Max Irving is preparing for the Paris Olympics and hopes to help the United States win its first medal since winning silver in 2008.
CALIFORNIA, USA — Throughout his water polo career, from growing up in Long Beach to playing for UCLA and the U.S. National Team, Max Irving has drawn inspiration from his father, Michael.
They all know what it's like to work in front of a hostile crowd.
Max Irving is preparing for the Paris Olympics and hopes to help the U.S. win its first medal since winning silver in 2008, while Michael Irving, a longtime male collegiate He serves as a basketball referee and is assigned to the NCAA Tournament this year as well.
“Just being able to see him and his professionalism and how focused he is when he's officiating a game is really inspiring for me,” Max Irving said. Ta. As long as he's able to do that, I can definitely do my best to continue that legacy at least underwater. ”
Making the most of his time in the Italian and Greek professional leagues, Irving became an integral part of the U.S. team. He scored 25 goals as the U.S. team won the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile and qualified for Paris. He collected 10 goals as the United States finished ninth at the world championships in Qatar last month.
“In 2017, he was with us for the first time… If you ask me if I'm going to be where I am now, I would give the wrong answer. I would say no,” said U.S. coach Dejan Udovic. said. “He's gotten really good.
“If Max isn't on this team and this roster, if Max isn't playing or he's not playing at the level he's supposed to be for us, it's not easy to replace him.”
Irving, 28, competed in his first Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, but there were no fans in the stands due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Irving, who has two brothers and a sister, should have plenty of support this time around.
“Watching Max compete live in the Olympics will be one of the greatest joys our family has ever had,” said Michael Irving.
Max Irving started playing water polo as part of his family's emphasis on staying active. He played baseball, football, and soccer before going to a community college summer camp that included several weeks of diving and water polo.
Several camp counselors told Michael and his wife, Kelly, that they thought Max would be a good fit for water polo and suggested a local club. On Max's mother's side, he had two cousins who played water polo.
“I remember going to some of their games,” he said. “I was totally interested in the game because I thought it was a cool mix of basketball, soccer, and a little bit of ice hockey with exclusions and penalties,” Box said. “
Michael Irving said Max “found his calling in water polo.” He was a three-time All-American at UCLA and helped the Bruins win his three All-American titles. The 6-foot-1 attacker still ranks among the vaunted program's career leaders with 102 assists, 105 steals and 40 field blocks.
Along the way, through his time with the U.S. team and playing overseas, he has also become an advocate for increasing diversity in water polo, something that seems to be an eternal challenge for the sport. Although he is the only black man on the national team, he said there are signs of progress at the lower levels.
“There's definitely a lot more diversity. …To a level where it's completely engaging and inclusive? That's what we're trying to do,” he said.
Michael Irving, who played college basketball at Rice University and got into officiating through a friend, said Max knew nothing about water polo when he started playing. He helped record Max's games so his son could watch them later.
He also used his refereeing perspective to help Max focus on his play.
“I can share with Max the discomfort that officials may have about player misconduct, coach misconduct or nagging,” he said. “Tell him, and control what you can control. If you worry about the authorities, you're wasting your effort and energy.”
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