“Growth happens outside your comfort zone” – Lucas Gielen on Germany, the Netherlands & learning from the Best (Part 1)

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, international water
polo player Lucas Gielen shares deep insights into player
development, elite training environments and the structural
differences between German and Dutch water polo. Having played at
top clubs such as Partizan Belgrade and Spandau 04, and
representing both the Netherlands and later Germany, Gielen brings
a rare multi-national perspective to the discussion. Lucas begins
by telling his personal story. Born and raised in the Netherlands,
water polo was a true family sport for him. Parents, siblings and
relatives all played at a high level, creating an environment where
competition, learning and ambition were part of everyday life. His
ultimate childhood dream was clear: reaching the Olympic Games. A
turning point in his career came relatively late. Invited to the
youth national team at the age of 16, Lucas suddenly found himself
surrounded by players who were faster, stronger and more advanced.
Instead of being discouraged, this environment shaped his mindset.
This is where his guiding principle was born: “When you’re the
smartest in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” From that moment
on, his goal became simple: always train and compete with people
who were better than him. His move to Partizan Belgrade was a
defining experience. Training under legendary coach Vlado
Vujasinović and alongside world-class players exposed him to an
entirely new level of professionalism, intensity and tactical
understanding. Later, his five years at Spandau 04 further shaped
his career. In Berlin, Lucas experienced a club culture where
winning the Bundesliga was the baseline expectation and the real
focus lay on Champions League performance. A central part of the
conversation compares the Dutch league with the German Bundesliga.
Lucas explains that in the Netherlands the league is extremely
balanced: almost every team can beat each other, making every
weekend decisive. In Germany, however, the focus for top teams like
Spandau and Waspo Hannover was long centered on Champions League
success, with domestic matches often serving as preparation rather
than true competition. Lucas highlights the importance of elite
environments for young players. At Spandau, a clear development
philosophy existed: alongside international stars and national team
players, young talents trained daily at the highest level. This
pipeline helped prepare players for international competition and
ultimately benefited the German national team. He contrasts this
with the Dutch model, where national team players train centrally
in Zeist, but lack the daily exposure to multiple Olympic-level
foreign players in club training. The discussion then shifts to the
current situation of the German national team. Lucas follows the
team closely and emphasizes that the ongoing restructuring requires
patience. With many experienced players retired, Germany is
building a young squad that will naturally experience ups and
downs. Short-term results, he argues, should not overshadow
long-term development. He praises the mentality of German teams and
players, describing them as resilient, disciplined and never giving
up – qualities he experienced firsthand when representing Germany
himself. According to Lucas, if these values are combined with
patience, high-level environments and long-term planning, German
water polo has strong potential to grow again. This episode is a
thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about development,
ambition and why true progress in water polo – and in life – only
happens when you deliberately step into rooms where you are no
longer the best. More about the podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de