Olympics, Player Safety & the Future of Water Polo – Spain Head Coach David Martín Lozano

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, I speak with David
Martín Lozano, head coach of the Spanish men’s national water polo
team, about the Olympic Games, the increasing match calendar,
tactical evolution in world water polo and one central message: “We
have to protect our biggest value – our athletes.” David gives deep
insight into the modern playing styles of the world’s top nations
(Spain, Serbia, Hungary, Italy, Greece), the tactical influence of
Japan, and how the new FINA rules have changed intensity, speed and
physical demands worldwide. A major focus is on the Olympic
experience: life inside the Olympic Village, media pressure,
emotional moments during opening ceremonies, and the different
mentalities of athletes – from participation to true medal
ambition. David explains why Spain entered Tokyo with the clear
goal to win, and how that mentality shift permanently changed the
team. We also discuss the extreme calendar overload, the conflict
between FINA and LEN, Champions League, World Championships,
European Championships, COVID recovery, and why star players risk
burnout or tournament withdrawal. David clearly warns that without
better protection of players’ health, the sport risks losing its
greatest role models.