Precocious would be an understatement when referring to United States of American water polo youngster Emily Ausmus. At just 17, she is a key member of the senior women’s programme, gaining her chance at last year’s Water Polo World League Super Final and then joining her youth teammates to snare the world crown in Belgrade, Serbia. Now her sights are firmly set on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Five years ago, USA Water Polo’s Chief Sport Development Officer John Abdou, was interviewed about the precocious 12-year-old Emily Ausmus competing in the Pan Am junior championships in Florida (USA) against players up to seven years older.
He explained that she had a high water polo IQ. That means that she processes situations faster than most athletes, virtually giving her an extra metre as she swiftly moves around the pool.
That intelligence and in-water skills led to her being a big part of the USA women’s development programme, which culminated in the youth team plundering the world crown with a 10-8 victory over Greece in the final last year, with Ausmus opening the match scoring and garnering the 9-7 goal at the start of the fourth period — the fulcrum for victory.
What a year she had in 2022! She was an alternate on the senior team in the lead-up to the World Aquatics Championships - Budapest 2022 at the tender age of 16, which started a period of competition that will see her compete for national team berths at every competition until the Paris Olympic Games in July next year.
USA head coach Adam Krikorian always had his eye on Ausmus.
"Emily has been on our radar and a part of our pipeline for quite some time. From a young age, you could see her talent, but more importantly, her industriousness and eagerness to learn were the values that jumped off the page.
"As she now transitions to the senior team, the challenges and competition become elevated," Krikorian said. "The journey may not always be smooth for someone as young as Emily, but she has a good foundation that will help her continue to grow and hopefully be a part of our programme for many years to come."
"Emily has been on our radar and a part of our pipeline for quite some time. From a young age, you could see her talent, but more importantly, her industriousness and eagerness to learn were the values that jumped off the page."
While she just missed out on playing in Budapest at the World Championships, Ausmus did manage to impress in the Water Polo World League Super Final where the USA lost 9-10 to Hungary in the semifinals and beat the Netherlands 16-15 on penalties for the bronze medal.
Ausmus is still at school — Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California — something few athletes at this level are experiencing.
Playing as a 12-year-old in the Pan Ams was “definitely nerve-wracking,” Ausmus said. “I was on the team as a young player, not really experienced, playing against international players. People around me were great teammates who taught me a lot. I really enjoyed it.”
Ausmus started playing as an eight-year-in Riverside, with the local club, Riverside Water Polo and the local community college RCC, playing with my brother, Evan Ausmus. He’s currently a freshman at USC.
"I plan to play water polo at USC — but I’ll take a year off to train for the 2024 Olympics — after Paris," Ausmus said.
During the past year, she spent much of the northern summer in Europe, which she regarded as a “great experience”.
“It started off with the senior team as an alternate, travelling with the team and being able to see their routine and how hard they train for the World Championships; taking a week off and then training with the senior B team in Greece for a week and a half, continuing my skills with amazing women. After that it was travelling with the youth team and competing in the World Youth Championships (in Belgrade, Serbia), then travelling with the USA senior team,” Ausmus said.
"In water polo, it’s really important being a good person in and out of the water and being a good player as well."
Her visit to Tenerife in Spain for the World League Super Final was special, she said.
“It was definitely a great experience, coming from being an alternate, and finally being able to play in the senior team. It was a great experience to play girls from other countries at that senior level — very hard to do. You get to see the different skills and mindset to play at that level and it taught me a lot of lessons in the water, mentally and physically.”
On the youth championships, Ausmus said her team had a winning bond. “The tour started off in Greece and we played a tournament there and won, trained with the Hungarian team in Budapest and finally ended up in Serbia at the world champs. We had such a close bond on that team, in and out of the water; we grew that bond.
“There was a determination to win that tournament. We trusted each other. To win with such close friends, people you grew up competing against and get to play with them. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not many people get; standing on that podium with people who have the same heart for the sport that you do,” she said.
“Here in the US, our process is always very competitive. The girls on the youth team are great water polo players who also have a great mindset for the game and mentality for working hard.
"You have to earn your spot. Everyone on the team and programme has that mindset and help push us every day," Ausmus said. "If we all keep that mindset, that group will continue and make the senior team and maintain the legacy and become a better team and be the best in the world and help further the sport."
"There was a determination to win that tournament. We trusted each other. To win with such close friends, people you grew up competing against and get to play with them. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not many people get."
On the January trip to Australia to play the Aussie Stingers in Perth and Brisbane last month, Ausmus enjoyed the constant training.
“We trained every day with the Australian national team. It was a great opportunity to push myself every day, mentally and physically, especially with the low numbers (the team travelled with just 12 players). It showed me how much I love the sport and how hard you need to be successful in it.
‘Pushing every day in practice, being there for the team in any way I can in and out of the water.
“I like to compete. I like to push myself, and do things that push my teammates. I like to push people and have fun in the water," Ausmus said. "You’re in the water so often you have to make it fun, and enjoyable, make every game and every possession so different. Taking those little differences and making it into something for your advantage."
"I like to compete. I like to push myself, and do things that push my teammates. I like to push people and have fun in the water."
With age on her side, that effervescent desire to succeed and the historic background of a successful programme, Ausmus is assured of being at the forefront of the sport for many years to come.
Photos courtesy of Catharyn Hayne/USA Water Polo