My Story

Water polo has become a huge part of my life. I have been a goalie since I was 9 years old, though my journey with the sport began even earlier when my father first introduced me to the water in Ulsan, South Korea, and some of my first lessons took place in the waters of the Korea Strait. Through water polo, I’ve learned discipline, resilience, teamwork, and how to push myself every day to improve.

Over the years, I have worked hard for every opportunity. In my first two years competing in ODP, my teams earned 4th place both times. Rather than letting that discourage me, I used it as motivation to keep improving. That persistence led to opportunities to compete on the 14U, 16U, and 18U National Teams. Last year, at just 16 years old, I was part of the 18U ODP team that won gold, and this year my team earned bronze. At the 2024 World Aquatics Water Polo Tournament, I was honored to be named 16U Player of the Match against Serbia. Over the past two years, I have also competed in National League exhibition games.

I’m excited and grateful to be invited back to the National Team Selection Camp this year for my fourth time. With the 18U World Championships coming this summer, I’m excited to keep growing and continue this journey at the next level.

Why I Love Water Polo

I love water polo because it challenges me to be my best every day and teaches me how to be a better teammate. As a goalie, I have learned how to stay calm under pressure, communicate with confidence, and keep fighting for my team in every moment.

Why Your Support Matters

As part of this journey, I’m raising support to help fund training, travel, coaching, and development opportunities as I attend NTSC and continue preparing for future competition. Your support directly helps make opportunities like this possible and helps me continue pursuing this dream.

Looking Ahead

This page will stay with me throughout the 2026 ODP season, including NTSC and future Pipeline experiences. My first Pipeline year was at age 14, when I trained with the Australian 16U team at Occidental. My second was at age 15, when I competed at Worlds in Malta. At 16, I was selected to train in Italy. If I am selected for additional training camps or international competitions, I will continue updating my journey here as I work toward the next level.

Join My Team

If you’d like to be part of my journey, I would truly appreciate your support. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you for being part of my journey and my team.

— James Love