60 seconds with Kate Blew

Published Wed 13 Mar 2019

A few days shy of her sixteenth birthday, WPA caught up with Queensland Thunder women's player Kate Blew to talk about her first season in the OVO Australian Waterpolo League.

Having come up through the ranks in Queensland, Blew got her chance in Australia's premier water polo competition this year during round one against the Hunter Hurricanes in Brisbane.

In a dream start to her OVO AWL career she scored a goal on debut courtesy of a Bron Knox pass - one of Kate's role models.

She started water polo at a young age and participation in local, state and national competitions with her Club have enabled her skills to develop.

As she has gone from strength to strength, Blew has been invited by Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) to train in their environment alongside experienced players who are keen to pass on their knowledge and further develop her skills.

Currently she has played in all ten OVO AWL matches for Queensland Thunder and has a total of six goals to her name.

WPA found out a little bit more about the young Queenslander with 10 questions in 60 seconds:

How did you find out about water polo? I found out about water polo after I got bored of swimming and my mum asked Nicola Johnson at our local swimming club about water polo and that’s how I started playing with the Mermaids!
How many years have you been playing the sport? I have played water polo for about six years after I started playing when I was nine years old.
Which Club did you play your first junior water polo match at? I played my first junior match with Mermaids in the U13 Brisbane competition.
What is your earliest water polo memory? Playing my first game for Mermaids when I was about 9 and we lost every game of the season and our best result was a draw against the same team twice. At that moment I realised how hard water polo is, but I still love and enjoy the game today.
What is your best water polo highlight? My best water polo highlight would be scoring my first goal on my debut in the OVO AWL for the Queensland Thunder.
What is the highest level of water polo you've played? Playing for Queensland Thunder in the OVO AWL and making the Australian 16&U Female squad.
What is your favourite water polo position? My favourite positions are right hand driver and centre back.
Do you have a favourite water polo saying? What happens in the pool stays in the pool.
What is your best piece of advice to youngsters coming through with dreams to play in the OVO AWL? Age doesn’t matter, be confident and listen to your coaches and the older experience players in your team. Because you don’t realise how much they want you to succeed and help you achieve your best.
Why should somebody play water polo? Meet new friends, stay fit and have fun - you never know where it will take you.