Debbie Watson (water polo) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Debbie WatsonOAM |
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| Full name | Deborah Kathleen "Debbie" Watson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 September 1965 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Nationality |  Australia |
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| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Field player | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College(s) | University of Sydney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1983–2000
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Australia |
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Medal record
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Deborah Kathleen Watson (born on September 28, 1965, in Sydney) is a famous Australian former water polo player. Many people think she is one of the best female water polo players ever. She won gold medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 1986 World Aquatics Championships in Madrid.
Contents
Early Life and Water Polo Beginnings
Debbie Watson was born in Sydney, Australia. Before playing water polo, she enjoyed netball. Doctors later suggested she stop land sports because of injuries. This led her to join her school's water polo team.
Debbie Watson's Amazing Career
In 1983, Debbie Watson was chosen to play for Australia. She was only 17 years old when she first played internationally. This was at the 1983 FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup in Sainte-Foy, Canada. Her team finished in third place, earning a bronze medal.
Winning Gold Medals
Watson and the Australian team won a gold medal in 1984. This was at the FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup in Irvine, United States. When she was 20, Watson helped her team win gold again. This happened at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships in Madrid, Spain.
Leading the Team
Debbie Watson became the captain of the Australian team in 1991. She led the team until 1996. In 1993, she was voted the best player in the world. Her team won the FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup again in 1995. They had previously won silver in 1991.
Olympic Comeback and Historic Win
Watson retired from water polo in 1996. She was 30 years old at the time. But in 1997, women's water polo was added to the 2000 Summer Olympics. This exciting news made her decide to return to the sport.
At the Sydney Olympics, Australia played the United States in the final. Australia won the game 4-3. This meant Debbie Watson and her team won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for women's water polo. She became the first female player to win both an Olympic and a World Championship gold medal. At 34 years old, she was also one of the oldest Olympic champions in women's water polo.
Hall of Fame Recognitions
Debbie Watson has been honored many times for her achievements. In 2006, she was the first female water polo player to join the Australian Sports Hall of Fame. Two years later, in 2008, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In 2009, she also joined the Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame.
Other Appearances
In 1995, Debbie Watson also took part in the Gladiator Individual Sports Athletes Challenge.
Achievements and Awards
Olympic Games
- Gold medal: 2000 Sydney
World Championship
- Gold medal: 1986 Madrid
Water Polo World Cup
- Gold medals: 1984 Irvine, 1995 Sydney
- Silver medal: 1991 Long Beach
- Bronze medal: 1983 Sainte-Foy
Hall of Fame
- Australian Sports Hall of Fame: 2006
- International Swimming Hall of Fame: 2008
- Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame: 2009
See also
In Spanish: Debbie Watson para niños
- Australia women's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
- List of Olympic champions in women's water polo
- List of Olympic medalists in water polo (women)
- List of world champions in women's water polo
- List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo
- List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
