The triple Olympic-champion United States of America women’s water polo team is in the news again, in a feature-length film encompassing the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Water polo films are few and far between with “Freedom’s Fury” and “Children of Glory” two that come to mind regarding the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.
Now a USA production company has come up with a film — “Women of the Water” — celebrating the journey of the national women’s team that dominated the sport for more than a decade under the expert coaching of the legendary Adam Krikorian.
With three gold medals in the bag, the film studies the new-look team in its quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal in Paris. The team finished fourth but the stories remain and have been brought to life in this incredible motion picture.
"There has always been so much more to this process than chasing gold medals," Krikorian said. "For years I've wanted people to hear the stories, see the personalities, and learn the lessons that make our journey so special.
"Coming up just short of our goal was disappointing," Krikorian said, referring to the result in Paris, "but it doesn't take away from the accomplishments [these players] did achieve, the relationships they built, or the impact they've had on our communities. This team and these women – along with those who came before them – are truly legends of our sport."
The movie premiered earlier this week on the FanDuel Sports Network across the United States and has received rapturous reviews.
This inside look at the world's greatest women's water polo team on its path to the Paris Olympics showcases the dynamic sport through one of its most legendary programmes.
USA’s had an unprecedented run of excellence, including World Aquatics Championships and World Cup successes. While the team ultimately placed fourth in Paris, viewers can discover the profound dedication these athletes had to the game, their incredible determination to navigate the journey and the unbreakable bonds formed in the face of adversity, according to producer Greg Mescall.
The series was shot during a 10-month span, beginning in early 2024, when an Olympic berth was already secured and expectations were building. As the team plotted its path to Paris, "Women of the Water" also explored the stories of key figures who made a major impact on the programme. This first-of-its-kind look at a water polo team that had a firm grip on No. 1 for a decade was assembled thanks also to the creative vision of executive producer and director Suzi Mellano and Mescall , along with collaboration from associate producer Sherie Smith.
"Suzi led the production, visiting with the team on multiple occasions, including documenting practices, matches and the Olympic team-naming event. She handled the majority of the filming and assembled the entire film. Sherie played an important role supplementing the production with additional footage, interviews and photos.
“The process was very collaborative and the hardest part was editing as we had so much compelling content. The athletes and staff made this production so much easier by being so accessible and allowing cameras and microphones to be a part of their journey as they prepared for Paris.
"We are thrilled to partner with the FanDuel Sports Network to showcase 'Women of the Water' and amplify the sport of water polo," said Mescall, a producer and a veteran play-by-play broadcaster.
"We've partnered with the FanDuel Sports Network team in the past to bring Team USA exhibition matches and a docu-series on the USA Water Polo men's team to larger audiences with positive results and we know that will only grow with 'Women of the Water,'" he said.
"Creating 'Women of the Water' was such a fulfilling experience," said Mellano. "Having the opportunity to be surrounded by such impressive, strong, talented women was beyond inspiring. The year-long process it took for me to shoot and edit this series was challenging, but extremely rewarding. Being able to share the voices of these women and the impact they have on women's sports, is something I will cherish for the rest of my career.
“I hold the growth of women's sports close to my heart and I am honoured to have played a small role in that progress.”
Mescall said: "Suzi did a masterful job telling the story of this team – one that, frankly, can't be told enough. They are champions in and out of the water, regardless of the results in Paris. A special thanks to the athletes and staff for taking the time to facilitate this production, sitting for interviews, and allowing cameras into their lives.
“For those who love water polo, this will only cement your passion for the game and love for this team. For those not as familiar, by the end not only will you enjoy the sport, you'll have developed a respect and appreciation for these athletes that goes far beyond their abilities in a cap and suit."
For additional viewing, the show premiered on FanDuel Sports Network with multiple airings on the network around the country. Later this year the series will be available at YouTube.com/USAWP.