Former Spanish international Felipe Perrone has outlined his ambitions to make water polo more accessible, support developing nations and improve the sport’s international competitions.

The two-time world champion retired following Spain’s gold medal triumph at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, before taking up his position as World Aquatics’ High Performance and Development Officer in September 2025.

In a recent interview with World Aquatics, Perrone discussed the progress already being made and several projects planned for the future of the sport.

Supporting developing water polo nations

One of Perrone’s priorities has been expanding opportunities for athletes from countries with less established water polo programmes.

A scholarship initiative, originally proposed by Perrone and Serbian legend Filip Filipovic in 2024, is now supporting 20 athletes from nations including South Africa, Colombia and Singapore, allowing them to train and compete with European clubs.

Perrone described the initiative as a significant success, highlighting the opportunities it has created for athletes who might otherwise struggle to access elite-level competition.

Since taking up his position, he has also participated in development activities across Australia, Colombia, Ghana, China, the United States, Belgium and Portugal.

Reflecting on his experiences, Perrone highlighted the determination of young athletes despite limited resources.

“Seeing children in Ghana creating goals with stones and sticks just to play,” he recalled, describing one of the experiences that has stayed with him.

New formats and education programmes

Perrone confirmed that World Aquatics is working on its first Water Polo Coach Certification Programme, alongside continued development of Water Polo 4×4.

The smaller-sided discipline is intended to make the sport more accessible in countries where swimming pool availability and player numbers present significant challenges.

At the elite level, World Aquatics is also reviewing competition formats, regulations, referee evaluation systems, ranking systems and the international calendar.

Perrone believes these changes are important steps towards improving water polo at every level, although he acknowledges that significant work remains.

The importance of media and promotion

The former Spain captain also stressed that the responsibility for growing water polo extends beyond international governing bodies.

“I believe we all share the responsibility to help water polo grow,” Perrone told World Aquatics.

He highlighted the work of Australian international Tilly Kearns on social media, Hungarian player Vince Vigvari through his YouTube videos, and independent water polo media channels in helping the sport reach new audiences.

Perrone also called for greater unity within the international water polo community, believing that the cooperation seen between teammates in the pool should extend to those working to develop the sport outside it.

His wider message was that water polo must remain open to change, with athletes, coaches, federations and media organisations all having an important role to play.

Based on an interview by Russell McKinnon for World Aquatics.

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