On the Croatian water polo team, absolute unit. One admirer tweeted, “This is what elite athletic excellence looks like,” after spotting Croatian water polo player Josip Vrlic’s physique during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The majority of spectators are used to watching competitors in sports like running and climbing who have sinewy, nimble physiques like Greek gods with muscles that appear to be carved out of granite, or swimmers competing in other events. But mastering water polo calls for a very different strategy.
Vrlic is a true tank of a man, standing 1.98 meters tall and weighing 135 kg. He has the perfect body type for his activity. But other online users quickly assumed that his protruding belly and high body fat percentage were signs of indolence, calling him the event’s lone “natural” athlete. One ignorant fan on X questioned, “How is it possible to stay this fat while treading water for a living?” without realising that the star’s big waist is exactly what he needs to succeed.
Olympics fans marveled at the “dad bod” of the Croatian water polo star after images of his imposing physique went viral on social media
credits: Olympic Games Paris 2024
Polo, dubbed the “Greco-Roman wrestling” of water sports by some, calls for quick bursts of explosive energy interspersed with slower motion. Since the discipline is as much about swimming as it is about collision, moving is just as vital as not being able to move at all.
“Water polo used to be more horizontal with counters and driving, but it’s just such a vertical sport now body-position wise,” said Matt Swanson, the UCLA water polo coach and two-time NCAA player of the year, in an interview with Swimming World Magazine. It was common for athletes to specialise in both swimming and polo in the 1970s. However, as the sports have developed throughout time, participants have felt the need to specialise, and as a result, their bodies have begun to take on distinct features. For polo experts, bulk, power, and stamina are essential. Players in the modern era are larger, more physically built, and have far greater shooting abilities. These days, leg strength is essential for both attacking and defensive play.
The anticipation ahead of Vrlic’s match had netizens joking, laughing, and even admiring the athlete’s physique
credits: Olympic Games Paris 2024
Absolute unit on the Croatian Water Polo squad. This is what elite athletic excellence looks like. pic.twitter.com/pRObFt6xvd
— Lomez (@L0m3z) August 8, 2024
“Finally, dadbod representation,” wrote one fan on X.
“Bro must be consuming insane calories. Water polo is brutal,” argued another.
“That unit probably beats you in every athletic mode possible,” a user stated.
The physicality of water polo is beyond the comprehension of most observers. It appears to be handball from above the sea. A more astute viewer described it as “like Greco-Roman wrestling below the water line.” Another said, “Well, to be fair, buoyancy is an asset in water polo.”
Image credits: cro_wp
Women, in particular, were quick to recognize the athlete’s body in ways unrelated to the sport.
“I don’t care what y’all say, this build is hot,” said one fan.
Another person said, “This is literally the ideal man imo.” One user said, “This is the perfect man’s body.” “I’ve fallen in love. Another said, “I need that.” The Croatian athlete began his career in Brazil, a Latin American nation, and has represented both his native country and Brazil at the Olympics in Rio. This Friday, August 9, Vrlic and his team will play Hungary in the semifinals. If they win, they might play Serbia for the gold medal. Serbia defeated Team USA earlier today, convincingly, 10-to-6.
