Alstonville water polo player Francis Rupnik has been representing Queensland in the sport for the last three years and has a vision to make it to the Olympics.
Francis has found the time to train with the Barracudas, one of Brisbane’s strongest clubs, after coming through the ranks with Alstonville and playing for the Queensland team.
In December his U/18 Barracudas squad not only won their section of the Queensland Club State Titles but they also came third in the open section of the competition.
He is setting his eyes on a Pan Pacific competition in New Zealand that will include that country’s top club sides, as well as representative sides from the east coast of Australia.
But he wants to go all the way.
‘I’d love to play at the highest level possible, I’d love to play at the Olympics and for the national team,’ Francis said.
Francis’s grandfather was a top player with Slovenia, and toured with the team when they were here for the 1956 Olympics. He never went home. In turn Francis was introduced to the sport by his father.
He also had great local support from the Alstonville juniors and Far North Coast Waterpolo.
