Women’s water polo, as Setterosa ‘pond’ is drying up

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He had already sounded the alarm a few months ago in a conversation broadcast on Radio24: “We are a sport in a professional crisis, our golden generation, the one that gave us medals between the Athens 2004 Olympics and the Rio Olympics. In 2016, it was difficult to find the right spare parts, and I’m not talking about quality, but quantity. It was difficult to introduce this wonderful sport to new girls. ” This is what Roberta Bianconi, silver medalist of the Rio 2016 Olympics, star of Rapallo and this year (for the third time in her career) elected European Player of the Year, told us.
Today, it was impressive to hear her repeat the same concept in a moment of tears, minutes after Italy was eliminated by the Netherlands 11-8.

The 35-year-old Bianconi announced a pause to reflect on the continuation of his career, but at the same time he reiterated the action photos from that chat: “We play with our heart, but in these games the details make a difference. Holland was more cynical and clear-headed. We gave everything and I am happy with that. The basic goal is to push our sport to the top. Hopefully to encourage girls to start playing water polo. In my small way I try to be in the water, trying to convey to young people the desire to put everything into the water.”

It is a song full of love and sadness, dedicated to a discipline that is trying to expand its base of practitioners today. Swallowing two lumps in her throat, Dafne Bettini, a 21-year-old young girl in our expedition, her words prove that this is not a photo taken only based on results or impulse. Before declaring her analysis clear and conscious: “We left the water with the awareness that we had given everything. We grew a lot during the tournament. We started very badly against France, but with the win over Greece and the great match against Spain, we went from strength to strength. It was my first time at the Olympics and I was cold when I entered the water. Now we salute this event and we will do our best to fight for fifth place. The women’s water polo world is in a difficult situation. The men’s team has a huge following, while on our side there is a lack of certainty.”
To unify the ideas of veterans and newcomers, the opinions of those who lead clubs in this sport are needed to manage, maintain and develop it: “Our championships usually have a few hundred spectators per match, which then increase during the decisive phases of the tournament – Enrico Antonucci, owner of Rapallo Water Polo, tells us – but there is a lack of adequate facilities, investments made abroad both at club and national level, so we have a lot of difficulties keeping up here. Don’t overlook that young people are more likely to be exposed to swimming and artistic activities than swimming.”
It is a difficult situation that requires structural intervention in order not to tarnish the legend of a team that has written a legendary chapter in Italian sport even for women.