Learning from Champions – Unai Biel on growing up at CN Barceloneta, Mentorship & Elite Team Culture

In this international episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, I speak
with Unai Biel, Spanish national team player and professional
athlete at CN Barceloneta, about his journey from a young talent in
Catalonia to competing at the highest level of European club water
polo — surrounded by Olympic champions and world-class stars. Unai
shares how he started his water polo journey in a small local club
near Barcelona, first as a swimmer before switching to water polo
at the age of six. When his youth club faced financial problems, he
made the crucial move to CN Barceloneta as a teenager — a step that
would completely change his development path. A central focus of
the episode is the unique training and development environment in
Barcelona and Catalonia. Unai explains why 90% of Spain’s elite
water polo is concentrated in this region, how that creates daily
high-level competition, and why easy access to top-level matches
raises the ambition and standards of young players. He gives deep
insight into what it feels like to enter one of Europe’s strongest
clubs as a young player: – Starting as the 14th man in the squad –
Earning minutes through rotation in the Spanish league – Training
daily with Olympic champions and world stars – Learning
position-specific details from experienced teammates Unai explains
how senior players like Felipe Perrone, Álvaro Granados, Alberto
Munarriz and Blai Mallarach shaped his development — not just
through example, but through direct communication, daily feedback
and personal mentorship. We also talk about: – The Catalan
high-performance school system with twice-daily training – How
young talents are selected at ages 14–15 – The difference between
Spanish and other European youth systems – Why older players must
actively guide the next generation – His role today as a mentor for
younger teammates – Why elite success is built through cycles of
learning and leadership Topics of this episode: – Youth development
in Catalonia – Growing up at CN Barceloneta – Mentorship from
Olympic champions – High-performance school system in Spain –
Entering an elite team as a teenager – Learning through daily
competition – Role models & leadership in sport – Transition
from youth to professional level – Building confidence in elite
environments – The cycle of giving knowledge back This episode is a
must-listen for young players, parents, coaches and talent
developers worldwide who want to understand how elite environments,
mentorship and daily competition shape professional water polo
careers. More about the podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de