With the Olympic Games getting underway this weekend we are lucky enough to have a former club member, Rebecca Parkes (Bex), attending with the Hungarian Women’s Water Polo Team. This is a huge achievement for any New Zealand athlete to attend the Olympic  games and as a Water Polo player from New Zealand, it is another achievement in itself.

Bex started off her Water Polo Career in her hometown, Mount Maunganui, playing for Mount Maunganui Girls where she was coached by her Dad, Rob Parkes, Blair Dunn and Karl Josephson. She played for Tauranga Water Polo Club where she was coached by Rhys Flavell and Kurt Wilson in her Club Teams. In 2011 Bex made the move to Auckland to further her Water Polo Career where she attended Rangitoto College and played for North Harbour. She was coached by Michael Buck and Matt Payne along with several other coaches while in Auckland.

Bex was also a NZWP representative from the age of 14 years old and was a member of the NZ team who attended the first ever Youth Women’s World Champs followed by a Junior World Champs the following year. Both teams being coached by Richard Claridge and Michael Buck.

We were lucky enough to have a quick chat with Bex before she dives into action at the Games tomorrow with the Hungarians coming up against the Russian Olympic Committee in their first pool game on Monday 26^th July, 6:30pm NZST.

Q: How does it feel to be one of the very few New Zealand Water Polo Players to have an opportunity to play at the Olympic Games?

‘’For me, it’s not that I am one of the very few Water Polo athletes to compete at the games, it is more about showing other Kiwis that it is possible for New Zealand Water Polo players to pursue their Olympic dream. It is extremely hard work both mentally and physically but it is well worth it”

Q: What is it like to be a professional Water Polo player and being able to turn playing sport into a career?

“It’s awesome! It takes a couple of years to get used to it with the language and culture barriers but when it gets hard you just need to remind yourself, what else would I be doing right now instead? It is such a huge opportunity to be able to do this, especially in another country.

I have been able to play and compete with some of the top players in the world! Can you even imagine that feeling??!! You also get to learn so much about the game than what you already knew.

You need to make sure that it is your dream as you have to be very driven and have passion. It is both mentally and physically tiring and takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

I am lucky to have a truly amazing support system and this helps me a lot but it is extremely difficult to be so far away from the ones you love the most. I am lucky enough to have one of them over here with me and that I am grateful for.”

Q: What advice would you give to those aspiring to go to the Olympic Games one day?

“You need to believe in yourself and those things that may seem unrealistic to you and others. You will have to make a lot of hard decisions and sacrifices. You need to imagine and remind yourself that great things can happen because it is definitely possible!

But in reality, it is not really a sacrifice if the outcome is worth it and when it is something that you want that much you will see it as something other than a sacrifice. So, pushing and working hard, it will all be worth it in the end.”

From all your friends and family back home Bex, we are so proud of you and wish you all the very best over the coming weeks. We cannot wait to see one of our own giving it their all on the Olympic stage!

Article added: Sunday 25 July 2021