JOSEPH KAYES

The Samoan Slammer 

Meet Joseph Kayes, the Kiwi born Samoan representing Australia at the Rio Olympics in .... wait for it .... Water Polo!   Seeing as many Samoans had their dreams shattered earlier in the week thinking Team Samoa had won a Gold Medal, we thought we'd introduce another medal contender they can put their hope in because well, hope is a beautiful thing!

 

5 things you should know about Joe:

#1 FAMILY - His grandparents are from Sapapali'i, Savaii in Samoa and made the move to NZ in the '60s.  His mother Dorcas is one of 8 children & married a kiwi - Paul Kayes.  Joe has 1 brother & sister.

 

#2  GROWING UP - He grew up in Tauranga, New Zealand and went to Mt Maunganui Intermediate & Mt Maunganui College.  He was a swimmer and surf lifesaver and first started playing Water Polo in Intermediate.  His father Paul built the pool at Bay of Plenty Polytech & also founded the Tauranga Water Polo Club in 2002.

 

#3 DISCOVERED - Joe made the Kiwi Youth team & in 2007 played a touring team from Hungary where he was discovered by a couple of Hungarian Water Polo legends who were coaching the team at the time.  They invited Joe to Hungary and after playing in Perth for a season he went up and was signed to the Szeged Club in Hungary as a full professional.  He stayed there for 4 seasons and was mentored by 3 time Olympic Gold winner Tamas Molnar.

 

 

#4  AUSTRALIA - Joe made the move to play for Australia in order to compete at the Olympics.  Oceania are only given one qualifying spot and as Joe put it "without being rude to New Zealand, there is zero chance that they're going to ever take that from Australia".   He was finally given FINA International clearance to play for Australia in May this year.  His family supports him playing for Australia and he said of kiwis "People on that side of the Tasman understood that for me to become my best and get to an Olympics and fulfil those dreams I had to become an Australian.  I'm representing both countries in a way"

#5 RIO OLYMPICS - Joe and his Australian team are currently playing the preliminary rounds and are doing well so far with only 1 loss to Brazil.  With their win against Japan this morning they're in a good position to make the Quarter Finals with 2 games to go.  

Go Joe!  If you & your Australian team win a medal we'll be claiming it for Samoa too ;)

 

Photo Credit:  Getty Images 

Suggested Links - 

Our Top 3 Moments at the Rio Olympics Opening

Fiji's Olympic Hopeful Winston Hill on his Road to Rio