Values underpin Stingers’ success

Courtesy olympics.com.au

Ask Australian Women’s Water Polo coach Bec Rippon the secret to her side’s Olympic success and she’ll answer in one word: “Values”.

The two-time Olympian and bronze medallist, who has led the Stingers to the gold medal game, believes a culture of belief has underpinned the team’s Paris campaign.

Australia is poised to create water polo history when they face world number one Spain in the women’s final at 11.35pm AEST.

Rippon only took on the head coach role nine months ago but the impact she has created has led to the sport’s greatest moment since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Australia has won two bronze medals in 2008 and 2012, but it is 24 years since they defeated the USA in the last second of the game to claim Olympic gold.

“When I took over, we talked about who we want to be and what our values are,” Bec said.

“One of them is brave and a lot of that is talk in the pool, but also a lot of work out of the pool to make sure that we can live that. 

“That means stepping into these big pressure moments and being able to play them.

“We train like that, we talk like that all the time, we don’t hide from it. I think they've convinced themselves.”

The Stingers trust that belief will ensure they bring their best when they face world number one Spain in the final at the 15000-seat La Defense Arena.

The team secured the opportunity by defeating three-time Olympic champion the United States in a thrilling semi-final penalty shootout to advance to the medal round.

Australia last topped the medal dais when the sport made its debut at the Sydney Games after a bold lobbying campaign to have a women’s event included alongside the men.

While the Stingers have two bronze medals from the 2008 and 2012 Games, the Olympic crown has eluded them.

Bec says the team has shifted its mindset to believe anything is possible.

“It just shows that it's anybody's game really,” Bec said of the side’s semi-final victory over the USA.

“If lived enough, you start to believe that you're not capable of it. We've tried to turn that around and believe that anything's possible. 

“The Olympics are for that. We've watched some of the top teams, including some of the Australian teams, go down in games that they should win. 

“We just talk about getting the job done, coming in and not hoping it happens, we talk about making sure we can do it. We're trying to keep it simple.”

Rippon is one 54 retired Olympians supporting the Australian team for the Paris Games.

Others include triple Olympian and dual goal medallist Katrina Powell (Women’s Hockey coach), dual Olympian and four-time medallist Daniel Kowalski (Olympian Services) and Indigenous race walker Beki Smith (Olympian Services).

Her experiences and insight have been invaluable to the side and the sport.

The results of the women in Paris, and the men’s side which despite missing the semi-finals claimed the scalps of Serbia, France and Hungary, have seen an escalation in the sport’s popularity. 

“This is a big moment in Australia. I think we've moved away from those podium finishes in the last little bit,” Bec said.

“To be back up there and show that water polo is still strong and still important.

“Back home there's people messaging me saying there's kids signing up, left, right and center.

“It's a popular sport. It's a great sport because it's a summer sport in Australia. What more could you want? 

“I think this is an opportunity for this group now to inspire the next generation.”

In preparation for their match, the Stingers aim to keep things simple.

“We talk about it being another game, but the situation's never the same,” Bec said. 

“The actual game itself is just a game of water polo is, but the situation's not.

“We're not going hide from that. We take the water polo part is what it is, but we enjoy the rest of it.”

The Australian Women’s Water Polo team play Spain at 11:35pm AEST on Saturday.