[Olympic Preview] Team USA men’s water polo seeks gold

Nothing is for certain.

The last four Olympiads have proven so with four different
countries taking the gold medal each time.

Come the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Hungary and a host of
other countries are favored to vie for the gold. But, in years
past, the U.S. men’s water polo team has been somewhat lost
in that mix. Though not known as a powerhouse, the United States
has recently emerged as a legitimate contender that cannot be
overlooked.

“We’re an underdog, but no one wants to play
us,” said Adam Wright, who graduated from UCLA in 2001.
“We are definitely a team on the rise, and good things will
happen.”

Since the sport was added to the Olympics in 1900, the U.S.
men’s program has yet to sniff gold, instead capturing the
silver medal twice (1984, 1988) and bronze medal three times (1924,
1932, 1972).

But those past finishes are just that ““ in the past.

In a sport where athletes peak in their late 20s to early 30s,
young shooters such as Stanford’s Tony Azevedo,
Pepperdine’s Jesse Smith and UCLA’s Brett Ormsby will
lead Team USA up the ladder in its quest to medal. Arguably the
most improved team at this year’s Olympics, the United
States, led by coach Ratko Rudic, has a mix of youth and experience
that may just make medaling a possibility.

Included on the squad are former Bruin players Brandon
Brooks, 24, and Wright, 26. Both Brooks and Wright were shoo-ins
for this year’s Olympics, but Ormsby’s selection
surprised a few.

Unlike many, Ormsby is experiencing what few have done at his
age. As the second youngest member of this year’s Olympic
team, the 22-year-old driver may be a rookie among
veterans, but he’s definitely holding his own.

“It’s something very special, and I’m honored
to be part of the Olympic team,” Ormsby said.
“It’s a dream of mine growing up and having that come
true is awesome.”

Out of the 17 players on this year’s squad, only a trio of
Olympians still have one year of collegiate eligibility remaining,
including Ormsby. Powered by the strength of his outside shot,
Ormsby has grown immensely from the first time he found the back of
the net. While being a part of Olympics was always a possibility in
the back of his mind, Ormsby was thinking more in terms of the 2008
Games.

“I’ve worked very hard with a goal in mind, and it
came true,” Ormsby said. “I didn’t necessarily
think it would come true so soon. It kind of snuck up on
me.”

But the future turned into a reality for Ormsby. As the only
current Bruin player on the Olympic squad, Ormsby is in elite
company, and Bruin coach Adam Krikorian is delighted as well as
impressed at how far Ormsby has come.

“For Brett to make it as a 21- or 22–year-old is quite an
accomplishment,” Krikorian said. “It’s especially
a tribute to his work ethic and his desire to get to that
level.”

While Wright and Brooks may be older and more seasoned, this
will be the first Olympics for both of them as well. Wright is a
gifted scorer and an agile defender. On the other side, Brooks is
the mainstay of the United States at the cage. His senior year at
UCLA was capped off in stellar fashion in 2002, as he concluded his
career with 700 saves, a Bruin all-time record.

While the men’s team has experienced a rebuilding phase
over the past few Olympic Games, this year’s team has proven
that it is capable of beating the world’s best. It already
has scaled the pyramid of wins and losses, having beaten
the No.1 team in the world in Hungary, while also
finishing last in this past month’s FINA Men’s Water
Polo League Super Final.

“It wasn’t what we wanted, but we learned something
from it,” Ormsby said. “I still think we’re
heading in the right direction and we have a positive outlook for
the Olympic Games.”

Team USA finds itself paired with Russia, Serbia-Montenegro,
Croatia, Hungary and Kazakstan in Group A. With arguably four of
the toughest teams in its group, the team’s mission is a
difficult one. After three matches of intergroup competition, the
top three teams from Groups A and B will clash, and the final
champion will be crowned Aug. 29.

“We definitely want to be in the top four,” Wright
said. “We’ve pushed our bodies where we never thought
possible, and coming home with a medal would be awesome.”

The journey ultimately will be gauged by the results of what the
men bring home. Nevertheless, when Ormsby, Brooks and Wright all
dawn the U.S.-flag caps, they will be paving the way for future
athletes as well as making a name for the USA program.