For Foteini Tricha, the 2025 Women’s World Championships in Singapore were the perfect stage.

Greece’s attacking star left the tournament as a world champion, the tournament’s best player, and the competition’s top goal scorer. Yet, when reflecting on her achievements, she speaks first about the team and the journey that brought them there.

“I enjoyed every moment of the tournament,” she said. “I’m really proud and happy about my team winning. We worked a lot and each of us performed really good.”

“We Set an Example for Young Girls and Boys”

Greece’s back-to-back world titles (World Cup and World Championships in 2025) mark a defining moment for women’s water polo in the country, and Tricha is keenly aware of the broader significance.

“Yes of course and this is really important,” she explained. “We set an example for young girls and boys. If we can at least inspire a few of them to get into sports generally it means a lot.”

“We Were Enjoying the Moment While Trying to Stay Calm”

In the gold medal match, Greece looked in control from the early stages. Even as the world title came within reach, Tricha and her teammates focused on the task at hand.

“I was very focused on what I had to do, as every one of my teammates,” she said. “We were trying to perform in the best way possible. We were feeling confident about the game from the beginning. We were mentally prepared for that before it happened so we were enjoying the moment while trying to stay calm until the end.”

“Maria’s Goal Was Inspiring”

One of the defining moments of the tournament came in the quarter-finals against Australia, when Maria Myriokefalitaki’s dramatic late goal sent Greece into the semis.

“Maria is a great player,” Tricha said. “This was the most difficult game of the tournament. Australia is a really strong team and we knew that. Maria’s goal was inspiring, it secured the win and we felt really happy cause getting into the semi finals gave us the chance to show more as a team.”

“We Improved as a Team Game by Game”

The path to gold began with a setback. Greece’s opening loss to Hungary could have derailed the campaign, but instead became a turning point.

“We were just focusing on the next game,” Tricha explained. “In a big tournament like that you can’t afford to dwell over a loss. You just focus on the next goal. That was the key. We improved as a team game by game, we became solid. We analysed Hungary in the best way possible and we ended up being prepared for what we were gonna face.”

“Personal Success Shows You’re at Your Best When the Team Needs You”

Tricha’s performances earned her the tournament MVP, but she sees the award as proof of collective strength rather than individual glory.

“Personal success shows that you’re at your best when the team needs you,” she said. “It’s the most important thing. And this sums it all up!”

“We All Train Hard and Aim Very High”

Asked what makes this Greek team so special, Tricha points to a mix of ambition and long-term chemistry.

“I think it’s the hunger for success,” she said. “We all train hard and aim very high. By playing many years together we get to know each other better in and out of the pool and this helps the team grow.”

“We Can Always Look Up to Him”

For all their talent in the water, Greece’s resurgence has also been guided from the deck. Charis Pavlidis took charge after the Paris Olympics and has now led the team to back-to-back world titles. Tricha credits his influence as a key factor in their success.

“He’s a great coach and he has proven that many times in the past,” she said. “We’re all aware of that and this inspires us and makes us feel confident. We can always look up to him when we’re in a rough spot during a game and be sure that he’ll give the team the solution it needs.”

“What Makes an Athlete Great Is Duration”

At just 23, Tricha has already reached the pinnacle of the sport, but her motivation to keep improving is clear.

“What makes an athlete great is duration,” she said. “So in order to be the best you always have to improve and work harder, especially after a success. That’s my motivation.”

Fun Moments Behind the Gold

Even amidst the intensity of the competition, Tricha’s memories of Singapore are filled with joy and emotion.

When the final buzzer sounded, her first thought was simple: “Certainty. I believed in my team from the first moment.”

The celebrations that followed were equally unforgettable. “Getting into the changing rooms we put a certain song we were listening to during the whole tournament and we were dancing. It was really fun.”

Asked about the team’s biggest joker, she laughed: “Eirini Ninou is a person that makes me laugh very hard, so I’ll choose her. She’s an amazing person.”

If she could freeze one moment in time, it would be the aftermath of the final: “Singing loudly the national anthem with my teammates after the final and feeling proud.”

And away from the pool, the first messages she received left her emotional. “My family’s messages made me feel really happy, I was touched by them. I owe them a lot and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

“We Understand We Made History for Our Country”

With back-to-back world titles, Greece has achieved something truly historic, though for Tricha, it is still sinking in.

“I don’t think it’s something that you realize emotionally. For me at least it’s like that,” she admitted. “We understand we made history for our country and we’re really proud of that. However, we want to keep it going and keep up the good work and performances.”

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