How do you stay motivated when you have already won almost everything?
In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk Podcast, Felipe Perrone – Olympic champion, world champion, and one of the most respected players in modern water polo – talks openly about longevity, motivation, and the mental evolution of an elite athlete.

Felipe explains how his relationship with the sport has changed over the years. While young players often think about results, titles, and the future, he has learned to focus almost exclusively on the present moment. Training sessions, weekly goals, and daily improvement have become far more important than past achievements or long-term dreams.

The conversation dives deep into how motivation evolves over a long career, why success can never be the final goal, and how constant adaptation – physically and mentally – is essential in elite sport. Felipe shares memories from his first titles in Spain and Brazil and reflects on the unique emotions of representing his country at the Olympic Games in Rio, where water polo inspired an entire generation in Brazil.

Another key topic is the growing competition load in modern water polo. Felipe offers an athlete’s perspective on packed calendars, Champions League pressure, world championships, and the challenge of balancing club competitions with national team responsibilities. He explains why, despite the overload, competing is still better than not playing at all.

Audience questions lead to honest answers about training volume, the hardest training days of his career, learning from painful defeats, and finally winning world titles after years of setbacks. Felipe also speaks about family, teammates, changing locker rooms, and how relationships in professional sport constantly evolve.

The episode closes with valuable advice for young players: stop overthinking results, stay consistent, focus on learning, and enjoy the process. Felipe also talks about his work with youth camps, why inspiring young athletes matters to him, and how consistency and concentration are the real foundations of long-term development.

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