Beijing, China - August 25 - The 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China will easily go down as the most successful ever in the history of USA Water Polo. From the women's team earning their second silver medal and third overall medal in the last three Olympics to the men's team defying the odds and returning to the medal podium for the first time in 20 years it will certainly be a summer to remember.
Head Coach Terry Schroeder and the men's water polo team entered the Olympics admittedly as underdogs. They carried a ninth place ranking into the Games along with the history of not finishing better than sixth in any of the last three games. All they did after that was become one of the true feel good stories of the Olympics staging an improbable run that left no doubt, men's water polo in the United States is now back.
After the claiming their group with a 4-1 record the momentum started to build as victories were obtained over number one ranked Croatia along with Germany which clinched a bye into the semi-finals. From there a magical game of water polo was put together to defeat Serbia for the first time in such a long time nobody could remember the last time and it was on to the Gold Medal match. With no worse than a Silver Medal secured the men's team had completed their journey 'back to the podium' a mantra that was hatched following the 2004 games and became a calling card after each big win in 2008.
While the Gold Medal game did not go as was intended for the men falling to world power Hungary, the leaps and bounds taken by this group won't soon be forgotten. Veterans Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA) and Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA) anchored a squad that did what many outside of the United States believed to be impossible. The world rankings will reset following Beijing and it will show the United States among the elite, something that hasn't happened since the early 1990s.
For the women's team a trip to the medal round was an expectation as they came into these games holding the number one ranking in the world and had the resume of two Olympic medals thus far. Silver medalists in Sydney and Bronze medalists in Athens this squad had sights set on completing their medal collection with Gold in Beijing.
As they often do the team methodically worked their way through this tournament as they have many others ticking off one step after the next. First it was a defeat of a fast improving China team to open the Games. Then it was claiming their Group title having not lost a game. From there it was a bye and on to the semi-finals where arch rival Australia was waiting. It would be the third straight Olympics where these countries would meet.
The United States were victorious in this battle and would advance to the Gold Medal game where an upstart Netherlands squad was waiting. Heartbreak would ensue in this final match as a dramatic rally was staged by the United States to erase an early deficit only to go for naught as the Netherlands were the victors. It is a true sign of dominance in a sport when an Olympic medal can still create tears of sadness. While the goal of Gold had fallen short the accomplishment of the women's team won't soon be overlooked.
Led by three-time Olympians Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA) and Heather Petri (Orinda, CA) they become the first squad to medal in all three Olympic Games containing women's water polo. Head Coach Guy Baker has presided over one of the most dominating runs for women's water polo the last eight years plus and with 10 first time Olympians on the roster the future looks very bright for this group.
While water polo is a national sport in some places Europe the 2008 Olympic Games may have shown the United States to be the most complete nation in this game. Out of the few countries that even had both their men's and women's team qualify none finished with a medal outside of the United States. Add to this Gold and Silver this summer at the Junior Pan American Games for the USA Men's Junior and Women's Youth National Teams and water polo surely seems to be in a good spot in the United States.
With hopes that the success of all of these groups can continue for years to come it may very well be the 2008 Sumer Olympics in Beijing, China that are looked back upon as the kick start for excellence among every facet of United States water polo on the national stage.
