Tokyo Olympics Wrap: Aussie Sharks

While the Aussie Sharks exit from the Tokyo Olympic Games wasn’t to script, the squad are walking away with their heads held high having represented Australia so gallantly.

This Olympic cycle saw the Aussie Sharks deliver historic performances for Australia, including silver at the World Cup along with bronze at the FINA World League Finals. 

The team bowed out of the Olympics Games with two wins and three losses, and while they weren’t able to progress through to the quarter finals, their performance as a team was inspired. 

They were unlucky to open their Tokyo Olympic campaign with a 10-15 loss to current FINA World League champions Montenegro (read more). 

The second game is where the momentum changed pace for the Aussies, with a solid win over Head Coach Elvis Fatovic’s former team, Croatia, taking out the game 11-8. 

Heading into the third match with a solid win under their belt, they faced the mammoth task of going up against reigning Olympic champions Serbia, where they went down 8-14.

To keep their fight alive it came down to their match against Spain, who came into the match undefeated and ultimately were too strong winning 16-5 and unfortunately ending the Sharks chance to progress. 

With pride on the line and the support of a nation in the corner, the Aussies rallied and went out on a high with a 15-7 win over Kazakhstan. 

Following an emotional end of their last match, the team reflected on their Tokyo Olympic campaign. 

Reflecting on the Tokyo Cycle 

The momentum the squad were building leading into the Tokyo Olympic Games was impressive, but when COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a grinding halt, so too was the Aussie Sharks pre-Games build up.  Squad split across Australia and the globe, combined with lack of international matches, meant the lead into these Olympic Games was very, very different to the one originally planned. 

While Head Coach Elvis Fatovic by no means was making excuses for the results, he said it would be hard to go past just how much of an impact COVID-19 had on preparations for the Olympic Games. 

“Before the Olympic Games we were calculating to have one big win, and we calculated to have a win against Kazakhstan and maybe that could be enough. 

“We were aware that we might need a second big win, this was a ‘group of death’ and maybe our chance was in our first game against Montenegro when we played dominant in the first two quarters.

“The first two quarters against Montenegro and the whole game against Croatia we played some incredible water polo, maybe the best water polo we have played in the last eight years. Which was unreal given all the circumstances we have faced. 

“We didn’t play together for two years and there is no other team in the world (in water polo) who has faced these circumstances. 

“But in the end the results didn’t go in our favour….but overall with the commitment of the players, all of them have sacrificed a lot and I am really proud that I have had a chance to work with them and be with them all of this time,” he said. 

Fatovic’s comments were echoed by triple Olympian and Aussie Sharks Captain Aaron Younger. 

The Perth native was separated from his side for more than 18 months leading into the Games and while so many of his team mates made sacrifices, Younger missed the birth of his second child, daughter Emilia while representing his country in Tokyo. 

Tokyo was his third Olympics, but his first as Captan - an honour that was not lost on the 29 year old.  

“It was a massive honour and being able to captain this group of guys is just an amazing feeling.

“A lot of us have been together for a long time, touring together and having these experiences together. It is definitely a tight knit group and it was an emotional day (final game) knowing a lot of the group aren’t coming back. 

“It was mixed emotions finishing like that but it was a great period, for some of us more than eight years together, going through the good and the bad times and really growing as a group. It is definitely a great group to be a part of,” he said.

Reflecting on the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Captain said he couldn’t fault his side's effort, given they were coming up against nations who week in- week out, had the opportunity to play against one another. 

“Definitely the effort was there, I think when the group came out we all realised that it was probably one of the worst groups… we knew we were going to have to knock out one of the big teams to go through and that was always the goal. 

“We were able to put away Croatia but unfortunately that wasn’t enough in the end. That is sport, it happens... but I think the boys put in a great performance and that is something to be proud of.

“The cycle itself was incredible for us with World Cup silver and World League bronze... even the World Championships we got seventh (2017) and sixth (2019). COVID didn’t help us to land things for a year…. but from a playing perspective the last five years was just incredible results wise and a development phase for the young guys. We had seven new Olympians at this Games, a great cycle and it was great to be involved in,” he said. 

The eight year cycle 

The Tokyo Olympic Games was the end of an era for the Aussie Sharks, with Head Coach Fatovic stepping down from the helm to take on an opportunity with leading Club Barceloneta.

Fatovic has led the men’s water polo program since 2013, coming off the back winning gold with Croatia at the London Olympics. 

Looking back, Fatovic said there were some steep learning curves when he first arrived all those years ago. 

“First my goal was to establish a team that would be able to play in at least two Olympic cycles, and to have a solid and strong team. 

“When I first came to Australia my expectation and my knowledge was based only on the players that I knew from the national team. I didn’t know much about the national league (AWL) and how it was structured, and I didn’t know much about the Institute System which is completely different from everywhere else. 

“I also needed a couple of years to try and find a good balance for the players, for their life needs and their sport needs, in order to produce something quality for the athletes... and I believe we have done that.

“For me, it has been that connection we have established, the chemistry. It is the first time in the Olympics that we have had a really experienced team. 

“We have something inside this group, they want to be together. To watch how they react no matter the result, is unbelievable. That for me is the biggest success.

“How strong we were as a group, we must be aware our time together is sometimes less than other countries and we were very competitive and in this era we have beaten every single team except Serbia which is amazing,” said Fatovic.

While he marvelled at the strong connection the Aussie Sharks have built up over time, he also gave praise to the Captain who himself has achieved a lot outside of the national team. 

“When you see his results at a club level, winning three European Champions League at three different clubs, he is one of the most decorated players in the world. 

“He is the player who can play in any single team because he has the quality of being able to fill every gap in the team and be the best in that position. 

“Aaron as a leader is unbelievable…. even during this period when he hasn’t been with us, he has always been connected with us. 

“In my opinion we need to use him in the future, we need to use him as best we can because he is unbelievable and he is the glue. I just hope he will play for many more years,” he said.

For Younger he praised the connection that has been built throughout Fatovic’s tenure.

“When I talk about how close the playing group is that includes the coaching staff as well. 

“We develop as a group, so well and so tight in the last eight years. We have been able to make a tight knit community and he (Elvis) has been pivotal in how we have been able to play and develop as players and as people. 

“I have to thank him so much for what he has done for our team, it has just been an incredible period,” he said. 

The future

While there is a sense of a changing of the guard with the Aussie Sharks, four time Olympians Richie Campbell and Rhys Howden both declaring it will be their last Olympics and the departure of Fatovic, there is a lot of anticipation for the future. 

“The great thing is that Brisbane has the Olympic Games because that will ignite the fire in everyone because everyone wants to play an Olympic Games at home,” said Fatovic. 

“Naturally, more kids will want to play water polo. In my opinion, we should run two programs, one to keep the group strong for the Olympics in Paris and the second to establish a quality development program in order to have a good team for LA and especially for Brisbane,” he said. 

Younger said while the squad will lose some great players, one of the things he’ll remember from the Tokyo Olympics is how the debutants really stepped up. 

“It is a bit of a passing of the guard now, there is going to be a few players retiring but there were seven debutants in this Games and they developed through this cycle and they did an incredible job this last week. 

“You also see them developing as people and players, I think there is definitely a strong group coming through and I am looking forward to seeing how they play in the next Games and Games after that probably.

“For me… I am going to take a break now, go back to my family and mentally and physically just take a break,” said Younger. 
 

Final words from the departing Coach

Australia has adopted Fatovic as one of their own and he wanted everyone to know just how hard a decision it was to leave. 

“I am really going to miss everything, I have become addicted to Australia. Since I have made the decision, every night there has been some doubt but I am really excited about the new job, in a new city and I wouldn’t have this opportunity without this group of players.

“I will miss this group, I will miss the staff, we have had the same staff for nearly 7-8 years, which is really unique. I have enjoyed every single second and I will miss everything. The most enjoyable eight years of my life.  Australia has become my second home.

“I’ll say like Schwarzenegger, I’ll be back.”