It’s hard selecting a best player in a team let alone a tournament, especially when a team plays like a team with few standout players. Australia’s Alice Williams was named MVP at the Paris Olympic Games and Scoring Goals caught up with her before she left Europe for home.
The coach’s role is to blend various players’ skills and allow them to flourish for the benefit of the team. This is what happened for Australia’s women at the recent Paris Olympic Games. The Aussie Stingers glided into the gold-medal final (if winning three matches by penalty shootout is called gliding) and came up against a Spanish team that was at the crest of its ability and on target for the gold medal.
Spain finally achieved its destiny, much to the delight of head coach Miki Oca, himself an Olympic champion from 1996 in Atlanta, USA.
For Australia, Alice Williams (25) was a standout among standouts — players doing the tasks they were assigned. She finished off many an Aussie attack and ended up as the tournament’s highest scorer with 21 goals.
At the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Williams was named to the Media All Star team, so this year’s accolade was no surprise.
So, what’s it like being named the best player of an Olympic tournament?
“This is another thing that I haven't processed! I think I'll take the time to acknowledge my accolades down the line when I retire, and I've finished out the job that I want to do with my team. The only thing I will say is that no one can become an MVP without the stellar performance of the team around them, so this one I attribute to my Stingers.”
You scored the most goals of anyone. Was one more important than the others?
“We knew going into the Olympics that our round games would be pivotal in achieving the outcome we want from the games. When it came down to our last game against Hungary, we knew we had to win or draw. The first goal that I scored of the final quarter in this game caused a momentum shift in our favour and I knew in this moment, no matter if we won through regular time or penalties, that we had top seed in our pool.”
What’s it like being an Olympic silver medallist?
“I don't think it’s fully sunk in yet. I'm still in Europe, so a bit removed from all the hype around our team. Being an Olympic silver medallist is something that I am really proud of. And to do it with that particular group of girls and staff makes it all the more special.
What was your team reaction after the gold-medal final?
“It's hard to articulate this feeling, because when you're standing on the podium, two teams are really excited having just won their games to get them either gold, or on to the podium in third. The immediate response after our loss to Spain was disappointment. We've just come so close to gold, it's at your fingertips and then it just slips away. I still wake up in the night thinking about that game. But this is sport, and this is why we play, for all of the highs and the lows, and at the end of the day, a silver medal is pretty bloody incredible.”
What did you think about emerging victor from three penalty shootouts?
“This is a testament to all the work that our team put in behind the scenes with our psychologist on how to hold our nerve under pressure. Without this and the team’s buy-in to our values, the outcome could have been very different.”
How was this tournament different from any others in recent years?
“The preparation that we had was different in that there was a massive focus on building the team away from the pool, namely building a team that respects, supports and fights for each other in every moment. From this, the in-water relationships flowed.
What did head coach Bec Rippon tell the team in the aftermath?
“Bec emphasised how proud she was of us and what we have built. We've created a legacy that will inspire future generations and one that we will carry with us forever.”
Fourth in the 2023 World Championships and now silver in Paris. What made the difference?
We went through a lot of changes over the past 18 months as a group. This was challenging as it was uncertain and uncomfortable, but we put in the work, in and out of the pool, which ultimately made us a tight-knit and impenetrable team.
What will the silver medal mean for water polo in Australia?
“Our team silver medal is huge for Australian water polo in terms of funding, sponsorship opportunities, as well as participation in our grass roots programmes. We hope to see the sport with more traction flourish over the next few years.”
How was the total Paris experience?
“Overwhelming, exciting, incredible. “
Who did you meet of note in the Olympic Village?
“All the amazing Australian female athletes were my fangirl moments.”
What have you done since that glorious Saturday night?
“I've been gallivanting around Europe with family and friends, beach hopping, eating and drinking. “
What now for Alice Williams?
“I'm heading back to Australia to enjoy time with my family and friends, who I have barely seen this year, and take my medal on a victory tour.”
Williams has a huge career ahead of her with the Stingers and her Ekipe Orizzonte team, which has been a finishing ground for a host of Australian women in the past few decades.