Why motivation never fades – Felipe Perrone on Longevity, Titles & staying hungry in Waterpolo

How do you stay motivated when you have already won almost
everything? In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk Podcast,
Felipe Perrone – Olympic champion, world champion, and one of the
most respected players in modern water polo – talks openly about
longevity, motivation, and the mental evolution of an elite
athlete. Felipe explains how his relationship with the sport has
changed over the years. While young players often think about
results, titles, and the future, he has learned to focus almost
exclusively on the present moment. Training sessions, weekly goals,
and daily improvement have become far more important than past
achievements or long-term dreams. The conversation dives deep into
how motivation evolves over a long career, why success can never be
the final goal, and how constant adaptation – physically and
mentally – is essential in elite sport. Felipe shares memories from
his first titles in Spain and Brazil and reflects on the unique
emotions of representing his country at the Olympic Games in Rio,
where water polo inspired an entire generation in Brazil. Another
key topic is the growing competition load in modern water polo.
Felipe offers an athlete’s perspective on packed calendars,
Champions League pressure, world championships, and the challenge
of balancing club competitions with national team responsibilities.
He explains why, despite the overload, competing is still better
than not playing at all. Audience questions lead to honest answers
about training volume, the hardest training days of his career,
learning from painful defeats, and finally winning world titles
after years of setbacks. Felipe also speaks about family,
teammates, changing locker rooms, and how relationships in
professional sport constantly evolve. The episode closes with
valuable advice for young players: stop overthinking results, stay
consistent, focus on learning, and enjoy the process. Felipe also
talks about his work with youth camps, why inspiring young athletes
matters to him, and how consistency and concentration are the real
foundations of long-term development. Want more insights from elite
players, coaches, and experts from the world of water polo? Visit
https://www.schulzekopp.de for more podcast episodes, articles, and
exclusive content around performance, mindset, and development in
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