Australia’s Womens Water Polo Team, As Formidable As The Outback

Harshness and extreme dangers, even if exaggerated, have given the Australian Outback a reputation for being a frightening force of nature if you get lost there.

Still, there are many travelers who love to explore its entrancing expanse anyway.

The Outback is the vast, remote interior of Australia. The term “the Outback” is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named “the bush” which, colloquially, can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas.

fciwomenswrestling.com, femcompetitor.com article, photo taken by Gabriele Delhey wikimedia

Horror movies have certainly given it a bad name, filling it with Road Warriors and Serial Killers, still, there are poisonous snakes, spiders and man eating crocodiles who should be avoided at all costs.

The greatest challenge is there can be hours between gas stations and receiving medical care if needed.

Australia can be formidable.

Frightening as well in their opponent’s eyes can be the Australian Women’s Water Polo Team.

The Australian national women’s water polo team represents Australia in women’s international water polo competitions and is controlled by Australian Water Polo Incorporated.

Known as the Aussie Stingers, the girls compete in a range of competitions in preparation for major events such as the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup and World League. It is a world class program, highlighted by significant international success including gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and bronze at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

They are under the leadership of Water Polo Australia.

At their informative site waterpoloaustralia.com.au they state their purpose. “Water Polo Australia is the national governing body for the sport of water polo in Australia. It is charged with the development and education of water polo players, officials, coaches and volunteers throughout Australia and with the conduct of competitions and championships for all levels of participation.”

One of their beautiful leaders is Gemma Beadsworth.

Gemma Beadsworth is an Australian water polo center forward.

fciwomenswrestling.com, femcompetitor.com article, photo via Zimbio Australian Olympic Women’s Water Polo Team

She has had scholarships for water polo from the Australian Institute of Sport and the Western Australian Institute of Sport. She plays for the Fremantle Marlins in the National Water Polo League. She has represented Australia on a junior and national level. She won bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, and was chosen as a member of the 2012 Summer Olympics Australia women’s national water polo training team. She has also won a silver medal at the 2007 World Championship, a gold medal at the 2006 World Cup and a silver medal at the 2010 World Cup.

At corporate.olympics.com.au they share the love about our Aussie Princess. “The Western Australian was the youngest member of the Beijing 2008 team, turning 21 a month before the Games. Beadsworth’s nine goals placed her among the tournament’s top ten scorers. The bronze medal final against Hungary was decided in a penalty shoot-out, the final score being 12-11. In 2012, the bronze medal game again featured Australia and Hungary, where the Stingers took out the match 13-11 in penalty shootout, with Beadsworth scoring ten tournament goals.”

Given their stellar talent and previous fantastic global results, they can be a force of nature as well, thus it came as a disappointing surprise to some when they finished in 6^th place at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

As reported on August 15, 2016 by dailymail.co.uk, “It was more heartbreak for Australia at the Rio Olympics as the women’s water polo team came up just short in the quarter-finals of the event.

After finishing tied 8-8 at the end of the match, Australia and Hungary’s women’s water polo teams then went into a penalty shootout to see who would progress to the semi-finals.

But like the Matildas soccer team who lost to Brazil in the last eight of the women’s soccer competition on penalties, the Hungarian women also proved too strong to beat the Australians in penalties 5-4.”

It was the culmination of what seemed like a poisonous snake bitten affair.

At theherald.com.au on August 2, 2016 they shared, “Four members of the Australian women’s water polo team have been placed into quarantine in Rio after being struck down with a virus just days out from the opening ceremony.

The four Aussie Stingers athletes are suffering from a gastro-intestinal illness and were separated from their teammates as soon as the squad landed in Rio on Monday, Australian Olympic boss Kitty Chiller said.”

As bad as that was, for Australia as a whole, it actually was worse.

The Chicago Tribune also reported, “Nearly a third of the women’s water polo team, which arrived Monday in Rio de Janeiro and is considered a strong contender for a medal, is in quarantine because of a gastrointestinal illness players picked up in Rome. This comes on top of a series of unfortunate events — and the Games haven’t begun yet — in which: one of the country’s Paralympians was the target of an attempted robbery, athletes found that toilets in the Olympic Village could not pass a stress test, Andrew Bogut ripped the Olympic Village accommodations and, as they were learning that fire alarms in their building did not work, laptops and clothing were stolen from their quarters.”

That was indeed bad. But you know what? It actually did get worse.

Another Australian group wwos.nine.com.au reported, “Australian women’s water polo coach Greg McFadden has let fly at officials after Stingers player Hannah Buckling was punched in the jaw during their 10-3 win over Brazil.

McFadden was fuming that the incident went unpunished after Australia finished the preliminary rounds second in Group A ahead of Monday’s quarter-finals, when they will play Hungary.”

Viruses, getting punched out and under performing among other things could place you in the penalty box located in the Outback.

What we appreciate most about this dedicated group of female athletes is their resilience and determination. That includes hiring a new coach to propel them in a different and hopefully more successful direction.

Recently on March 10, 2017 neoskosmos.com announced, “Sakis Kechagias from Greece is the new National Women’s Head Coach to lead the Australian Women’s Water Polo team, Water Polo Australia (WPA) has announced.

Kechagias, having served as the Head Coach for the Greece Men’s Senior Team and Head Coach for Greece’s Women’s Team, brings his international experience to the role.

Under his tenure Greece experienced much success on the international stage including a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships.”

After an extremely disappointing sixth-place finish in Brazil, the Greek native has been appointed to add some European flare to Australia’s brute strength.

Sounds exciting.

We suggest that you keep all ears and eyes open regarding this powerful Aussie Female Force of Nature.