On The Record with Emilio Torrealba of Peru’s Water Polo Program

LIMA, Peru. For the past five years Carlos Emilio Torrealba Gallardo, head coach of the Peruvian women's water polo team, has been overseeing an ambitious project: make Peruvian polo competitive. Torrealba, a Venezuelan from Barquisimeto in Lara, played and trained in Peru, is also in charge of the men's team on an interim basis. He coached the women's team during the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and also at the 2021 FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championships

During the recent FINA Intercontinental Cup at the Villa Deportiva Nacional pool, Torrealba spoke with Swimming World’s Luis Olaya about the impact of COVID-19 on polo in the region, the significance of hosting an important FINA event and the challenges Peruvian water polo faces growing in South America.

How did the coronavirus pandemic affect the growth of water polo in Peru?

After the pandemic, it was difficult for all countries to adapt to the new lifestyle. But [our] girls got used to it and began to lose their fear, thanks to the vaccine. It has not been possible to see a great evolution in that time since in Peru [as] the restrictions were lifted little by little. Now the girls are developing very well, and we have several players abroad. [Peruvian] women's water polo is on a good path.

What effect will hosting the Intercontinental Cup have on Peruvian water polo?

It is a magnificent event, we have nothing to envy from European pools. All the countries [here] comment that our infrastructure is first class. This type of event allows us to have greater visibility so that more people [in Peru] know what water polo is. There are still many things to change and improve so that the stands are full of [people]. [But], this event allows Peru to be recognized internationally.

This is also a beautiful experience for our athletes. Training with teams like Australia and the United States gives us another competitive push. The fact that our players can watch this kind of match also gives them an extremely good learning experience.

The players, coaches and the Peruvian swimming federation are trying to make water polo better known. How important is it for the local press to promote this type of event?

It's very important. Water polo is well known in countries like the USA, Serbia and Croatia, but in South America, it is not. Many times, it happened to me in Venezuela as a player, when we were [as much as] number three on the continent, people didn't know about water polo’s existence. Now, we have the advantage of having social and mobile networks to access more information.

How hard is it to get water polo players for Peru?

Here it is complicated because of cultural issues. For example, in my country, when I saw a child with physical conditions for this sport, I took him to the pool, taught him how to swim and from there to play water polo. In Peru, it doesn’t matter if I see a boy with physical conditions, I have to tell him that he has to pay a monthly fee to train in a private club.

There’s not as much support on that side, so the main objective has to be to correctly train the players who arrive our clubs. Sometimes players are trained by coaches who are not specialists in water polo and they [cause] bad habits that are difficult to correct.

Once you have players, can you convince them to continue in water polo? Some of the older players prioritize their jobs, studies or other activities.

When I arrived in Peru, I heard that the university was [a] cemetery for athletes, and now I see that is [true]. When an athlete arrives at university, it is very difficult for him to continue in the sport due to a lack of support. Here the advantages for student athletes are not considered.

How complicated is it for the Peruvian player to go abroad to improve his water polo?

The truth is that I don't see it as difficult. Playing for a university in Peru is expensive and has practically the same cost as going abroad to study and continue playing for a club or university. In many cases, like in Spain, that helps pay for the studies. Now we have several players abroad like Carolina and Rebeca Rodriguez in Spain, Alan Chang in the U.S. and Julio Alzamora in Spain.

What is the main objective for Peruvian water polo?

The objective of this training is for athletes to feel a greater commitment with the team in important events. Soon we will [attend] the Bolivarian games and I hope to be among the top three in women's water polo. We have worked hard to beat Chile, Venezuela and play a good game against Colombia.