The World’s Greatest Athletic Club
Today the Games of the XXXIII Olympic Games came to an epic conclusion, epic not solely due to the extravaganza of the Closing Ceremony, but also because of the superb victory of the US men’s water polo team in this morning’s bronze medal match. The American men had not been in striking distance of an Olympic medal since 2008 in Beijing, when they made the final and claimed the silver medal. (As I recall, that was also on the last day of competition). Today’s contest was an inevitably hard fought tussle with Hungary, bringing with it the possibility of a salve for the wound of yesterday’s heartbreaking women’s loss, also in the bronze medal round.
As much of the city prepared to celebrate the end of these Games, the US men – with NYAC players Alex Obert, Hannes Daube, Max Irving and Alex Bowen – headed for the water polo venue intent on having something to celebrate when the party kicked off this evening. Without question, they made it a contest for the ages, the teams going neck and neck just about every step of the way.
In the first eight minute quarter, it was end to end throughout, with both teams trading goals and reaching the first break with 3-2 on the board, advantage USA. The stats reflected the scoreline, with the USA having 58% of possession; not overpowering, but significant. The second quarter saw more of the same, though with tighter defense at both ends restricting the teams to one goal apiece; so 4-3 at half way. Clearly, neither Hungary nor the US was taking any risks, the emphasis being on applying pressure and waiting for the other guys to slip up. At this level, with these two teams, that wasn’t going to happen easily.
Into the third period, it was more of the same: aggression shrouded in tactical play that kept scoring low, just two apiece, though for the first time Hungary edged into a one-goal lead. Denes Varga made it 4-4 after just 32 seconds of the third; then Vince Pal Vigvari notched another one, giving the Hungarians the upper hand for the first time. Ben Hallock (non-NYAC) and Max Irving set things to rights once again, however, leaving the score at 6-5 in the USA’s favor with one quarter remaining. It was patently clear that this was going to be a war to the final whistle. As it transpired, even then the clash was not over.
Just 49 seconds into the fourth, Hungary’s Adam Nagy made it 6-6. A bad time for the US to give up the momentum. Two and a half minutes later, another Hungarian missile found the back of the net and, all of a sudden, those US bronze medals had become distinctly more remote. Then another one. Three Hungarian goals with no US response; a hopeful situation had quickly become serious, if not dire. With less than three and a half minutes remaining and with Hungary carrying a two goal advantage, 8-6, you could almost hear the champagne corks popping in Budapest.
The US team saw it differently. Three and a half minutes was three and a half minutes in which to turn things around. And they did. Alex Bowen would not be denied when he fired in a blistering shot with 2:59 remaining. Exactly one minute later, Hannes Daube did the same, bringing the score to 8-8. Hungary responded, pressing hard against the US goal and firing three shots in the last minute; but, all missed or were saved. Thus, at full time, after a bruising, monumental battle, it came down to penalties, best of five. Tense is a good word, but it falls short right here.
The NYAC’s Daube took the first shot and scored. Hungary missed. The NYAC’s Max Irving took the second. Hungary missed. The NYAC’s Alex Bowen took the third. Hungary missed. And it was all over. A magnificent game, so equally matched and bravely fought, but with the result that all NYAC members craved.
“Right now, I’m lost for words,” stated Daube, who played magnificently throughout this tournament. “I’m just really proud of each of the guys who have been involved in this journey. To go home with the bronze medal, it’s something I have dreamed of since I was a little kid. It’s not an individual sport. It takes each and every one of us to believe. We put in the work and the work paid off. I’m excited to come home with the bronze.”
It is as exciting for the NYAC as it is for Daube and his three fellow NYAC members, Obert, Bowen and Irving. Their four bronze medals brings the NYAC tally from these Games to 28, broken down as follows: nine gold, 12 silver and seven bronze. The Club has only seen numbers that high once before, in the Games in St Louis in 1904, an Olympics spread over multiple months, with many competitions being merely inter-club, and with some competitors not realizing they were competing in an Olympic Games. A strong case may be made, therefore, that these Games of the XXXIII Olympiad are the most successful in NYAC history. Unquestionably, they have seen highlights to compare with any that have gone before, from Sarah Hildebrandt’s magnificent wrestling gold medal, to the unstoppable wave of success of the Club’s swimmers to Tara Davis-Woodhall’s domination of the long jump and so many more, too many to relive here. However, reliving and celebrating all of those successes is exactly what we will be doing on November 18th when all of our Olympians gather in the City House for what will be an All Sports Dinner unlike any other, one not to be missed and never to be forgotten.
Prior to that, of course, we have the Paralympic Games, which begin on August 28th and which will feature NYAC athletes Mikey Brannigan, Hunter Woodhall (Tara Davis-Woodhall’s husband), Grace Norman and the legendary Tatyana McFadden. We will follow all of their competitive outings on our dedicated micro site, just as we have followed all of our Olympians throughout the now-ended Olympic Games.
It is a bitter-sweet moment when the Olympic Games come to an end. There is always the lingering sentiment that this was a special moment in time, one to be treasured, remembered and not readily permitted to slip away. As time passes, of course, we may inevitably look forward as well as back, forward meaning toward Los Angeles 2028. (With those Games, the USA will become the only nation to have hosted the Summer Games five times: 1904 St Louis; 1932 Los Angeles; 1984 Los Angeles; 1996 Atlanta; 2024 Los Angeles). And, most certainly, on that occasion the New York Athletic Club will seek to do what it has always done since before the instigation of the Modern Olympic Games: strive for excellence.
As the curtain came down on the Paris Olympic Games, as the NYAC’s Nick Mead carried the US flag into the Olympic Stadium, and as IOC President Thomas Bach presided over the passing of the Olympic flag from Paris to Los Angeles, all Club members may reflect on a Games that saw the New York Athletic Club at its finest. Those members may also take pride – enormous pride – in the fact that these athletes, our athletes, make this the greatest athletic club in the world.