Jul 03 2024 26 mins 3
Experience matters. And, it may be the U.S. men's water polo team's greatest asset heading into Paris.
Ten of the 13 guys on the roster competed on the Tokyo Olympic team, including three-time Olympian Alex Obert.
"There is a huge difference between your first Olympics and your second Olympics, the kind of nerves just knowing what you're going to go through every single day," Obert said.
Obert grew up in Loomis, California. He played for the University of the Pacific, the U.S. National Team, played overseas, and competed in two Olympics.
He retired after the Tokyo Olympics and took a finance job. Then came the call asking him if he'd come out of retirement for one more go at gold.
His wife and employer said go for it.
And, Obert made the cut, joining his third Olympic water polo team.
Obert says, "Even in retirement, I still had that itch to compete at the highest level. I didn't know if I was going to be able to make the comeback. But obviously I was able to make it enough to come back and help the team, and that's all I want to do is help the team compete and win."
On this Dying to Ask:
- How hard it is physically to come out of retirement
- How being a dad changed Alex as an athlete
- Advice for parents on how to best support your teen athletes
- The advantages of having 10 guys with Olympic experience on a roster of 13
