‘Water baby’ keeps his chin up
RANDPARK RIDGE – South African water polo player, Dean Whyte loves the physicality, team vibe and fast pace of the sport.
South Africa men’s water polo player, Dean Whyte (28) is very hungry – hungry for more water polo medals, that is.
The self-professed ‘water baby’ has played water polo for almost 14 years and was an avid swimmer even before then. “I loved swimming all my life and at school, water polo was an optional extra, so I took it and fell in love with the sport,” said the Randpark Ridge resident.
“Water polo is one of those sports that is just addictive. The physicality, team vibe, and fast pace… is just amazing.”
Whyte has played for South Africa for four years. In that time, he won gold and silver medals playing at the EU Top Nations Tournament, which he said is his greatest achievement to date.
Furthermore, Whyte has won three gold medals at nationals for Gauteng, and two Old Edwardian festivals with his club, Old Johannian (OJ) Eagles, which is based at St John’s College in Houghton. Unfortunately, he tore a cartilage in his right shoulder in a match against Ireland in March, but is now back in the pool practising as cautiously as someone as passionate as he is, can, preparing for an international return at the end of December.
National captain, Pierre le Roux, praised Whyte for his ability to play in all six water polo positions. “I don’t have to worry about having six specialised players when Dean can attack or defend well and move around the whole pool.”
The two have played for the OJ Eagles together since 2013, a team which has won 12 of the last 14 national Old Edwardian festivals. “Dean has great belief in his abilities, he knows his strengths and limits,” Le Roux added.
Whyte credited much of his success to his coach, Vlado Trninic, a legend of the sport. Trninic played for Posk in Croatia when the team won the European Cup twice, the European Super Cup once, and the Mediterranean Cup three years straight in the 80s.
Whyte, along with other national players, helps run the Tridents Aquatics Club at Rand Park High School for swimming and water polo. He dreams of playing in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, but for the moment he looks to help Gauteng win nationals again next year.
