The USA men’s water polo team went abroad to get better. Will it show at the Paris Olympics?

Ben Hallock, a new local grocery store owner in Liguria, Italy, was unable to understand the complexities of the vegetable section and spoke no Italian at all. The worker attempting to help the non-native did not know any English. Hallock looked helpless as he lifted the limes in his palm.

Hallock had teammates on the U.S. men’s national team who could relate no matter how he felt at the time or in subsequent situations when he adapted to life overseas while competing professionally in water polo for Pro Recco, the top club team in the sport. Hallock could always reach out to them by phone or text.

“What foolish action did you take today at the grocery store?” stated Hallock. The question “How’s your tutoring going?” is increasingly frequently asked.

Before the Tokyo Games, national team members hardly ever had conversations like that. According to Alex Bowen, during that period, the younger generation had not yet traveled overseas in search of professional possibilities, while the older veterans had retired and ended their professional careers in Europe.

Former members of the national team, including Josh Samuels, Tony Azevedo, Merrill Moses, John Mann, and Jesse Smith, all had protracted careers abroad. In 2016, however, Bowen was the sole member of the national team playing overseas.

Ever since, every member of the team has played overseas, along with anyone who aspires to be on the Olympic roster. According to Bowen, the players acknowledged that it’s essential for them to continue being competitive on the global stage.