Polo Bears Super Stars

Gail Miller	Gail Miller won a gold medal for Australia in women’s water polo at Sydney 2000. From Queensland, the right-handed driver excelled in defence during the tournament, being tied for second on the team for steals. The Aussies responded wonderfully to the fervent hometown support in Sydney. It won four of its five preliminary round games, then scored two goals in the final 90 seconds of its semi-final against Russia to win 7-6. The gold medal final was even more dramatic, with the team beating the United States 4-3 on a goal by Yvette Higgins with 1.3 seconds remaining. Miller comes from a sporting family. She was joined on the Sydney 2000 team by her brother, Paul, a boxer, who won a 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medal. She is married to former rugby union star Ben Tune, who played 47 tests for the Wallabies. (Information fromhttp://corporate.olympics.com.au )
Naomi Castle	Naomi Castle won a gold medal for Australia in women’s water polo at Sydney 2000. The Queensland defender was a consistent contributor to the team as it advanced through the tournament. However, it was her goal scoring that proved most memorable. Castle scored in both of Australia’s final two games: its 7-6 win against Russia in the semi-final and then again in the unforgettable 4-3 victory over the United States in the gold medal final. Both goals were scored in the final two minutes of the respective matches, when the games were in the balance. The gold medal was ultimately decided by an Yvette Higgins goal with 1.3 seconds left. It was the first time women’s water polo had been played at an Olympics.(Information fromhttp://corporate.olympics.com.au ) Read More about Naomi's Brillliant Career
Nikkita Cuffe	Dual Olympian Nikita Cuffe won a bronze medal for Australia in women’s water polo in 2008. Cuffe, from Queensland made her Olympic debut in Athens, where the team placed fourth, losing the bronze medal final 6-5 to the United States. Having won the 2006 World Cup and a silver medal at the 2007 world championships, the team, coached by Greg McFadden, arrived in Beijing with strong prospects. The Aussies were to experience a pressure-packed Olympics. Of its six matches, one was decided by two goals, four by a single goal and the other one was tied. The bronze medal final against Hungary was decided in a penalty shoot-out, the final score being 12-11. The bronze was Australia’s second women’s water polo medal following its Sydney 2000 gold. (Information fromhttp://corporate.olympics.com.au )
Pietro Figlioli	Pietro Figlioli was part of Australia's Olympic squad for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was also a member of the Australian squad that finished 10th at the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne and won the bronze medal at the 2007 FINA Water Polo World League in Berlin. Figlioli is widely regarded as the fastest swimmer and shooter in world water polo. In 2006 he signed a 5-year contract with Italian club Pro Recco believed to be worth 6-figures each year. To date this is the best international contract ever secured by an Australian water polo player. In May 2009, Figlioli regarded as the most lethal shooter in the world, told Aussie Sharks head coach John Fox from Italy of his decision that a lucrative deal with Italian super club Pro Recco included becoming an Italian citizen.The man who can shoot a water polo ball at nearly 100km/h has played 152 senior internationals and will become one of the highest paid water polo stars in the world as the Italian league reduced its reliance on foreign talent from two to one player per team. (Information from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Figlioli)
Bronwen Knox	Bronwen Knox won a bronze medal for Australia in women’s water polo in 2008. The Queenslander was in tremendous form in Beijing. She scored 12 goals to be the third leading scorer in the tournament. This haul included three goals in Australia’s thrilling 12-11 bronze medal final defeat of Hungary. One of her goals was a well-taken penalty in the penalty shoot-out which decided the medal. The Aussies enjoyed a pressure-packed Olympics. Of its six matches, one was decided by two goals, four by a single goal and the other one was tied. The bronze was Australia’s second women’s water polo medal, following its Sydney 2000 gold.(Information fromhttp://corporate.olympics.com.au )