Hard work and dedication are paying off for a pupil of St Stithians Boys’ College who is breaking boundaries in water polo.
Joshua Schmidt (16) plays for the South African National Water Polo team. Schmidt describes himself as someone who is very sporty; he played rugby and took part in swimming before a friend introduced him to water polo.
“I tried it out and since I was good at swimming I was chosen to be on the South African A team while I was still at Northcliff Primary School. It is a tough sport but I also love how there is sportsmanship in the game,” he said.
Schmidt continued playing water polo when he attended high school and made the national team. He was selected for the national team after trials in KwaZulu-Natal in April this year. The team travelled to Malta to participate in the Men’s EU Nations Water Polo Cup, where they clinched third place.
Schmidt added that if he were to pursue his passion for water polo, he saw himself playing in Europe as the sport was much bigger there. “Hopefully, I can get a scholarship to play water polo overseas, which would be great but I also want to become an engineer,” he said.
In the meantime, the Northcliff resident spends a lot of his time in the water preparing for future matches. “I like hanging out with my friends when I’m not practising or busy with my schoolwork,” he added. He attributed his success in the water to his coach and the support of his parents and younger brother, who is also an avid water polo player.
