everyone play in the national team. Probably not everyone can go to the Olympics but you just have to have because without goals and dreams it just won't work Then you would have general motivation gap, a motivation problem at some point if you these goals.

Speaker 1: Exactly, and you've it from me too, the whole basis for my reorientation with changing and so on, that was all always with the thought of playing games. And that was the goal. And it's good that... I know that many people or many games have this goal, but I think if from the outside... If cut and someone said, okay, we'll it we'll a complete break-down and we'll something up sadly, I it as unrealistic. Sadly, I don't think we'll to over the next few Well, I would say we give the new coach a little more time to ourselves of the opposite. I'm pretty optimistic about the situation. As you said, he was relatively successful in the ladies' water ball with China. You can't by hand. I think was an explicit desire of some the officials to the coach. And if it worked out, Now we have to see what comes of But basically I totally agree with So have to at some point and really on the growing forces and then four or eight years in doubt. And on the next or the next. Because the next ones can then be deliberately let in German, for the possible for the possible further development that to the next Olympic Games. Now you just mentioned that you injured in Rotterdam, but that wasn't part What kind of injury Or now you you're again, so hopefully it couldn't have

Speaker 1: Yes, how can say It a long time to diagnose But in nutshell, have rheumatic disease, which means that certain joint parts are inflamed. And that started shortly after I from Berlin, before my contract in Duisburg even started. I a total pain in my foot and couldn't get I several months. Everyone told me to stay The orthopedists and so When it the base joints of my hand, they said that there were two or more two joints. I go to the rheumatologist. Then I at the rheumatologist. And it takes a while for them to try which drugs are suitable. And then it was like that, they were all bit, what do them but they were a bit scared because of Corona. Because the drugs that you against such diseases, they go to the immune system. And that was all relatively fresh And you to so many drugs that I might get with Corona. Accordingly, it with diagnosis and treatment, with medicine and everything. It wasn't like the shoulders of some people who were injured for longer period It was something more Not just the shoulders, but the rheumatism. It's not always it. You have more structures.

Speaker 1: I have it under control I much medication now and that's all under control That's why I'm happy that I play and in the sport. I after such a no matter which illness, if you can play without any complications afterwards, that's great at this point. I wish that it stays that way. So now we have already the national team and Olympic Games and so on. Let's back to the Bundesliga because that's the basis for everything we have How see situation of the league or the development of the league? Because of course there are also different opinions with any top four or other formats within the Bundesliga without play-off and play-down and what kind of possibilities there are. So are now, let's say, top three, top four teams in Germany. Everything that comes that is then probably not quite so challenging for the first two circumstances. Yes, first all the top two with Wasp and Spandau, first of all the solo players in the league and everything that after that is on a similar level. I don't know exactly what kind of considerations being but my opinion is that many other Wasserbeinations are at our current system with A and B groups.

Speaker 1: You said that you the top four, but if you do then you against a team that only plays semi-finals finals, two different teams, and the end of the year German champions. That's a good one. Why don't like in all other sports? If we at Germany, there's a first league, there's certain number of teams, let's say we it on 10 or 12, and then play the league with a back forth game and then the playoffs on the first night. Yes, of course I know that it's always big problem with the load on games and the number of games. I I've at Spandau Nationality. But I think if you this discussion, then it's always the wrong approach to change If you think it, there are 14 games in the group stage That's the same number of those in football, if you a Champions League winner, the same number those who Champions League. Yes, that's it. And then there's the... The final eight. That means you a huge effort in games. And like it in last years, you become German champion if you 20 games. And if think about if you qualify for the final eight, if you these three games, you the Champions League than in the league. So I think if you're on this topic, you should rather...

Speaker 1: I'm not Len about his You can four four-man groups. It's not just the number of games, but all Champions League games, all the foreign games. You through the history of here in Europe. And it's always three days. One day travel, one day one day you the again and then you play and next day you travel. And that's, the burden that arises, the time-consuming effort and the travel. But now let's back to the Bundesliga. I think we just to a very simple, structured system. I also know from my own experience that if you play in a club that Champions League and you jump into between the Champions League games and you win 20-1, that doesn't any I know that the opponent doesn't But we have to get to the where we have a first league with one group and less teams. I think that will be the right direction. But that teams will in semi-final and maybe against two different teams. I that's a good Good session. Yes, that's right. but exactly, basically first league to reduce then it will automatically fewer games. But it may also bit more balanced. And the others who may not be to much against who anyway, they can also play a overall second league, for example. So you should, as you say, it as simple So other sports data are examples. There is, as it always is in life, both.

Speaker 2: I think time to So exactly for the reason, as you say, should actually start about the Bundesliga. So of you to think but the schedule for the Lenn with the Champions League so what happened a few weeks ago, with the transfer of the The World It's crazy. If you prepare everything is adjusted and no one takes into the league. That's what you heard. Champions League games are postponed, Final 8 is postponed, it's and postponed, it's it's shortened, etc. And no one asks the clubs. There's only the game. Yes, absolutely. I that as as you. Yes, that's... Now we already said you went to Spandau from the west, to speak, to east. You don't so spontaneously. Were there certain reasons You said it clearly, to the performance level a little bit and to the national team and the Olympics.

Speaker 2: Did you points or experiences from where you said, the change has been worth I think I my time in two parts. I was for three years and the first one and a half years, when I played the World Cup in Barcelona, we for my first Champions League season. We won home games against EGAR and Solnok. Then after one and half years, I I German champion. Bisgut!

Speaker 1: Those were memories I will never forget. It was great to get so many different people. I'm also grateful that I a few people. For example, Tibi Negri, the Romanian national player I three years. He's still close friend of mine. like my mentor, who took by the hand. That was great. In the second half, it me anymore, to be How can describe Actually, was my decision to Spandau during the Corona pandemic. The Olympic Qualification I said and I was also in November 2019, I think five or six weeks because of mental health sick and was not there. Yes, and when Corona came and you sat at home, we all had a lot of time to think I have my girlfriend there, but we have just ... I about our situation and of course I my situation, what I want. In Berlin it was not the ideal environment for me I just realized that it was good for me In terms of development as a player and as a human being. The environment has an extremely bad influence on my mental and physical health and a negative influence on my private life, which was very unpleasant. Another jumping point was that I went to Berlin to do my BWL studies. I as a 19-year-old, had never a university from the inside and didn't know exactly how it was And waterball at this level is a full-time job. I to 100 % and it not possible to...

Speaker 1: and my studies forward in I imagined to I to Berlin. But it was really, on the one hand, I said, sports story, the departure, so to speak, or to think about it in Berlin, continue or somewhere else, or maybe not all. That can also be a consequence of such a game of if you have such a mental problem at the point and then lot things on one and then you have anyway, so to speak. So we were before him at the term of the record. that you then have to a reset of the record. And if there are so many negative influences, why always fall on one, that you don't say, okay, here I'll for three years, that's probably also hand. But if you say you were also sick written, that's I've already with several mental stories and Sport psychology and what influences that can did you also such support? in experience, it's always a bit into a corner and nobody wants to talk it, although we've heard in the last podcast episodes, nothing negative is So it's more of a positive thing at this point. Yes, in my case it had nothing with sports psychology. My medical records had nothing to with sports pressure or anything else. But I can only advise is very important during performance sports to to your mental health, to yourself clear that

Speaker 1: When you waterball, everything good and important. You have to follow but everything else life has to go. You have good, you have to appreciated. I can only say that is very important not only in waterball, but in the whole sport that everyone becomes and that you always of your own health. And also that the and and care of the players and the team in a mentally healthy state. But now the important question You said you Berlin for I would assume that it's better now. The environment, probably because was the usual from youth, has probably made the mental thing come track. Or that you feel much better in the environment you're now. Yes, exactly. I said that mental and physical health, the rheumatic disease, you never know where these diseases come But there are two possibilities. Either it comes from external influences or it's genetic. I don't it genetic, so my rheumatic disease can be to that. That would also be a why distanced myself from professional waterball, so it significantly.

Speaker 2: Yeah, that's fascinating. When you let happen, you really think about afterwards. That started then then. was the phase, I there and there, and there was a qualification tournament, there maybe the stress level that you can afterwards or that you can And now, in the current can that it improved. So I find that very fascinating so 1 to 1 matching can and then, as I said, see can what maybe so the tendential solver was. Yes, exactly. As I had a lot time with Corona and I could lot. And I not only from health perspective, but I just noticed that the constellation, it was in the national team in last year, wasn't fun anymore. And everyone knows, after the sports career you have make that you don't into a hole. And yes, as I said, I so much time for my studies now, that's a lot of fun. and will continue me on this level. In the was the right decision Yeah, but then Corona might have something positive Otherwise, the time wouldn't have been or these moments to sit and say, what am I going now this situation?

Speaker 1: For me personally, Corona worth It sounds stupid, but is a complicated and sad topic. for me, time to think about and to organize myself. Corona allowed me to good access to my studies. I online schooling. I'm big fan of I'm happy that I all Well, I was about say that, because that's a nice closing word. But under the line, of course, that's great, if you it that way in it was, as you said, a complicated, shitty situation with Corona, people say. But you have in many places, that maybe something positive had. So also this online schooling or homeschooling or whatever you're saying now, with online education opportunities and school and so on and so on. would not been possible if it for Corona and everyone was at home with an iPad, laptop or whatever, doing homeschooling at you would have had to So I to it nicely, but there are also positive aspects to the story. Great, yes, then No.

Speaker 2: I definitely you stay that you the water ball in some form for time. As I the fun shouldn't too short. So with all the performance and all the nonsense you do all the time, the fun should actually at the forefront. And that's not just something you want to youth and children or tell them, but it doesn't at adults. Maybe then a performance... Sport period in the middle where the fun may little shorter but he comes back so much I can say Because fun is at the first place. If it's fun, it doesn't sense. You have with fun, with joy, conviction. Also, the next beautiful closing word. very nice. But exactly the same thing Peter Röhle said, He says, everything you in life, you to with extreme dedication. Or with full dedication or something that. So that reminds me of that sentence Yeah, I Modi.

Speaker 2: Sehr gut. Schöne Grüße an der Stelle. Well, thank you for the time. It very exciting and very happy. I wish you all the I fun too. Thank you, I'm very excited. I wish you and all listeners, also during Corona, they stay I'm forward to next time.

Speaker 1: It was awesome.