REDDAM House Umhlanga learner Danya Thompson recently represented the SA women’s water polo team at the inaugural World Aquatics Water Polo 4×4 Open Championships in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The 18-year-old, who was the second-youngest player of the team, played in the centre forward position.

The national team played against Russia, USA, Australia, Croatia and Greece and placed eighth in the tournament.

Danya scored four goals for the national team and was full of praise for her teammates.

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“I feel we did pretty well. We held our own and gave it all we had. I think we also shocked some of the teams who might have thought we were pushovers. I feel we developed, grew and got better in every game we played. The competition was fierce and the pedigree from some of the international teams was incredible. The US team for example had six Olympians playing,” she said.

Danya added she was humbled to have been a part of the team while also learning from some of her idols.

“I was fairly nervous going into the championships because it was a massive step up from schoolgirl water polo. It was also surreal for me because I played against some of my idols in the sport. I fangirled so hard. It was an honour to represent South Africa. It was a great experience and I think I did better than I thought I would. It was an amazing feeling being a part of history in knowing we were the first SA team to compete at these championships,” she said.

The inaugural champs took place in the Old Harbour in Dubrovnik, famous as a setting for the fantasy show Game of Thrones.

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“Playing in the ocean was incredible. You could feel a ripple of the waves every so often so it was an added challenge. The other difference was the number of players. Normally a water polo team consists of seven players per team but this champs featured four players each and the games were fast-paced and high-intensity. At the championships, as soon as you scored a goal you were straight away countering or defending, whereas in the pool, you reset at the centre line of the pool,” she said.

The talented sports star is the co-captain of her school’s water polo first team.

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