Walter Paolo's training philosophy is successful... here's just one story.....

(from Victoria Times Colonist, October 2000)

Olympic connections have local water polo club bursting with pride

By Cleve Dheensaw

Times colonist sports staff

And you thought it was only that It's A Small World song from Disneyland that infuriatingly hangs around long after the moment.  If Slim Dusty's Waltzing Matilda from the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics closing ceremony is still jangling around in your head, imagine what it's like for Saanich Water Polo School head coach and technical director Ferenc Vindisch.

     The Saanich club - run by Ferenc Vindisch and wife and general-manager Gabi Vindisch - has close connections to an incredible 20 gold-medalist athletes from the Sydney Olympics.  "We're on such a high," says Ferenc Vindisch.  "We're so pumped that we don't even know how to absorb all this."

     Simon Whitfield, Canada's triathlon golden boy from Sydney and big water polo fan, is secretary of the Saanich Water Polo School (SWPS).  Whitfield's swim coach, Neil Harvey, is also swim coach for the SWPS.

     Three of Vindisch's former youth players from his native country - Tamás Kásás, Bulcsú Székely and Attila Vári - were members of the gold medalist Hungarian Men's Water polo team in the Sydney Olympics.  "I phoned them yesterday and we shared memories," said Vindisch, who coached the three from ages 10 to 14 and who plans to have the trio come to Victoria for a clinic in February. 

Then there's the 16 members of the Sydney Olympic Gold-medalist Australian Women's Water Polo team, which were hosted by the Vindisches and their SWPS players during a training camp in May at Saanich Place.  And this golden autumn continues unabated for the Saanich club.  The mentor for both the Sydney Olympic gold-medalist Aussie Women's and Hungarian Men's team coaches (Denes Kemeny and Istvan Gorgenyi) is Rezso Gallov, the former federal minister of sport for Hungary and godfather of Hungarian Water Polo.

Gallov also happens to be Gaby Vindisch's father and will join SWPS coaching staff later this month at Saanich Place.  Any more of an Olympian Hungarian connection and they'll have to change high tea at the Empress to high goulash.  "It's been a golden touch for this very fortunate little Water Polo school in the heart of Victoria," says Gaby Vindisch.

It comes with a long-term purpose.  Much as he helped spin Olympic gold in Sydney for Hungary through the trio of youth players he developed, Ferenc Vindisch is predicting up to four emerging splashers will be ready for Canadian colors at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Benefit from the World Class Training techniques as taught by Ferenc Vindisch!!  Athletes and coaches are invited to apply for the Hungarian Style Boot Camp

JULY 4 - 9, 2008
Commonwealth Games Pool, Victoria, Canada

Sanctioned by Water Polo Canada, this Co-Ed International camp is designed for competitive Water Polo athletes and coaches who would like to experience unique Hungarian style training right here in North America. Participation is limited  in order to ensure quality training.

Full Details and Online Application