Yanitsas turns attention to next generation of water polo players

Australian water polo goalkeeper Lea Yanitsas hasn’t confirmed her intention to play on to the 2020 Olympic Games yet, but has instead placed a focus on sharing the story of her time in Rio with the next generation of players.

While Rio was her Olympic debut, NSWIS athlete Yanitsas has been a part of Australia’s elite water polo fold since 2007. She narrowly missed a call up to the team for the 2012 Games, but put the disappointment behind her to ensure her selection for 2016.

Unfortunately for Yanitsas and her 12 teammates, they fell short of their goal in Rio to re-create history and win a gold medal just as the Aussie women did at Sydney 2000. Talking with the Australian Olympic Team, the goalkeeper discussed the emotional rollercoaster of competing at the Olympics for the first time.

“The Olympics was, for me, the pinnacle of the highs and the lowest of the lows,” said the Sydney-sider.
“For those two weeks, I felt every single day; happiness, sadness, frustration, anxiety, joy – everything.”

Yanitsas had been inspired to take up the sport in her high school years when PE teacher Debbie Watson, a former Australian women’s water polo captain, and gold medallist from Sydney 2000, urged her to pursue the sport.

“Debbie was the one told me to trial for the Sydney Metropolitan team where my journey really began,” Yanitsas explained to the Australian Olympic Team.

“As soon as I saw Debbie I knew I wanted to go to the Olympics and I wanted to win a gold medal like her.

“I never really thought that water polo was something that was going to get me to the Olympics, but I saw what she had done and she was so amazing.

“I wanted to be everything that she was.”

After years of hard work, the Rio campaign didn’t go to plan for Yanitsas and her teammates. Despite the end result, her passion to share her story with the next generation, just as Watson had done, has remained high. Yanitsas said it was a way for her to give back to the sport.

“I think that’s why I have enjoyed going back to schools so much, because that’s how I got started and was inspired.

“I hope I can input some of my passion into their dreams as well.

“I hope I can help them believe that they can achieve anything they set their mind to.”

The Australian women’s water polo team, the Aussie Stingers finished sixth in Rio following a shock loss to Hungary in the quarterfinals.