"Living the Moment, Learning from Pressure, and Looking Ahead" - Vince Vigvári
🎙️ Episode Title: "Living the Present – Vince Vigvári on Pressure, Progress & Passion for Water Polo"
In this second episode with Hungarian national player Vince Vigvári 🇭🇺, we dive deeper into the mindset and experiences of one of water polo’s most exciting young talents.
Vince opens up about the emotional penalty shootout in the Olympic bronze medal match 🥉🎯, what it taught him, and how the Olympic Games differ from the World Championships 🗼 vs 🌎 — especially when it comes to atmosphere, energy, and global visibility.
We talk about the European heartland of water polo 🔥, its expansion into other parts of the world like Asia 🌏, and how that could help the sport grow and reach new fans. Vince also reflects on the semi-final win over Spain in Fukuoka 🇯🇵, where he scored a key goal to help Hungary advance.
2023 was a golden year for Vince: U20 World Champion and Senior World Champion — all in one month 🏆🏆. But as he says himself: “That’s the past. I like to live in the present.” 🔄
We also explore:
🏆 His outlook on the upcoming Final 4 of the Champions League 2025
🧠 His tips for young water polo players — and what it really takes to succeed
🏫 What clubs and systems need to provide to support youth development the right way
🎧 Tune in now to get real insights from a rising star who’s already done it all — and is just getting started! 💪🔥
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23:29
From Budapest to Barceloneta – The journey of a great water polo talent 🌊” – Vince Vigvári
Meet Vince Vigvári, the Hungarian water polo sensation who achieved the rare feat of winning both the U20 World Championship 🥇 and the Senior World Championship 🏆 in 2023. Now playing for Barceloneta 🇪🇸, Vince shares his journey from early beginnings to international stardom.
In this episode, Vince discusses:
- Growing up in a sports-centric family, with a father who was a Hungarian champion and a brother who also plays on the national team 👨👦👦
- His initial foray into tennis 🎾 before dedicating himself to water polo at age 8
- The experience of representing Hungary at the 2024 Paris Olympics 🗼 and the intense bronze medal match against the USA
- The challenges and opportunities of moving from Hungary to Spain, embracing new cultures and styles of play 🌍
- His perspective on the differences in water polo across countries and the universal passion for the sport 🤽♂️
🎧 Tune in now to hear Vince's inspiring story and gain insights into the world of elite water polo! 🔥
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17:23
"From Champions to Challenges – Inside the Mind of a Water Polo Winner" - Unai Biel
In this episode, we dive into the mindset of a true water polo champion. Our guest, Unai Biel, is the newly crowned World Cup 2025 winner 🥇 — adding yet another major title to his name after already helping Spain secure their first-ever European Championship win 🇪🇸.
Unai shares what it means to be part of a team that constantly pushes each other to improve 💪, and reflects on the unforgettable experience of his first Olympic Games in Paris 2024 🗼 — with eyes already set on what’s next 🎯.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Champions League clash against FTC ⚔️, Unai emphasizes that while each game matters, the ultimate focus remains on qualifying for the final tournament 🎟️. We also explore how he processes losses 🧠, how the coaching staff break down each match in detail 📊, and why striving for improvement is a never-ending journey in high-level sport 🔄.
If you’re looking for tips on becoming a better water polo player, Unai offers firsthand insights, habits, and advice that can help shape your own game — whether you're just starting out or aiming for the top 🚀🤽♂️.
👉 Tune in now and get inspired by one of the sport’s rising stars! 🎧🔥
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16:32
“I earned so much great input from the other guys" - Unai Biel
🎙️ New Episode Out Now – Waterpolo Expert Talk Podcast
In our latest episode, we welcome Unai Biel, one of the rising stars of international water polo and the MVP of the 2025 World Cup Final between Spain and Greece! 🏆🇪🇸🇬🇷
We dive into Unai's journey from a six-year-old swimmer in the Barcelona area to becoming a key player for CN Atlètic-Barceloneta, Spain’s powerhouse club. How did it feel for a young talent to join such a prestigious team? Was it overwhelming—or just the push he needed to grow?
💬 “I earned so much great input from the other guys,” Unai shares, giving us insight into Spain’s unique water polo philosophy—where experienced players take young athletes under their wing.
Now, the tables have turned: Unai is becoming that kind of mentor himself. Curious to know who helped shape his early career? Or who his personal water polo idols were growing up? 👀
We also explore the cultural clash—and harmony—of growing up in a region where football is a religion and FC Barcelona looms large, yet water polo quietly thrives in its own stronghold.
🌊 Whether you're a fan of the sport or just discovering water polo, this episode offers inspiration, personal stories, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become one of the best.
👉 Tune in now to hear Unai’s story, his challenges, his victories, and what the future holds for him—and for Spanish water polo.
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.
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17:27
"An olympic shootout is a crushing amount of pressure" - Alex Bowen
This is Part Two of our conversation with Alex Bowen from Team USA 🏅, fresh off winning the bronze medal in water polo at the Paris 2024 Olympics 🇺🇸🇫🇷.
What does it feel like to be in an Olympic shootout 🎯, carrying the hopes of your team, your country, and everything you've trained for? Alex takes us inside that pressure, where trust between teammates is everything—and where belief can make or break you. That’s the essence of team sports, and water polo in particular 🤽♂️.
We reflect on unforgettable moments, like the overhead image of the defense shutting down Mandic 📸, and the heartbreak of not playing for gold 💔. Alex shares how a familiar situation against Hungary in Fukuoka reappeared in Paris—but this time, he made a different choice. A new mindset, a full Olympic experience from start to finish, ending with the medal ceremony 🎉.
Now, with the bronze medal in hand, Alex looks back at the long road—the team rebuilding, the resilience, and everything it took to stand on that podium 🥉.
This episode is about more than sport—it's about pressure, trust, and the comeback.
Ich liefere Euch mit meinen nationalen und internationalen Gesprächspartnern aus der Welt des Wasserballs regelmäßig spannende Einblicke in die Vereinsentwicklung, Trainingsplanung und Jugendarbeit. Hierfür stehen mir Trainer, Aktive und Funktionäre in unseren Gesprächen regelmäßig Rede und Antwort. Natürlich spielt hierbei auch die allgemeine Entwicklung der Sportart Wasserball, auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene, eine große Rolle. Persönliche Meinungen und Einschätzungen meiner Gesprächspartner zu Fragen wie es mit dem deutschen, aber auch mit dem internationalen Wasserball in den nächsten Jahren weitergeht, kommen dabei nicht zu kurz.
USA