Back in the cage with Lilian Hedges

After a month on the side line earlier this year, Lilian Hedges is pleased to back in the cage with the Aussie Stingers as they embark on their FINA World Cup campaign kicking off tomorrow night Surgut, Russia.

Splitting the webbing in between her two fingers that required stitches, she spent a month out of the cage after the recent European tour, forcing her to limit training to leg work.

But the Perth goal keeper is back to full fitness and ready for the World Cup, which is another building block for the Australian Women’s Water Polo Team less then two years out from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Held every four years the World Cup is set to bring eight of the top nations together with Hedges admitting Australia will have a hard encounter on their hand in the preliminary matches.

“It’s a pretty tough draw for sure. We just had a training camp with China and probably know them the best in terms of what to expect. We have played Spain a few times recently on our European tour… Russia will also be tough but we have beaten them in the World Championships previously.

“I think our training camp (in Australia) put us in a good position heading into the World Cup. Coming together where we live and train together is a good thing… we do have the potential to win and that is our focus,” she said.

The 24-year-old is enjoying being part of the national squad in her second Olympic Games campaign.

While she narrowly missed final team selection for the Rio 2016 Olympics, Hedges travelled to Rio as a supporter to cheer on her team mates who she had shared the past four years training with.

Post the Games, she says the motivation to embark on another four-year Olympic campaign all started with self belief.

“The Rio campaign for me… I didn’t quite believe I was capable of it. I went (to Rio) and watched with my family and I thought “I could actually do this… I’m not good enough right now, but I could be”.

“I was with a group of girls that I shared a journey with and it was pretty inspiring. I decided well I’ve come this far I might as well give it a crack… I’ve got a good opportunity.

“It was process of belief in myself and what I could do,” said Hedges.

A quieter member of the Aussie Stingers side, the unassuming goalie admitted that an Olympic dream wasn’t always part of her plan.

“It was probably a year into the Rio campaign that I started to really want to go to the Olympics.

“Even through I made juniors representative teams, I didn’t really get it, I didn’t really get that this was the process.

“It took me a while to believe I could get to that pinnacle. Here we are two years out and anything can happen, but I am actually backing myself now which took a while.

“If I got to go (to Tokyo 2020), I think it would be the cherry on top of all this work… and make all the sacrifices worthwhile.

“To be able to look back and say I got to the peak of my sport, whatever happens regarding performance, it would be very satisfying,” she said.

The sacrifices the Australian Women’s and Men’s teams make when committing to an Olympic campaign are significant, with many juggling full time work or studies with grueling elite training schedules and long international tours.

Hedges herself has two-part time jobs while also aiming to finish her undergraduate degree.

“I came out of high school and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I did a general science degree and the plan is to go back to physio once I’m finished playing (water polo). At the moment I’m working as a lifeguard and restaurant called Odyssea which for me, supports my clothes and coffee habits,” she laughed.

The Fremantle Marlins star has arrived in Russia with the Aussie Stingers as they prepare for their opening match against China.

Fans at home can follow along live on on FINAtv.

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AUSTRALIA’S FINA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

• Day 1 Tuesday, 4 September – AUS vs CHN 1600 (4 September 9:00pm AEST)
• Day 2 Wednesday, 5 September – AUS vs RUS 1930 (6 September 12:30am AEST)
• Day 3 Thursday, 6 September – AUS vs ESP 1630 (6 September 9:30pm AEST)
• Days 4-6, 7-9 September – TBC

AUSSIE STINGERS SQUAD

Lilian Hedges, WA
Keesja Gofers, NSW
Hannah Buckling, NSW
Bronte Halligan, NSW
Isobel Bishop, NSW
Bronwen Knox, Qld
Rowie Webster, Vic
Amy Ridge, NSW
Zoe Arancini, WA
Alice Williams, Qld
Morgan Baxter, NSW
Pascalle Casey, NSW
Gabriella Palm, Qld

Check out the squad bios.