In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Felipe Perrone, captain of the Spanish national team and one of the most respected players in modern water polo, reflects on his personal journey, the unique culture of the sport, and the values that water polo instills beyond the pool.

Felipe introduces himself as a Brazilian-born athlete who moved to Spain at the age of 16 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional water polo player. Coming from a water polo family, with both his father and brother deeply involved in the sport, his path into the pool was almost inevitable. Growing up around training sessions, pools and competitions, water polo became a natural part of his everyday life.

A central theme of the conversation is the water polo community. Felipe describes water polo as a small sport, but one with an exceptionally strong sense of belonging. The physical demands, constant teamwork and shared struggles create bonds that are often deeper than in more individual sports. According to Perrone, this is what makes water polo special: you are never alone in the pool, and success is always collective.

Felipe also speaks openly about the lack of popularity of water polo, especially compared to sports like football. In Brazil, water polo remains a niche sport, and even in Europe it often lives in the shadow of bigger disciplines. He believes that part of the responsibility lies within the community itself. Players, coaches and clubs must do more to promote the sport, embrace modern communication channels and actively share the values and stories of water polo with a wider audience.

Another important topic is family influence and values. Felipe explains how his father, a former Brazilian national team player, consciously tried to protect him from excessive pressure. Instead of focusing solely on performance, his parents emphasized education, personal development and long-term thinking. Studying alongside his water polo career was never optional, but a fundamental part of his upbringing.

The episode also dives deep into Felipe’s move to Europe. Leaving Brazil at a young age was not easy, but seeing his brother build a career in Spain convinced him that this was the right path. Barcelona became the starting point of his professional journey, allowing him to combine education with elite sport. Felipe highlights how crucial this balance was for his mental stability and long-term success.

Felipe shares detailed insights into the differences between water polo cultures in Spain, Italy and Croatia. He describes Spain as fast and intuitive, Italy as highly structured and tactical, and Croatia as a system built around specialists in specific roles. Each experience shaped him as a player and helped him understand the game on a deeper level.

One of the most fascinating parts of the episode is Felipe’s time at Pro Recco, where he trained and competed alongside some of the greatest players in water polo history. Sharing the pool with legends, observing their work ethic and competing in extremely intense training sessions left a lasting impression on him. For Perrone, these moments were not just about winning, but about learning how excellence is built every single day.

Toward the end of the conversation, Felipe reflects on leadership. Being a leader, he explains, is not only about performance, but about caring for teammates, celebrating collective success and accepting personal sacrifice for the good of the team. The balance between individual ambition and team responsibility is what ultimately defines great leaders in water polo.

This episode offers a deep, honest and inspiring portrait of a player who truly embodies the spirit of water polo – proud of the sport, grateful for the journey, and committed to passing its values on to the next generation.

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“We Need to Rethink the Current World Cup Format” – Vaughn Marlow on Tournament Structures, Development & Technology in Water Polo

In this second episode with Vaughn Marlow, head coach of the South African men’s national team, we dive deep into the structure of modern major water polo tournaments and why current formats often fail to support real development for emerging nations.

Vaughn explains why he strongly supports the Division 1 & Division 2 concept of the World Cup, as it allows countries like Germany or Romania to grow through competitive matches instead of facing top nations with no realistic chance of success. He highlights why development only happens through balanced games, not through heavy wins or crushing defeats.

A major focus is the challenge of preparation for non-European nations:
- Limited funding
- Late arrival at tournaments
- Long international travel
- Jet lag and time zone changes
- No professional league structures
- Training mostly against their own team

Vaughn also shares detailed insights into:
- The World Cup in Berlin and its physical demands
- Playing two international matches in one day
- Facing nations like Spain, Serbia, Montenegro
- How to correctly analyze defeats against fully professional teams
- Why coaches must differentiate between tactical errors and pure structural disadvantages

Another key topic is technology in water polo. Vaughn discusses:
- GPS tracking and heart-rate monitoring
- Performance analytics used in rugby and football
- Live data and in-game video feedback
- Virtual reality as a training tool
- Why water polo still lags behind in sports technology

Finally, Vaughn looks ahead to the World Championships in Fukuoka, explaining South Africa’s difficult group with Montenegro, Serbia and Spain, and why these matches are still crucial for long-term development—even if the results are predictable.

This episode is highly valuable for coaches, federation officials, athletes and fans who want to understand how international tournament formats, technology and realistic development planning shape the future of global water polo.

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“We Have to Adopt from Others – But With Our Own Capabilities in Mind” – Vaughn Marlow on South African Water Polo & National Team Development

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, South African men’s national team head coach Vaughn Marlow shares deep insights into the unique structure, challenges and future vision of water polo in South Africa.

Vaughn talks about his personal journey from being a school player to becoming a full-time coach and national team head coach. He explains how the South African water polo system is strongly school-based, unlike the European club system, and how this creates both strong participation at youth level and major challenges after graduation.

A major topic of this episode is the lack of professional pathways after high school. While many players are highly motivated and talented, financial limitations, education, and career planning force many athletes to leave the sport at the age of 17–18. Unlike rugby, which offers contracts and professional structures, water polo remains largely amateur.

Vaughn also gives rare insights into:
- The structure of South African provincial leagues
- The absence of a true national league
- Selection through national club championships
- The challenges of limited funding and long travel distances
- Managing a national team while working full-time as a school coach
- International competition against top nations like Spain, Serbia and Montenegro
- Late travel, jet lag and lack of match preparation
- Why money directly influences performance on the world stage

A key philosophical statement of this episode is Vaughn’s belief that South Africa must learn from the global elite – but adapt everything to its own physical, tactical and cultural strengths. He explains why Japan’s rise is inspiring and how South Africa must develop its own brand of water polo, based on speed, movement and teamwork rather than physical dominance.

This episode is extremely valuable for coaches, federation officials, athletes and fans who want to understand how national teams develop outside the traditional European powerhouses.

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In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Karl Izzo, President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, shares his ambitious vision for the future of water polo, swimming and aquatic sports in Malta.

Izzo speaks openly about the current situation of Maltese water polo and his clear goal to move the men’s national team from 14th place into the European Top 12. To achieve this, his administration is working simultaneously on senior national teams, youth development, school programs, coach education and federation structures.

A major focus of the conversation is the grassroots system:
- Academies for U11 to U14
- Coaches working directly in schools
- Attracting children from football into aquatic sports
- Building a long-term pipeline of young players

Izzo also talks about the National Sports School, where selected athletes train in semi-professional environments while continuing their education. In addition, Malta is building new international partnerships, including cooperation with a new European College of Sport opening in 2024.

Key topics of this episode include:
- Youth development as the foundation of national success
- League reform and cooperation between clubs and national teams
- Media work, social media presence and branding of Maltese aquatics
- The introduction of DJs, live atmosphere and fan engagement at matches
- Financial challenges of international participation
- Participation in European Championships, World Championships and World Cups
- The importance of LEN and World Aquatics representation
- Why Malta does not want favors – only fair recognition and respect

Izzo also explains why international camps, exchange programs and cooperation with other federations, including Germany, are essential for development. He emphasizes that visibility, collaboration and international presence are the keys to long-term growth.

This episode offers a rare insight into how a small nation builds sustainable aquatic sports structures in a global competition environment.

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In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Karl Izzo, President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, shares a comprehensive and honest insight into how water polo and aquatic sports are organized and developed in one of Europe’s smallest nations.

Karl begins by introducing his long journey in the sport. A former national team player with over 90 international appearances, he later transitioned into coaching, working with several Maltese clubs before serving as head coach of the Maltese national team for ten years. Under his leadership, Malta qualified four times for European Championships – a historic achievement for the country. Since November 2022, Karl has taken on a new role as federation president, responsible not only for water polo, but also for swimming, artistic swimming and open-water swimming.

A central theme of the episode is Malta’s unique league structure. Unlike most European leagues, the Maltese water polo season is centered around the summer months, when foreign players from top European clubs join local teams. This creates a highly competitive and attractive environment, allowing Maltese players to train and compete alongside world-class athletes such as Filipović, Ivović or Joković. Karl explains why this system works for Malta and how it directly benefits the national team by raising the level of daily competition.

Karl also outlines the three-competition model in Malta: a development-focused winter cup, a winter league without foreign players, and the summer league with international stars. This structure ensures playing time for young athletes while still providing elite exposure during the summer. Upcoming adjustments aim to further balance competitiveness, sustainability and player development.

The conversation then shifts toward national team development. Karl explains why it is crucial for Maltese players to compete abroad during the winter season in countries such as Montenegro, Italy or Serbia. Playing year-round against stronger opposition accelerates individual growth and directly strengthens the national team during international tournaments.

Another important aspect is infrastructure and governance. Despite being a small island nation with limited resources, Malta has invested heavily in aquatic facilities, including multiple outdoor pools and a new indoor venue to ensure year-round training. Karl highlights the importance of close cooperation with government authorities and local institutions to make such projects possible.

As federation president, Karl also discusses his transition from coach to administrator. The role change, he admits, is challenging, but necessary to influence the sport on a broader level. He speaks about safeguarding policies, coach education programs, certification systems and governance reforms designed to modernize Maltese aquatic sports.

The episode closes with Karl’s broader vision: increasing participation, strengthening clubs, improving youth pathways and ensuring long-term sustainability across all aquatic disciplines. Despite financial and structural limitations, his message is clear – with clear vision, cooperation and commitment, even small nations can compete on an international stage.

This episode offers a deep, realistic and inspiring perspective on how water polo can grow beyond traditional powerhouses.

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In dieser intensiven Folge des Waterpolo Expert Talks spricht Vuk Vuksanović offen über die Bedeutung der deutschen Nationalmannschaft, die Motivation junger Spieler, die Rolle von Verantwortung im Leistungssport sowie über große strukturelle Probleme im deutschen Wasserball – insbesondere im Bereich Schiedsrichterwesen, neue Regeln, Video-Beweis und Vermarktung der Bundesliga.

Vuk beschreibt eindrucksvoll, was es für junge Spieler bedeutet, erstmals das Trikot der Nationalmannschaft zu tragen. Der Adler auf der Brust sei keine Selbstverständlichkeit, sondern eine große Ehre – und genau dieses Bewusstsein müsse früh vermittelt werden. Besonders die Arbeit in den U-Nationalmannschaften (U15 bis U17) sei entscheidend, um Spieler nicht nur sportlich, sondern auch mental auf den späteren Herrenbereich vorzubereiten.

Gleichzeitig spricht er offen über die Herausforderungen im Übergang vom Nachwuchs zu den Senioren. Motivation entsteht nicht durch leere Versprechen, sondern durch reale Perspektiven, echte Einsatzzeiten, Vertrauen der Trainer und das Gefühl, gesehen zu werden. Junge Spieler müssen spüren, dass Leistung auch wirklich belohnt wird.

Ein großes Thema der Folge ist außerdem das Schiedsrichterwesen in Deutschland. Vuk kritisiert die häufige Unsicherheit bei der Anwendung neuer Regeln, den fehlenden Video-Beweis, die große Interpretationsbreite vieler Entscheidungen sowie den teils mangelhaften Umgang zwischen Trainern und Unparteiischen. Besonders problematisch sei, dass neue Regeln oft kurzfristig und sogar bei internationalen Turnieren ohne ausreichende Vorbereitung eingeführt würden.

Deutlich wird auch, wie enorm wichtig Video-Analyse, Live-Streaming und professionelle Auswertung für die Entwicklung von Spielern, Trainern und Schiedsrichtern wären – doch genau daran fehle es in vielen Bereichen der Bundesliga. Halbfinals und Finalspiele ohne Livestream seien aus seiner Sicht ein fatales Signal für die Außendarstellung des Sports.

Vuksanović macht außerdem klar, dass besonders im Kinder- und Jugendbereich erfahrene Schiedsrichter benötigt werden, damit junge Torhüter, Spieler und Trainer überhaupt eine saubere Spielgrundlage entwickeln können. Gerade bei Sichtungsturnieren sei die Qualität der Spielleitung entscheidend für den langfristigen Aufbau des deutschen Wasserballs.

Diese Episode ist ein ehrlicher, emotionaler und zugleich sehr sachlicher Blick hinter die Kulissen des deutschen Wasserballs – zwischen Nationalmannschaftsehre, Nachwuchsförderung, neuen Regeln, Schiedsrichterproblematik und der großen Frage, wie sich der Sport professioneller aufstellen kann.

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In dieser ausführlichen Folge des Waterpolo Expert Talks spricht Vuk Vuksanović über seine Rückkehr in den Vereinswasserball, die besondere Saison beim ASCD Duisburg, den bewussten Fokus auf deutsche Spieler, die Herausforderungen im Männerbereich sowie die strukturellen Probleme und Chancen im deutschen Wasserball.

Nach seiner Zeit als Auswahl- und Nachwuchstrainer kehrte Vuk zurück an die Vereinsbasis und übernahm die erste Mannschaft des ASCD. Der Rollenwechsel vom Auswahltrainer zum Clubcoach brachte neue Herausforderungen mit sich: Während Jugendliche oft formbarer sind, treffen im Männerbereich sportliche Ambitionen, Familie, Beruf und unterschiedliche Lebensrealitäten aufeinander. Genau diese Mischung machte die Saison jedoch besonders spannend.

Ein zentrales Thema ist die bewusste Kaderstrategie mit überwiegend deutschen Spielern. Vuk erklärt, warum erfahrene deutsche Spieler eine Schlüsselrolle für die Entwicklung junger Athleten spielen und warum echte Entwicklung nicht nur durch Trainer, sondern vor allem durch Vorbilder im Team entsteht. Ergänzt wurde das Team gezielt durch wenige ausländische Spieler, die neue Impulse, andere Denkweisen und spielerische Stile eingebracht haben.

Die Saison selbst war geprägt von Höhen und Tiefen: überraschende Siege gegen Topteams wie Waspo Hannover, bittere Niederlagen, Verletzungen wichtiger Leistungsträger, ein turbulenter Kaderumbruch und trotzdem am Ende ein starkes Ergebnis mit dem dritten Platz in der Bundesliga. Für Vuk ist klar: Der Gewinn der Bronzemedaille war kein Zufall, sondern Ergebnis von harter Arbeit, Teamchemie und klarer Struktur.

Gleichzeitig blickt er kritisch auf die Entwicklung der Bundesliga. Über Jahre dominierten zwei Vereine – Waspo Hannover und Spandau – die Liga nahezu konkurrenzlos. Erst seit Kurzem entsteht wieder echte Spannung. Vuk spricht offen über die Folgen einer starken Ausländerlastigkeit in einzelnen Vereinen und darüber, wie schwierig es für deutsche Nationalspieler ist, sich durchzusetzen, wenn Schlüsselpositionen dauerhaft blockiert sind.

Ein weiteres zentrales Thema ist die Situation der deutschen Nationalmannschaft. Der personelle Umbruch, fehlende Perspektiven für Talente nach der U20, der lange Stillstand durch Corona und die damit verbundene Entwicklungslücke werden sehr offen angesprochen. Vuk erklärt, warum der Aufbau einer zweiten Auswahlmannschaft, etwa über Universiaden oder B-Teams, enorm wichtig ist, um den gefährlichen „Dropout“ zwischen Nachwuchs- und A-Nationalmannschaft zu verhindern.

Diese Episode bietet einen tiefen, ehrlichen Einblick in die Realität des deutschen Wasserballs – zwischen Bundesliga-Alltag, Nachwuchsarbeit, Nationalmannschaft, Teamführung, Kaderplanung und strukturellen Herausforderungen. Eine Pflichtfolge für alle, die verstehen wollen, wie schwer, aber auch wie lohnend nachhaltige Entwicklung im deutschen Wasserball ist.

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“I’m So Proud of My Team – We Played an Amazing Season” – Unai Aguirre on Champions League, CN Barceloneta & the Winning Mentality of Spain

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Spanish national team goalkeeper Unai Aguirre looks back on one of the most intense and emotional seasons of his career with CN Barceloneta, including the dramatic Champions League Final Eight, unforgettable penalty shootouts and the constant pressure of competing at the very top of European water polo.

Unai describes why he is incredibly proud of his team despite narrowly missing the Champions League final. Barceloneta fought through an extremely demanding season, showed outstanding performances in decisive games and proved that the club belongs permanently among the elite of European water polo. Especially the penalty shootout matches against top-class opponents remain deeply emotional moments for him as a goalkeeper.

A major topic of this episode is the comparison with Pro Recco, currently the most dominant club team in Europe. Unai explains why experience, confidence, player chemistry and especially the atmosphere inside the team are decisive factors for long-term success. According to him, talent alone is not enough – the connection between players, coaches and staff is what finally wins titles.

Beyond the club season, Unai also reflects on his greatest career moment so far: winning the World Championship and being named Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament. He describes the emotional impact of this success, the pride he felt for his family and friends, and why these moments still give him strength even though he lives fully focused on the present.

A very important part of the conversation is dedicated to the mental side of being a goalkeeper. Unai shares the advice he received from his former teammate Dani López, who taught him above all to stay calm under pressure, to be mentally ready for every match and to truly enjoy being in the goal. This mental strength, according to Unai, is far more important than any technical detail.

He also talks about the new water polo rules, his pragmatic attitude toward change and why Spain may even benefit from the faster and more dynamic style of play. As a goalkeeper, adapting to new rules is simply part of the job, and Unai makes clear that flexibility and learning speed are key qualities for modern athletes.

Looking ahead, the focus now shifts fully toward the Spanish national team. After already winning major international titles, the new generation of Spanish players carries both confidence and pressure. Unai speaks openly about this responsibility, the incredible quality in every position of the current squad and the clear goal of becoming world champions once again.

This episode offers a powerful and honest insight into the life of a world-class goalkeeper between Champions League pressure, world championship glory, mental strength and the constant hunger for the next title.

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In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Spanish national team goalkeeper Unai Aguirre gives a deep and personal insight into the reasons behind the long-term success of Spanish water polo and why Spain has become one of the most dominant nations in the world over the last years.

At only 20 years old, Unai is already part of the senior national team and one of the goalkeepers of CN Barceloneta, the most successful club in Spain. He расскаnts about his early years in Barcelona, how he started as a swimmer before switching to water polo at the age of ten, and why the goalkeeper position immediately felt natural to him – not only in water polo, but also in football. For Unai, being a goalie means having direct responsibility for the result, being part of the defensive heart of the team and always pushing himself to the highest level.

A central theme of this episode is the Spanish youth development system. Unai explains how young players from all over the country come together in national training centers where school and elite water polo are perfectly connected. This system allows Spain to constantly produce highly educated, mentally strong and tactically intelligent players. According to Unai, this is one of the main reasons why Spain has such a small gap between U18, U20 and senior national teams.

He also talks about the enormous impact of national team head coach David Martin, who is known for trusting young players and giving talents real opportunities at the highest level. This culture of trust creates confidence, responsibility and huge motivation among the next generation and allows players to grow quickly into international top performers.

Unai shares his personal experience at CN Barceloneta, where he recently extended his contract for another three years. He describes the club as a professional, family-driven environment with perfect conditions for development, where pressure is replaced by trust and daily high-level work. Training every day with world-class players has shaped his mentality and expectations toward himself.

The episode also takes a critical look at the current situation of the Spanish league. While Barceloneta remains clearly on top, Unai speaks openly about financial challenges after the pandemic, the rising costs for clubs and the consequences this has for competition, player transfers and the long-term stability of certain teams. At the same time, he sees a positive trend as many young players are now getting more playing time at the highest national level.

This episode offers a rare inside view into the Spanish high-performance system, the mentality of young top players, and the cultural foundations that have turned Spain into a global powerhouse in modern water polo.

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In dieser Episode des Waterpolo Expert Talk steht die Laufbahnberatung am Olympiastützpunkt Hannover im Fokus. Die Laufbahnberaterinnen geben einen sehr offenen und praxisnahen Einblick in ihre Arbeit und zeigen, warum Betreuung im Spitzensport nicht mit dem Karriereende aufhören darf.

Zentrales Thema des Gesprächs ist die langfristige und individuelle Begleitung von Athletinnen und Athleten. Von der Schulzeit über Ausbildung oder Studium bis hin zum Übergang in das Berufsleben nach dem Leistungssport wird jeder Weg individuell betrachtet. Eine pauschale Lösung oder eine einheitliche Schablone gibt es bewusst nicht – denn Persönlichkeiten, Sportarten und Lebenssituationen unterscheiden sich stark.

Besonders deutlich wird, wie wichtig Kommunikation ist. Offene Gespräche mit Schulen, Lehrkräften, Unternehmen oder Hochschulen sind oft entscheidend dafür, ob flexible Lösungen gefunden werden können. Manchmal reicht bereits ein persönliches Gespräch, um Unterstützung zu erhalten – ohne sofort formale Prozesse auszulösen. Mut, Nachfragen und Klarheit über die eigenen Ziele spielen dabei eine zentrale Rolle.

Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt ist die Zusammenarbeit mit Vereinen und Bundesstützpunkten. Am Standort Hannover erfolgt ein enger Austausch mit dem Bundesstützpunktleiter sowie mit anderen Olympiastützpunkten deutschlandweit. Wenn Athlet:innen den Standort wechseln, werden Informationen weitergegeben und Wechsel langfristig geplant. Ziel ist es, sportliche und berufliche Entwicklung sinnvoll miteinander zu verbinden – ohne jemanden in eine Richtung zu drängen, die nicht zur Person passt.

Sehr wichtig ist auch der Blick über das Karriereende hinaus. Sobald Athlet:innen ihre aktive Laufbahn beenden, enden häufig viele Fördermaßnahmen. Die Laufbahnberatung sieht hier jedoch eine klare Verantwortung, die Begleitung fortzusetzen – etwa bei Bewerbungen, beruflicher Orientierung oder der Neuorganisation des Alltags. Diese Sicherheit ist nicht nur für die Athlet:innen selbst entscheidend, sondern auch für Eltern, die sich oft Sorgen um die Zeit nach dem Sport machen.

Im weiteren Verlauf des Gesprächs geht es um strukturelle Herausforderungen im deutschen Spitzensport. Nachwuchsprobleme, steigende Kosten und die hohe finanzielle Belastung für Familien werden offen angesprochen. Die Laufbahnberaterinnen betonen, dass frühe Förderung, attraktive Rahmenbedingungen und ein höherer gesellschaftlicher Stellenwert von Sport entscheidend sind, um langfristig Talente zu halten.

Zum Abschluss geben die Gesprächspartnerinnen klare Empfehlungen: mutig sein, Umwege zulassen, Ziele formulieren und kommunizieren. Leistungssport könne eine enorme Grundlage für das spätere Berufsleben sein – nicht nur wegen möglicher Erfolge, sondern vor allem wegen Eigenschaften wie Disziplin, Teamfähigkeit, Belastbarkeit und Eigenverantwortung.

Diese Episode bietet einen sehr wertvollen, realistischen und beruhigenden Blick auf das System hinter dem Leistungssport – und zeigt, dass Spitzensport und berufliche Zukunft keine Gegensätze sein müssen.

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