Playing for your country is something special. It has to start somewhere, so Shooting Goals asked 12 elite athletes what it felt like to wear that cap for the first time at the senior level.
Strahinja Rasovic (SRB)
“It was against Spain in Barcelona, 2013. We won that match. I didn't feel so much pressure because we came there with younger squad. But I was very, very motivated like always when I’m playing for national team.”
Emma Wright (CAN)
“Obtaining my first cap with the senior team was a crazy, exciting and unexpected experience for me. I was only 16 and I was called up to the senior team for the tournament in May after the team unfortunately didn't qualify for the London Olympic Games. I remember being extremely nervous before my first game, but I was also so happy to be a part of the team and grateful for the opportunity to play with such amazing women! The tournament was the World League Super Finals in Changshu, China in 2012 and the match was against Australia.”
David Tatrai (HUN)
“My first match was against Spain in 2023. What made it special was that I got to play in front of a home crowd here in Hungary. I can still hear the fans cheering us on. Fantastic feeling…”
Abby Andrews (AUS)
“I played my first match in a test series against Italy in 2018 in Perth. Receiving the swimsuit and putting on that cap is a moment I will never forget. Wearing the senior suit and gaining that exposure to the new level was daunting, but so exciting. I was lucky enough to debut for the senior national team with two of my very close friends, which made it even more special, as they had been with me and training with me since we were 13. While we didn’t hit the water for too long during that match, I loved learning from everyone in and out of the water and trying to work out what differences and challenges there were in comparison to the junior level.”
Mia Rycraw (FRA)
“I played my first senior international match for France at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka. It was an emotional return to the international stage after last competing for USA in 2017. Our group featured the USA, China and Australia, with the Aussies up first. Despite the intense emotions, our coach had trained us well, and I felt fully prepared. The result aside, the match was a personal breakthrough for me.”
Alexandros Papanastasiou (GRE)
“It was a dream come true playing alongside players I was admiring growing up. But most of all it was a huge opportunity to prove to myself that I belonged there and I was one of them. Lastly, it was a small taste of what could follow and it filled me with motivation to chase higher and higher goals.”
Tony Azevedo (USA)
“I didn’t want to disappoint my friends and family. It was the wrong mindset and within my first 30 seconds of playing I got ejected! I thought my coach was going to bench me but instead he let me play. Now my mindset was to prove I belonged. It was against Yugoslavia in SoCal I was 16 and (Veijko) Uskokovic was the guy who got me booted! I scored three that game and never didn’t play for USA again.”
Stavroula Kozompoli (GRE)
“Pulling on the Greek cap for the first time at senior level was in 1995 in Vienna at the European Championships and was an incredibly emotional moment! It was a huge honour and a dream that came true! The moment I put on the cap, I felt a mix of pride and responsibility. It reminded me why I’ve worked so hard, and it motivated me to give everything for the team and for Greece. That moment I realised I wanted to contribute to something bigger than myself!”
Aaron Younger (AUS)
“My first caps for Australia were in 2009 in South Australia for the World League preliminaries. They weren't hard games but the thrill of being able to play alongside so many players I had looked up to as a kid was incredible. In 2011, I played my first major tournament for Australia at the Shanghai World Championships. I was the youngest player in the team, and I was roomed up with Sam McGregor, the team captain. The whole experience as a young player was incredible and the guidance I received from Sam and the older players was definitely formative for my career.”
Mercedes Stieber (HUN)
“I was 14 years old when I joined the senior national team. I didn’t even dare to speak at the first training session! I was so shy and overwhelmed. This was my big dream. The European Championships in Bonn in 1989 was the first big tournament I participated in. We achieved second place, but for me it was worth a gold medal. It was great; everyone looked after me. The whole team was like a big family. This experience was very decisive for the next 20 years in the national team. It was an honour to represent my country for those 20 years.”
Stylianos Argyropoulos (GRE)
“My first appearance with the senior national team was in a tournament before Olympics 2016 in Rio. The tournament took place in Serbia in Bor .Ioannis Fountoulis was injured and I was actually wearing number five, as well. The first match was against Serbia and I scored my first goal in the second game against Spain. We won that tournament in penalties against Serbia.”
Tamas Molnar (HUN)
“It was very good one. A friendly against Italy in ‘95 January. We had a year before the scandalous Hungary-Italy with the fight. Italy was Olympic and world champion. I was a bit lost from the atmosphere but I played few minutes and had one steal.”