Loren Fatović in Večernji list
One of the central events of recent days in water polo in Zagreb, when we had the final tournament of the Croatian Cup for seniors, the final of the Cup for senior women, Water Polo Night, the Assembly of the Croatian Water Polo Federation, was certainly the moment of the proclamation of the best water polo player in Croatia in the selection of "Večernji list" from Zagreb.
As is known, based on the votes of the judging panel, but also of the readers of the popular "Večernji list," the best is Loren Fatović. On that occasion, on our website, we are sharing the interview of the water polo player in 2024 in Croatia, Loren Fatović, given to "Večernji list," which was published in the print and web edition of Večernji list on November 27, 2024.
Interview with Loren Fatović was conducted by Večernji list journalist, Dražen Brajdić.
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"This year was unbelievably successful for us!"
Author: Dražen Brajdić
In an unprecedented year for Croatian water polo - crowned with finals at all three major world competitions - the best Croatian water polo player was chosen to be 28-year-old Loren Fatović. Most of those surveyed spoke in glowing terms about him as the soul and main support of this trophy-winning team.
– I am 28 years old and it is normal for me to play my best water polo at this age. My wish is to maintain this level for the next four to five years. I was out for three months due to a finger injury. I hadn't had that much rest in the last 10 years and it came in handy for my individual preparation as well as mentally, because I knew what kind of season awaited us.
Let's Celebrate This Team
From now on, he will have the "Water Polo Player" bronze statue in his trophy case, sculpted by academic sculptor Stipe Sikirica. Loren has now entered the company of greats like Smodlaka, Bukić, Školneković, Sukno, Pavić, Hinić, Šimenc, Dobud, Bošković…
– In a year like this, it's not important who the best individual is, but how great our successes are. This needs to be celebrated, because we individual players are the result of teamwork. This is a lasting award, one that hasn't faded, and when I see the names that won it, of course, it means something to me and it's a good feeling to be in the company of such legends.
As the second top scorer in the Olympic Games and the third top scorer in the World Championship, he is also a candidate for the best water polo player of the year, with none of the competitors (Mandić, Jakšić, Vernoux, Weinberg) having three medals like him.
– Honestly, I don't pay attention to that. Being in the company of the mentioned players is an additional motivation and confirmation that I am on the right path. Considering that in our sport, Olympic gold is the most esteemed, there is a great chance that it will be someone between Mandić and Jakšić.
Does it seem a bit unreal to him when he remembers that he and his teammates, in just seven months, won the world gold, as well as the Olympic and European bronze? No other team has won three medals.
– Exactly, Spain and Italy were on two podiums, while we were the only ones on all three. This is unreal in any sport, except ours, that the three major competitions are played in such a short time. It was also unreal to achieve sporting form for each of them with so little preparation time. In the end, we always played our best game in the quarterfinals of those competitions, showing our quality and maturity, which, at the beginning of that cycle, few expected.
The 'Prediction' in Budapest
When did he first think that the team in that lineup could go so far?
– That happened during the World Championships in Budapest 2022, where we defeated Serbia in the quarterfinals, but lost to Spain in the semifinals and for third place to Greece. We did lose, but I had a feeling that we were very close to those teams. Then, it helped us that the next European Championship was played at home in the incredible atmosphere of Spaladium. When we overcame the barrier to reach the final, with that kind of audience, we couldn't lose that final. Split lifted us up to start earning respect from others and to realize our potential.
Loren's father Elvis was also a talented water polo player and a national team player who won a European silver medal. However, in terms of the number of medals with the national team, the son has surpassed the father.
– This happened several years ago, as I won the gold at my first major competition, which was the World Championship in 2017. Of course, in a different role than the current one.
Considering that dad Fatović, now coach of Barceloneta, was the coach of Australia for years, how many times did they face each other?
– During his tenure, we played against Australia five or six times, and we won most of the time. But they beat us at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, in the group stage, and then at the World Cup in Berlin.
What is it like to compete against a team led by your own father?
– He doesn't play, and then I have no contact with him. Because when I play against anyone, I don't pay attention to the opposing coach. If he were in the water, it would be different. We wouldn't talk during those 32 minutes, and after someone wins, we joke. There's nothing special about it.
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
As a native of Dubrovnik, Fatović is now a key player for the Croatian champion, Split's Jadran. How did he feel when he left his home club for a competitive one?
– At first, it might sound strange, but that also helped me play at this level this year. Not because I was unhappy in Jug. On the contrary, I was respected, the captain there, but it was good for me to step out of my comfort zone. I spent 10 years at Jug, from the youngest player to captain, and my whole development took place there, and when you come to a new club, you have new motivation. It's important to step out of your comfort zone sometimes because when an athlete feels too comfortable, they can lose motivation, unlike somewhere else where there is always something new.
The new Jadran team this summer saw the departure of many players.
– Considering the significant departures, it was thought that we wouldn't advance from the Champions League group with Ferencvaros and Radnički from Kragujevac, but we made it to the quarterfinals. When you lose nine players, the team is, logically, different, but all the boys who came deserve to be there. I think we are competitive and hope for at least one trophy.
To achieve that, they will have to survive a very busy season in terms of the number of matches.
– We don't even have time for training, let alone preparing for the game. For example, the Wednesday before, we played the Champions League against Dinamo Tbilisi, on Saturday the Regional League against Primorje, and on Tuesday we played the Cup semifinal against Mladost, then the final against Jug the next day.
Players Are the Least Important
In January, he faces national team games in the World Cup, but under different rules.
– This is crazy, and I hope it won't happen again. The World Cup is played under new rules, then we return to the club and play the rest of the season under the old rules. Players should, I guess, be the most important in every sport, but apparently, we have no say.
What does he think of the new rules? About the shortened attack time from 30 to 25 seconds, the reduced exclusion time, the shortened second attack after a blocked ball? The intention is clearly to speed up the game.
– In my opinion, the rules didn't need to be changed, it was completely unnecessary. This is the opinion of most people in water polo, except those on the side changing the rules. Considering that in Paris the arena was full of fans, I saw no reason for changes there. Of all that, only that video challenge seems sensible to me. I would like everything to be reviewed in the last minute.
