“Attending the Olympics is a dream coming true in so many aspects” – Alex Bowen on the Olympics & Personal Growth

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Olympic water polo
star Alex Bowen offers a deeply personal and reflective insight
into what it truly means to attend the Olympic Games. Drawing from
his experiences in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, Bowen describes the
Games not just as a sporting event, but as a once-in-a-lifetime
life experience that shapes athletes far beyond competition. Alex
begins by describing the emotional weight of arriving at the
Olympics for the first time. As a teenager, he once drew himself
competing at the Olympic Games as part of a school assignment.
Years later, stepping into the Olympic Village felt surreal – the
realization that every early morning practice, every sacrifice and
every setback had led to this moment. For him, the Olympics
represent the ultimate test: a stage where an athlete shows what a
lifetime of work looks like under maximum pressure. He paints a
vivid picture of life inside the Olympic Village, comparing it to
living inside a movie. Sharing meals and space with athletes he had
previously only seen on television – NBA players, tennis stars,
golfers and Olympians from every corner of the world – created a
unique atmosphere that no other sporting event can replicate. Bowen
explains why staying in the village is such a crucial part of the
Olympic experience, and why athletes who stay outside often miss an
irreplaceable social and cultural dimension. The conversation also
explores the stark contrast between Rio and Tokyo. While Rio
allowed for full interaction, socializing and spontaneous
encounters, Tokyo was heavily shaped by COVID-19 restrictions.
Limited movement, strict protocols and the constant fear of
quarantine changed the dynamic dramatically. Bowen shares powerful
stories of teammates and friends who missed competitions due to
close-contact rules, highlighting how fragile Olympic dreams can
be. Beyond the Games themselves, Alex explains the importance of
international multi-sport events such as the Pan American Games,
often unfamiliar to European audiences. Comparable to the European
Championships, these events serve as Olympic qualifiers for the
Americas and play a key role in building competitive experience,
team identity and pressure resilience. Bowen reflects on winning
gold in Toronto 2015 and competing in Lima 2019, emphasizing how
these tournaments help prepare athletes for the Olympic stage. A
major theme of the episode is personal growth through exposure to
different cultures. Playing and competing across continents allowed
Bowen to better understand how different societies approach sport,
teamwork and ambition. These experiences, he explains, are just as
valuable as medals. The episode also touches on Bowen’s club career
and his move to France, where he joined a league that is rapidly
growing in competitiveness and international relevance. Playing in
Paris, competing in Champions League qualification rounds and
facing strong domestic rivals such as Marseille represent the next
step in his ongoing development. In the final part of the
conversation, Bowen reflects on role models and learning from
others. Rather than idolizing a single player, he describes himself
as an “amalgamation” of many influences – teammates, opponents and
mentors from different stages of his career. His message to young
athletes is clear: steal what you can, learn constantly and never
believe the puzzle is finished. This episode is a powerful, honest
and inspiring reflection on Olympic dreams, reality, pressure and
the lifelong journey of growth through sport. More about the
podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de