Impressively, the Blue Thunder Club (formerly KAOS) sent a team to Doha, continuing their consistent participation since 2004. Twenty years and eleven World Masters for the USAWP club with an inclusive global reach and roster. Notably, The Olympic Club out of San Francisco, a World Masters stalwart since 1996, missed the event this year in Doha. The Olympic Club had competed in thirteen Championships from 1996 to 2023. Speaking with team leaders Michael Haley (IS Hall of Fame) and Russ Hafferkamp (USAWP Hall of Fame), The Olympic Club is committed to spearheading the international masters movement going forward and hopes to see all competitors in Singapore and beyond.

Participation may have been down for the 20th World Masters in Doha, however, 306 men and one woman traveled to the Middle East to compete in seven age group championships, ages 30/35/40 to 70/75…results here. Teams from twelve countries and twenty one clubs represented, including two clubs from the United States, Channel Islands (age 70+, Silver) and Blue Thunder (solo age 75+ team, Gold). The competitors included over eight Olympians from Russia, Netherlands, Egypt, and more along with Jim Ferguson from the USA. The inspiration of the Championships was the five athletes 80 years of age or older. You are never too old to play water polo!

We spoke with a few of the twenty USAWP members that competed in Qatar and asked them why they continue to compete, how they enjoyed the Middle East, and why other masters players should consider jumping back into the pool.


Francisco Ruiz (age 61), Real Canoe 60+ (Spain). The former Dominican Republic National Team member immigrated to the USA in his twenties. A water polo connection helped him through the process. Francisco is a prominent architect in Washington D.C. who led the Seattle 60+ team to USA & World Masters Gold in 2023.
 

Jim Yates (age 70), Channel Islands 70+ (USA). Jim played water polo at Texas A&M and is the oldest of four brothers who all played NCAA water polo. Brothers Mike and Bill Yates won the 1979 NCAA title while at UCSB.

Larry Krauser (age 70), Channel Islands 70+. Larry swam and played club water polo at Purdue University. The proud Boilermaker is the fasted 70+ polo player in the world. Larry is a decorated swimmer who regularly swims all freestyle events at Worlds, 100M to Open Water. In the 70+ age group, Larry won the 100M free and was second in the Open Water (3K) in Doha.

Bryan Weaver (age 70), Channel Islands 70+ (USA). The "Godfather," Bryan founded Masters Water Polo for USA Water Polo in 1987 and is the namesake of the USAWP Distinguished Male Masters Athlete of the Year National Award. Read about the history of USA masters water polo and Bryan's significant contribution…read here.

Mick Barry (age 73), H2O Polo 70+ (Slovakia, player) & Blue Thunder 75+ (USA, coach). The Iowa native and proud Iowa State graduate wore three hats in Doha. He played and coached water polo as well as swam multiple events. Mick and the Blue Thunder Club were featured in a World Aquatics article during the Championships for their impressive efforts…read here.
 

Jim Ferguson (age 74), Channel Islands 70+. Jim is a proud UCLA Bruin, 1972 USA Olympian (Bronze Medal), and a member of the USAWP Hall of Fame. Jim was fit and sharp in Doha.
 


Why do you continue to compete?
Krauser "I enjoy it…swimming and staying in shape."
Ferguson "That's a very good question, I ask myself that a lot. It is getting together with people that are still dedicated to the sport. That draws me back into it. The comraderie when we get back together. It is still very competitive. It forces me to train every day. People say let's try it again, I love the sport."
Weaver "I would be a couch potato if it wasn't for me signing-up for an event like this. It gets me off the couch and in shape. This is a very unforgiving sport. I learned a long time ago, you do not show up to play a water polo game if you are out of shape. It is merciless."
Yates "I have not found another sport that keeps you in great shape and does not wear down joints like most do, like basketball, whether it be hips or other. A life time sport."
Barry "The easy answer is, I can. The real answer is, it is a great community to be a part of. The water polo community is excellent in the USA and across the world. I have been to Worlds eight times now. It is just fun and it gives me a reason to go work out and stay in shape every day. As we age we can continue to do what we love to do. I have friends on every continent in the world now."
Ruiz "It is a part of me, my aquatic life. I have discovered through all these years that you enjoy struggling in the water as a new medium. Typically, you do not get that experience as you grow old, you are more on the earth, in the terrestrial part. Discovering water, the challenges to play in that medium with other players. The struggle that you need to go through and the fact that you need to make it happen in a completely different medium is just amazing. It is part of me, knowing that medium, enjoying water and the challenges within. It is something that I can not give up now. I have learned to live in that aquatic life."

What are your thoughts on Doha, Qatar and the Middle East?
Krauser "A very clean area, no issues at all."
Ferguson "Unbelievably different than what I expected. The food is fabulous and the accommodations are great. It is a busy city and the people have been very polite. A pretty neat community, eye opening for me."
Weaver "Since the moment that I got off the plane I have felt safe and comfortable...it is a really good feeling here."
Yates "Very interesting, the architecture is just phenomenal. There is a lot of money obviously and I understand the city is only twenty-five years old, so everything is really modern. We are visiting Bahrain for five days after."
Barry "A new country for me, never been here before, never been to the Middle East. Favorite memory right now is camel riding last night to the sunset."
Ruiz "This city is amazing. From a technology and infrastructure point of view, it is designed to accommodate grand events. The best part is the people. The people are very friendly, very open, and you feel that they take care of you. When they assemble a tournament, they think about everything. A place to host events like this."

Why should other masters athletes consider jumping back in the pool?
Krauser "There is a lot of comraderie that you develop with your team. If you can get into the pool and do any kind of swimming, that is going to be beneficial not only to playing water polo but to your health. Just keeping active, getting back into it…at this age we try and take it easy on each other."
Ferguson "Singapore is a good go to destination. We will get the message out."
Weaver "Make it outstanding destinations. This event is very destination dependent. Have it in Tahiti!"
Yates "I think Singapore is going to be a draw just from the name - it's popular place. We had the most teams of any age group…six teams. Most of the 70+ are retired and have more money. Singapore is only a year and a half away, need to start thinking about getting the tickets!"
Barry "Send me the bonbons and get your butts off the couch. Get out there and do it."
Ruiz "As we live longer…we need to think about extending our life as an activity longer. You need to be more active in the labor side but also in your sport life. Keep it going, you can see guys here that are eighty something years old still swimming back and forth. We need to start stretching the boundaries of the human race in terms of longer life. We need more people!"

Masters water polo at home and abroad is available to all. Jump in and get ready for the USAWP Masters National Championships (June 7-9, 2024) in Southern California and the World Aquatics Masters Championships (August/September 2025) in Singapore. Want to play and do not have a team? Contact the inclusive Blue Thunder Club.

Polo for life!