By Kris Raney
Kumamoto, Japan - August 16 - The Aqua Dome in Southern Japan hosted nearly 500 masters water polo players between the ages of 30 and 81 from August 5-11, 2023. Thirty-five teams from ten countries traveled to Japan to play "The Beautiful Game" and compete for World Aquatics Masters titles. Eight age group tournaments were contested and clubs from the United States won every title. Fourteen of the seventeen USA teams won a medal, with full results listed below:
Women 30+
- San Diego Shores
- PRO RECCO NUOTO E PALLANUOTO
- Los Angeles Water Polo Foundation
- The Olympic Club
After claiming gold, Tanya Whitlock explained why she keeps playing: "I just really love this sport and the community that it brings, I love the teammates I get to travel with and play with. It means a lot to me that I still have that adrenaline feeling and am able to tell my kids and go home and show my kids that I can still do things for myself and still compete at a high level."
"[This is] just a really great opportunity to be able to continue to be involved with this sport. All of my friends in the world, probably, play masters water polo," Nila Ward (Los Angeles Water Polo Foundation) said. "It's really fun to be able to continue to challenge yourself even at your older ages and continue to be a part of this sport as it evolves kind of in front of our eyes."
Men 30+
- The Olympic Club
- DSK DRAGONS
- INTEGRAL
- Seoul Water Polo
Men 40+ & 45+
- The Olympic Club
- AMBERJACKS
- Orange Country Riptide
- MEZIROGUMI
Men 50+
- Darkside
- Orange County Riptide
- Pacific Storm Water Polo Club
- Hippopotamus
Men 55+
- The Olympic Club
- UWA City Beach Water Polo Club
- Calgary Masters Water Polo Club
Following the gold medal win, USA Water Polo Hall of Famer Russ Hafferkamp said, "If you ask anybody [why they're still playing] it's just because of all these guys we grew up with and have been playing with for so long. Now we come to a foreign country and we play competitive games, really highly competitive games but we get to go out and have some fun and make old acquaintances and refresh memories. Can't be beat."
Olympic Club head coach Denny Harper added, "I am coaching probably for the simple reason that with my own club back in San Diego, Sunset Water Polo, it allowed for most of the guys that played for me in college to transition to keep playing polo...It was not something I planned on doing. In the mid-2000s I was asked by the San Francisco Olympic Club to coach them in Perth…At the end of the day, this is just an excuse for all of us to stay together. It's about friendship, whether it's your own club [or] people you played against."
Men 60+
- Seattle Water Polo
- Santa Barbara Masters
- MASTERS RIO WATER POLO CLUB
- REAL CANOE N.C.
- Blue Thunder Masters Water Polo Club
- Campo de Deportes Larraina
For Seattle Water Polo's Kit Follmer, "the comradery and the ability to travel the world to places [I] otherwise would never go and play a game that I love" are reasons to still cap up.
"Whether it is my teammates or the competitors we meet up with, I have known some of these guys for 50 to 60 years," teammate Pete Fischler adds. "The ability to bond with them, stay in shape, have fun, [and] travel the world is a privilege and pleasure."
Men 65+
- Santa Barbara Silver Surfers
- Perth Cockatoos Mens Water Polo
- Blue Thunder Masters Water Polo Club
- PAMPAS
- Calgary Masters Water Polo Club
Men 70+ & 75+
- San Diego Athletic Club
- Perth Cockatoos Mens Water Polo
- KVP H2O polo Piestany
- Blue Thunder Masters Water Polo Club 70+
- Blue Thunder Masters Water Polo Club 75+
Med Amr, a 1964 Olympian, is still playing at 81 years old. "I love water polo and I want to be healthy so that's the way to go."
Soccer is commonly known as "The Beautiful Game," however, the water polo in Kumamoto, Japan was beautiful. Most of the athletes traveled nearly halfway around the world and endured the heat and humidity to play ball. Masters water polo is alive and well. Dust off your suit, swim a few laps, attend a couple local scrimmages, and sign up for the next tournament. The next three World Aquatic Masters Championships are already scheduled.
Doha, Qatar…Feb 23-Mar 3, 2024
Kallang, Singapore…Summer 2025
Budapest, Hungary…Summer 2027
For the love of "The Beautiful Game," see you in the pool again soon!
Alex Ellison contributed to this article
