From Olympic Legend to Innovator – Tony Azevedo on Water Polo, Social Media & Global Growth

In this special international episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk,
I speak with Tony Azevedo, five-time Olympic water polo player for
the USA and now co-founder of Six Eight Sports, about his
incredible career, the Olympic Games, the current state of global
water polo and why we all must represent our sport much more
professionally. Tony shares how he found his love for water polo
after being inspired at the 1996 Olympic Games, how his dream of
becoming an Olympian was born, and how this single moment shaped
his entire life. Over a period of 20 years at the highest
international level, Tony competed in five Olympic Games, winning
silver at Beijing 2008 and creating one of the most legendary
careers in water polo history. We talk about the difference between
European and U.S. water polo, vertical vs. horizontal playing
styles, and why each nation must develop its own identity instead
of copying others. Tony explains why the Hungarian and Japanese
styles are so unique and how innovation is essential for the
future. A major focus is Tony’s work with Six Eight Sports,
including the Six Eight Academy, international clinics, digital
training tools, data-based athlete development, virtual reality
training and global performance comparisons for young players. He
explains how numbers, analytics and measurable performance data
will shape the next generation of water polo athletes. We also
speak openly about: – The responsibility of every athlete to
promote the sport – The power and challenges of social media – Why
water polo needs more visibility, sponsors & professional
structures – Olympic memories, funny village stories & mental
pressure – Confidence gained from playing in Europe – COVID’s
impact on youth water polo in the USA Topics of this episode: –
Five Olympic Games & elite longevity – Olympic Village memories
& Beijing 2008 silver medal – Europe vs. USA playing styles –
National identities in water polo – Social media as a growth tool –
Athlete branding & sponsorship – Six Eight Academy & global
athlete development – Performance analytics & VR training –
Youth water polo & COVID challenges – The future of
professional water polo This episode is highly recommended for
players, coaches, young athletes, parents, club officials and water
polo fans worldwide who want to understand how professionalism,
media presence and innovation can transform our sport. More about
the podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de