Seven WAIS athletes selected in Aussie Sharks and Stingers Teams for European competitions

Published On: 3 June 2022

Seven WAIS water polo athletes have been selected in the Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers Teams for European competitions.

Jamie Oberman and Claire Durston will make their Aussie Stingers debut. With the Women’s World League Super Final yet to be confirmed, the Aussie Stingers will use this opportunity to take a second group of athletes to Europe, where they will train and play against Italy and Greece with possible further camps in France and Holland.

Oberman and Durston have previously represented Australia at junior level and will be looking to use the trip to stake a claim for future selections in the lead up to the Paris Olympic Games.

Tokyo Olympians George Ford and Tim Putt are joined by rising stars John Hedges, Matt Oberman and Luke Pavillard in the Aussie Sharks squad for the Men’s World League Super Final. The current 15-member squad will be reduced to 13 ahead of the tournament.

Water Polo Australia General Manager – Performance, Charles Turner said, “It was great to see our men’s team win a silver at the World League Intercontinental Cup in Peru earlier this year, earning their spot in the World League Super Final in France.

“With the World Championships as well, it is going to be a long European tour for our men’s program and so we’re pleased to be able to offer some additional athletes the opportunity to join the squad in France.

“Our women’s program will also have the opportunity to tour Europe following their World Championships campaign, with a second group of athletes invited to join the squad.

“Having had limited access to international competition, these opportunities will be crucial to the development and ultimate success of both our men’s and women’s programs as they continue to build on the runway to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and beyond,” he said.

These selections add to the Western Australian athletes named in the Sharks and Stingers squads for the World Championships. Zoe Arancini, George Ford, John Hedges, Luke Pavillard and Tim Putt along with Nick Elphick (travelling reserve) have been selected in the Australian Teams, for the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest from 18 June to 3 July. Read more about the World Championships teams here.