For USA water polo great Tony Azevedo, Rio 2016 will be both a homecoming and a potential farewell. This may be his last chance for the team captain, who was born in Rio de Janeiro 34 years ago to a Brazilian father and American mother, to lead the USA to their first ever Olympic gold in water polo. The Americans have finished second on three occasions, with Azevedo part of the team that picked up silver behind Hungary at Beijing 2008.
Team captain Azevedo says that the Games in his birthplace are going to be extra special, 20 years after his first introduction to the sport.
“It’s great being back in Rio as I have so many family members still here and they’ve all been calling me, saying they will be at the Games and coming to watch,” says Azevedo.
One of the leading members of something of a family dynasty, Azevedo’s father Rick is the current coach of the China women’s team and played for Brazil from 1973-81.
“It’s incredible having my father here at the same time and in the (Olympic) Village with me,” Azevedo says.
“It’s amazing for me to be playing and him coaching in the city where we were both born. It’s going to be very emotional for both of us.”
Tony Azevedo wants to make amends for the USA’s disappointing performance at London 2012, where they finished eighth (Photo: Getty Images/Michael Steele)
For USA water polo great Tony Azevedo, Rio 2016 will be both a homecoming and a potential farewell.
This may be his last chance for the team captain, who was born in Rio de Janeiro 34 years ago to a Brazilian father and American mother, to lead the USA to their first ever Olympic gold in water polo.
The Americans have finished second on three occasions, with Azevedo part of the team that picked up silver behind Hungary at Beijing 2008.
Azevedo has said that Rio 2016 will almost certainly be his last Olympic Games (Photo: Getty Images/ Sean M. Haffey)
2Return of the native
In the run-up to the Games, Azevedo shared some travel tips for Rio with Condé Nast Traveler. Among his recommendations for travellers are to walk up to Christ the Redeemer, check out the beach at Arpoador where Copacabana meets Ipanema, and to make use of the city’s extensive network of bicycle lanes.
For people looking for a break from the big city, Azevedo suggests the colonial town of Paraty. “I remember going a year ago and waking up every morning to monkeys.”
People with partying on their mind should find that the district of Lapa will meet all their needs.
“In some ways, Rio is very similar to LA: being outside and eating heathy are important, but we just eat healthily so we can drink all night.”
Azevedo says his late Rio-based grandfather was his biggest supporter during his career.
“He was a great man and lived right down by Copacabana beach.
“After those (1996) Games I said I wanted to be part of the Olympic team and my grandfather totally believed in me, so much so he started to call me ‘Tony 2000’.”
“It was really cute of him to name me that, especially when I made the Sydney (2000 Olympic Games) team. He went around telling everyone how he always knew I would make it.”
