Family Advantage In Pool

More than 10 sibling pairs compete, using natural chemistry to elevate performance

- David Lee

The fluid passing and instinctive shooting in the pool may have come after hours of training, but for some of the world-class water polo players at the July 11-Aug 3 World Aquatics Championships (WCH), such telepathy comes naturally because they are siblings.

Greece's Vasiliki Plevritou told The Straits Times the special understanding she has with her 28-year-old sister Eleftheria definitely came into play when they helped their country win the Women's Water Polo World Cup in April. They also had an "amazing" experience playing at the Paris Olympics with 30-year-old sister Margarita, who has since retired.

Vasiliki, 27, said: "With one look, you just know what your sibling will do without them telling you, and the moves are automatic."

Chase Dodd, part of the United States' Olympics bronze-winning men's team with his 19-year-old brother Ryde, felt that their partnership makes things better. The 22-year-old said: "We work really well together. We are like peanut butter and jelly: One without the other is good, but it's still not the same as when we are both put together."

Interestingly, there are more than 10 sets of siblings competing across the men and women's competitions at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

These include sisters Ariadna and Elena Ruiz representing women's Olympic champions Spain and Singapore's SEA Games silver medallist sisters Koh Xiao Li and Koh Ting Ting.