Picture by Getty Images
Blake’s brother Lachy will be the third returning Olympian in the 13-member team while the remaining 10 are poised for their Summer Games debuts.
A 13-member Australian men’s water polo team for the Paris 2024 Olympics was announced at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s shark habitat on Tuesday.
The Paris-bound Aussie men’s water polo team, nicknamed the Australian Sharks, will be co-captained by Nathan Power and Blake Edwards, both of whom are poised to make their second Olympic appearance after Tokyo 2020.
“The Aussie Sharks are a very hungry team, and right now the focus is on the hard work that we still need to do between now and Paris,” Power said. “It’s a team where the guys come from a lot of different backgrounds and different journeys.”
“The crucial step for us in the build-up to Paris will be our European tour, it’s the biggest factor for us and our preparations. Getting to go across to Europe early, we’re travelling through some very strong water polo nations and looking forward to getting some more game time and repetitions against other elite-level nations,” he added.
Power’s co-skipper Edwards, meanwhile, will be heading into the Paris 2024 Olympics after becoming a father for the first time. His son Jude was born earlier this month.
“I’ve taken the time to look back to recognise all the hard work that has put me in a position to go to my second Olympic Games, and now I’m fully focused on making sure I’m ready and the team’s ready for Paris,” Edwards noted.
“The thing that’s exciting for us is that we know that our best can really change (beat) anyone in the world and so knowing that our best is good enough to challenge any team...the outcome or possibilities are endless,” the 32-year-old added.
Blake, however, won’t be the only member of the Edwards family who’ll be competing in Paris. Lachy Edwards, Blake’s younger brother, is also a part of the Sharks squad and like his elder sibling, will be making his second trip to the Olympics.
The remaining 10 members of the squad will be making their Olympic debuts in Paris.
The men’s water polo tournament at Paris 2024 will be held at the Paris Aquatic Centre (preliminary rounds), and the Paris La Defense Arena (one preliminary round and finals) from July 28 to August 11.
The men’s water polo competition will be a 12-team affair. The Australian Sharks have been drawn in a tough Group B against Tokyo Olympic champions Serbia, bronze medallists Hungary, Japan, Spain and hosts France.
“What you’ll see from the Aussie Sharks in Paris is that we’re an extremely enthusiastic and motivated group, and we don’t fear any opponent. I’m excited to see how we all perform on the world stage and in the big dance in two months’ time,” Sharks head coach Tim Hamill stated.
Men’s water polo has been a constant fixture in the Olympic programme since Paris 1900 but Australia only started competing since 1948. The Sharks are yet to win an Olympic medal.
The 13-member squad also took Australia’s contingent for the Paris 2024 Olympics past 100.
Nathan Power (co-captain), Blake Edwards (co-captain), Lachy Edwards, Nic Porter, Marcus Berehulak, John Hedges, Luke Pavillard, Angus Lambie, Charlie Negus, Chaz Poot, Jacob Mercep, Matthew Byrnes and Milos Maksimovic
Related content