- Water polo stars need to ‘break in’ their Olympic swim suits
- Many women’s players wear high-cut, skin-tight costumes
- Australia play Spain in gold medal match at Paris Games
Australian water polo star Abby Andrews has shown what is required for the women’s players to squeeze into their swim suits at the Paris Olympics – and it doesn’t look comfortable.
Taking to Instagram, the hero for the Stingers in the semi-final after four goals against the US hilariously showed her followers it isn’t just a matter of stripping down and throwing on a costume.
In the clip titled ‘POV: breaking in your Olympic suit’, Andrews can also be seen going the extra yard with a teammate, providing an insight many fans wouldn’t have been aware of.
The high-cut, skin-tight swimsuits are essential to aid flexibility in the water and avoid handing rivals even the smallest advantage in matches.
Some players – as Andrews would attest to given her video – have opted to wear swimsuits two to three sizes smaller than what they would usually wear in a bid to make it tougher for their opponents to get their hands under the edges.
In a physical sense, water polo is a brutal sport, with athletes calling on every muscle in their bodies and engaging in hard-fought individual clashes that can only be properly seen via an underwater camera.
When either treading water, swimming or throwing, players work all the major muscle groups.
Under the water – away from the eyes of the referee – punching, kicking and scratching is frequent as competitors grab hold of each other by any means possible.
Taking to Instagram, the hero for the Stingers in the semi-final after four goals against the US hilariously showed her followers it isn’t just a matter of stripping down and throwing on a costume (pictured)
Abby Andrews looms as a key figure for the Stingers in their gold medal match against Spain at the Paris Games
It comes as the Stingers became the first Australian women’s side to reach the Olympic water polo final since the 2000 Games in Sydney.
Bec Rippon’s squad are guaranteed at least a silver medal after winning bronze in 2012 at the London Games.
‘When we beat the US in that final in Sydney, it was epic. I was a kid there watching, and it really inspired Australia [as a nation] and Australians to play water polo,’ Rippon said.
‘I was one of them….we have wanted to relive that and bring that back to Australia.
‘We are really proud of what we have achieved and are keen to create our own legacy.’
Andrews’ four goals in the third period versus America transformed the game – and goalkeeper Gabriella Palm was also immense.
Her clutch moment in the shootout to deny US star Maddie Musselman sparked euphoric scenes in the La Defense Arena.
Spain – who are also unbeaten in Paris – beat the Netherlands 19-18 in another shoot-out game to set up a mouthwatering final.
Action in the gold medal game begins at 11.35pm AEST on Saturday, August 10.
