Finding Strength in My Water Polo Journey.

August 2025

Singapore

“He Didn’t Start With Talent — He Started With Heart.”

A Father’s Reflection on Emett’s Water Polo Journey

Water polo is a brutal sport. It demands lungs that don’t give up, arms that never stop moving, and a mind that sees the game three steps ahead. But before all that — it demands courage. And for my son Emett, courage was the only thing he had when he began.

Emett failed his first swimming trial when he was five.

Too small. Too unsure. The coaches said he wasn’t ready — and they were right. No one cheered. No one clapped. He stood quietly by the pool, towel over his shoulders, not saying a word.

I thought that was it. But a year later, he asked to go back.

No drama. No big speech. Just a quiet, determined boy who didn’t want to give up on the water.

From there, everything he achieved was built one step at a time. He wasn’t the strongest swimmer. He didn’t learn fast. But he showed up. He listened. He practised. While others moved ahead quickly, Emett moved at his own pace — slow, steady, and relentless.

Early Beginnings

“He didn’t know the rules, the roles, or where he belonged — but he knew he wasn’t ready to give up.”

At six, he joined Queens Town Water Polo Academy.

He was new to the sport. Most of the boys had already been competing for years. Emett didn’t know the rules, the positions, or how to hold the ball right. He looked out of place — smaller, quieter, slower. The youngest in the pool.

The first few months were rough. He barely touched the ball during training. He felt discouraged. He didn’t just want to swim; he wanted to play. To be part of the game.

“Where it all began — joy, friendship, and floating dreams.”

But he kept showing up.

Training after training.

Asking questions.

Watching. Learning. Growing.

Little by little, his body caught up with his heart. His confidence grew. His teammates began to trust him. His coaches started to notice. It wasn’t talent that got him there. It was grit — and a right arm that wouldn’t quit.

This blog is about that journey — not just of a water polo player, but of a young boy learning what it means to fight quietly, to fail early, and to keep coming back anyway.

Because he didn’t start ahead. He started behind.

He didn’t start strong. He started unsure.

But every step, every lap, every match — he earned.

And that’s why I believe in him.

Overcoming Challenges

“Some games you lose before you even get to play.”

Emett was new to everything — the rules, the positions, the rhythm of the game. Most of the boys had already been training for years. He was smaller, quieter, and slower.

“His first cap. The beginning of something bigger.”

In the early months, he barely touched the ball. Coaches naturally focused on stronger players. He felt left out. Discouraged. There were days he came home tired, emotionally flat. He didn’t just want to swim — he wanted to play.

But still, he showed up.

Training after training.

Watching. Asking. Learning.

And then came the breakthrough — the day he got real playing time. No one handed it to him. He earned it with persistence and patience.

Building a Support System

“It takes a village to raise a water polo player.”

Behind Emett was always a quiet but powerful network.

Coaches who gave him time. Teammates who passed him the ball when others didn’t. Family who waited outside the pool, rain or shine. The little moments that reminded him — he wasn’t alone, even when he felt like he was.

Support came not in cheers, but in presence — consistent, quiet, and committed.

“Birthdays, bruises, breakthroughs — all celebrated together.”

The Queens Town spirit was real.

From six-year-olds to sixty-year-old veterans, QT was more than a club. It was a family. Old athletes, ex-national players — they didn’t just train. They gave back. They inspired. They created a space where underdogs like Emett could grow, feel safe, and believe.

In that pool, greatness wasn’t just passed down — it was lifted up.

Achieving Milestones

“The first game. The first win. The first time they cheered his name.”

His milestones came slowly — but they came.

His first minutes of play. His first match start. His first bruise. Each one was a quiet victory, a sign that effort eventually opens doors. And the day the team chanted his name? That wasn’t just a highlight — it was a reward for years of quiet grind.

Each cheer was a celebration of persistence, not performance.

“First game. First cap. First team photo. A beginning he’ll never forget.”

He was no longer just showing up.

He was contributing.

And more importantly, he was believing.

The Road Ahead

“Dreams don’t scare him anymore — they drive him.”

“Still small. Still learning. But already aiming higher.”

With U10 and U12 tournaments approaching, Emett’s hunger has only grown. He’s started setting goals for himself — not just in the pool, but academically and mentally too.

His dream is no longer something he waits for — it’s something he chases.

He’s thinking bigger.

Training harder.

Believing more.

And the dream that once felt distant?

It’s starting to feel real.

Now, it’s not a matter of if — it’s a matter of when.

Lessons Learned

“You don’t always win. But you always grow.”

“Every quiet huddle holds a lesson they’ll carry for life.”

Water polo has taught Emett — and all of us — more than how to play a sport. It’s taught him how to handle pressure. How to keep going when things are quiet. How to lead without shouting.

He’s learned that character is built in the unseen, unrewarded hours.

And how to fail, regroup, and try again.

These are life lessons wrapped in chlorine and competition.

Lessons no classroom could ever fully teach.

And they’re the ones I’m most thankful he’s learned.

The Impact of Water Polo

“This sport didn’t just shape his body — it shaped his character.”

Water polo gave him structure. It gave him friends. It taught him humility and responsibility. It gave him a place to belong — and something to fight for. It gave him identity, discipline, and the tools to hold his ground.

He's still growing, still learning, still building.

But already, he is someone I’m proud to learn from.

Because the boy who once failed his swim trial now carries lessons I wish I had at his age.

“Facing the water. Facing the challenge. Shoulder to shoulder.”

Emett has also learned the importance of giving back. He volunteers to help younger players in his community, sharing his knowledge and passion for the sport. This has allowed him to inspire others and foster a love for water polo in the next generation.

Final Thoughts

“He may still be an underdog. But now… he knows how to fight.”

Emett's rise in water polo is a testament to the power of hard work and determination. His journey is filled with challenges, triumphs, and valuable lessons as he continues to pursue his dreams.

This isn’t a story of medals or success. It’s a story of quiet persistence. Of failure, resilience, and the courage to return.

Emett didn’t start ahead. He started behind.

He didn’t start strong. He started unsure.

But every step, every lap, every match — he earned. And in doing so, he’s writing a story worth following.

And that’s why I believe in him.

“Small steps. Big heart.”

Emett (UDA)