2000 Games will be first for women’s water polo

Tuesday, March 3, 1998

2000 Games will be first for women’s water polo

Bruins ecstatic about addition of sport, chance to play in
Sydney

By Steve Kim

Daily Bruin Staff

In the sport of women’s water polo, opportunities for
post-collegiate players are few and avenues stretch as narrow as
they come. It is one of the true amateur sports where no
professional league exists and million dollar contracts are offered
only in daydreams.

For a long time, women’s water polo wasn’t even an Olympic
sport, while its men’s counterpart at least enjoyed that
privilege.

That is why the water polo community rejoiced with newly found
hope when women’s water polo finally became an Olympic sport in
October. The news hit home especially in the UCLA water polo
community, since several members – senior goalie Nicolle Payne,
junior playmaker Coralie Simmons and newly chosen U.S. women’s
national team head coach Guy Baker – now have a legitimate chance
to participate in the Olympics.

"It was great news and the team was excited as a whole," recalls
Baker. "It’s a very important issue for us because U.S. Water Polo
has been trying to get women’s water polo a part of the Olympics
since 1984 and has not been successful. It’s been a long, long
battle for a lot of people to make it an Olympic sport."

The issue was proposed before each Olympic Games, and each time,
it was denied. Even for the 2000 Sydney Games, women’s water polo
was initially rejected from participating by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC). After a persistent rally by the women’s
water polo officials of host country Australia, the IOC finally
accepted the sport.

"The news came over on e-mail and I knew the girls were lifting
weights at the time," Baker said. "I caught Nicolle coming out of
the weight room and told her. She started crying. Then she ran over
and told the rest of the team. They made a big scene – hugging,
jumping up and down – in the training room."

Simmons, who participated along with Payne in the recent World
Championships with the national team, also remembers that turning
point like it was yesterday.

"I was getting iced in the training room and Guy told me,"
Simmons said. "We freaked out. I was running around looking for
Nicolle but we couldn’t find each other because we were running
around in opposite circles."

Women’s water polo came a long way before it was finally
recognized as an Olympic sport. Even just a few years ago, when
players like Payne and Simmons were recruited, it wasn’t popular
enough to exist in most high schools. Both Payne and Simmons played
on their high school boy’s team because there was simply no girl’s
team.

Even before they ever thought they had a chance to become
Olympians, they played passionately, knowing there would be no huge
endorsements, no Olympic glory or recognition.

"It’s just a great game," Simmons said. "Once you’ve been in the
pool and played, you don’t know the feeling. It’s such a fun game
to play."

Now, Baker says the sport has gained so much in popularity that
all of his current recruits come from high school girl’s teams.

"There’s been a tremendous growth at the high school level since
the addition of a number of college teams," Baker said. "With
women’s water polo being an Olympic sport, I think you’ll see
another big growth in the sport."

Before the big news, Payne, like most other collegiate players,
planned to go on with her life after graduating and concentrate on
her career plans. Things changed unexpectedly, though, and she says
she’ll gladly put off her intended plans until after the
Olympics.

"It’s going to change what I’m going to be doing for the next
few years," Payne said. "It was disbelief at first and once I
finally realized it was going to go, I got nervous about making
this year’s national team. I’m going to give 110 percent into
qualifying and doing well in the Olympics."

Besides Payne and Simmons, who are very likely to be included in
the national team again this year, their current coach also heads
the national team. After slipping to eighth place at the recent
world championships with the previous head coach, the national team
members are determined to improve and make one of the six Olympic
spots at the 1999 FINA Cup.

"I think it’ll be a lot better with Guy," Simmons said. "He’s
such an awesome coach and he knows so much about the game. He’ll
bring a lot to the program."

Payne agrees.

"I think we’re finally going to have the leadership we need,"
Payne said. "Our overall level of play is going to improve and the
national team will be so much better with him. We’re going to
win!"

So the door has finally opened. Much work still needs to be
done, but the willingness is there. Anticipation is lively and
determination is even livelier. As for now, however, all the Bruin
members of the national team are prioritizing toward their
successful collegiate season.

"We’re still focused on the collegiate team because we want to
be national champions again," said Simmons.

That brings up an interesting question. With the same head
coach, and same intensity of winning desire and dedication from its
team members, what’s going to be different between the national and
collegiate water polo experience?

"None," Payne simply replies. "Same game."