BARRACUDAS RIPPON AND GYNTHER HELP AUSTRALIA TO OLYMPIC BRONZE
In a penalty shoot out - Australia have beaten Hungary to take the Olympic Bronze medal. In a match that the lead see-sawed throughout, it was a valiant goal with 0:08 seconds from Rebecca Rippon to pull the Aussies level at end of full time forcing extra time. It looked to be in the bag after two three minute periods with Australia up by one but the Hungarians answered back in extra man taking it to penalty shootouts. Australia missed their first two attempts but Emma Knox managed a key save and the Hungarians began to fall apart. It was up to the final Hungarian shooter who missed the cage and sealed the win the Aussies. A jubilant Australian side celebrated as did all their supporters back home! Well done to the girls. Barracudas congratulate all the girls but of course in particular our own Barras girls, Melissa Rippon and Kate Gynther.
The Australian men battled for 7th/8th and came up just short of defeating Greece to earn 8th place. The result a testament to the high level and minor margin between all the teams in the Olympic competition - the Aussie men only lost two matches to during the rounds and all by only one goal. The Australians also went toe to toe with the eventual Gold medalists Hungary in the round matches. Their 8th place finish certainly not representative of the world class calibre of water polo played by the side. A huge congrats to the whole Australian contingent on their efforts and results.
(Pictured left: Australian Bronze team - Front L to R: Suzie Fraser, Amy Hetzel, Jenna Santamorito, Mel Rippon (captain), Kate Gynther. Back L to R: Bec Rippon, Gemma Beadsworth, Mia Santoromito, Emma Knox, Nikita Cuffe, Alicia McCormack, Tanielle Gofers, Bronwen Knox)
IT'S OFFICAL- RHYS HOWDEN MAKES 2008 AUSTRALIAN MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM
(July 13| 08) Finally after holding out for the official announcement from AWPI - the 2008 Beijing Men's Olympic Team has been unveiled. After only a year and a half on the Australian men's national team, Barracudas' Rhys Howden has been named in the side. The team was unofficially announced a few weeks back following the men's World League Super Finals where Australia won bronze. The berth on the Olympic Team marks another step in the meteoric rise of Rhys on the senior mens water polo scene. Rhys has long been part of the Barracudas water polo club, starting his career as a young junior and gradually working his way up playing in the local junior, senior then national league competitions. The last two years have been ground breaking years with the always talented Rhys maturing into a world class player and having a serious impact in the top level of the sport. After captaining the young Barracudas men's national league team for the past two seasons, being named in the NWPL All-star teams in 2007 and 2008, being one of the top Aussie players at the FINA Junior World Champs last August and then competing with the Aussie men's side for the last year and a half, Rhys has earned a career defining spot in the 13 member Olympic Team. Needless to say that the Barracudas club could not be prouder! Way to go Rhys! The Howden family will surely be booking their tickets to Beijing to support Rhys and the men's team.
The 2008 Australian Men's Beijing Olympic Team:
Raf Sterk (KFC Breakers), James Stanton (Fremantle Mariners), Trent Franklin (Sydney Uni Lions), Tim Neesham (Victorian Tigers), Robbie Maitland (Sydney Uni Lions), Pietro Figlioli (Chiavari Nuoto), Sam MacGregor (Barceloneta), Thomas Whalan (Sydney Uni Lions), Rhys Howden (Brisbane Barracudas), Richie Campbell (Wests Magpies), Jamie Beadsworth (Fremantle Mariners), Gavin Woods (Balmain Tigers), Anthony Martin (KFC Breakers).
BARRACUDAS BEIJING BOUND - WOMEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED
(June 24| 08) Barracudas own Kate Gynther and Melissa Rippon will be heading to their second Olympic Games. The pair were officially announced this evening as part of the 13 member Beijing Olympic Team, at an Australian water polo dinner on the Gold Coast. After over a year of grueling training, testing and travel, the 13 member team was unveiled. For Kate and Mel the trip to Beijing will be their opportunity to take aim at Olympic Gold with the Aussie Women's team going into the tournament ranked 2nd in the world and hot on the heals of top ranked USA. Making the Olympic berth all the more sweet was the announcement that Melissa will be captaining the side. Both ladies have been part of the Barracudas national league women's program since the inception of the competition in 2003. Mel and Kate both played major roles in the Australian 2004 Olympic campaign where the team narrowly missed the medals, finishing 4th. With four more years of international experience behind the duo, Kate and Mel are more than ready for what Beijing will throw at them. The Barracudas club is very proud of their achievement. Well done ladies. D
The women's team are currently in the USA for their last international games before they head to Northern Queensland to prepare in the final week's leading up to the Games.
The 2008 Australian Women's Beijing Olympic Team:
Goalkeepers: Emma Knox (Fremantle), Alicia McCormack (Cronulla Sharks)
Centre Forwards/Centrebacks: Nikita Cuffe (Sydney Uni), Bronwen Knox (KFC Breakers), Tanielle Gofers (Sydney Uni), Gemma Beadsworth (Fremantle), Mia Santoromito (Cronulla Sharks)
Drivers: Melissa Rippon - Captain (Brisbane Barracudas), Kate Gynther (Brisbane Barracudas), Rebecca Rippon (Balmain Tigers), Suzie Fraser (KFC Breakers), Jenna Santoromito (Cronulla Sharks), Amy Hetzel (KFC Breakers)