Leighton leads British polo team into uncharted waters

Before her teens she was plonked behind the goal, under loose orders from her father – the respected Rotherham Metro coach Norman Leighton – to go and fetch the ball or get out of the way as it whizzed past her.

She finally decided to stop ducking and diving out of the way and join in when she was 13.

Now, 17 years on, the Rotherham woman will lead her country out at the Olympic water polo tournament at London 2012.

It is an honour that even a few years ago seemed beyond the realms of possibility. Water polo is as minority a sport as you can get in this country, but the arrival of the Olympics Games this summer gives it the chance to enjoy a rare moment in the spotlight.

Leighton’s progression through the ranks provides a window into water polo’s own development.

“I was probably taken down to watch a game of water polo straight from the maternity ward,” jokes the 30-year-old.

“I didn’t start playing until I was 13. Before then I used to sit behind the goal watching the action or getting hit by the ball.

“I started taking it seriously when I was 14 but even then it was all about playing for fun. I liked winning national championships with my friends and it was never about big international meets.

“The Olympics wasn’t even on the radar until about 2003.

“We realised if we wanted to compete with the best in the world we had to act like the best, and that involved setting up a high performance centre in Manchester.

“When we won the bid in 2005 that gave us a major focus. We got more funding and the drive to London 2012 began.

“Before London won the bid we never thought we were good enough to get that far. But it gave us a purpose.

“We didn’t have to qualify for the Olympics but we think we’re there on merit. We’ve improved so much over the last few years that we’re now ranked ninth in the world.”

Leighton’s GB team are recently back from a major tournament in Russia where they pushed the much-fancied hosts – who are their first Olympic opponents on July 30 – all the way.

They also ran the United States – favourites out of the eight competing nations this summer – close in the test event in London last month.

“The test event was special,” says Leighton. “Not only was it our first look at the pool but we’re not used to playing in front of thousands of fans.

“Sometimes in our sport it can be just your mum and dad who turn up to watch. So walking out into the pool area for our first game was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had.

“This whole thing is a new experience for us, and for me as captain to have this increased interest is exciting. I’m embracing it because it’s a chance to promote our sport. One of the things we want to get out of the Games is a legacy, to not have to tell people what water polo is about.

“Hopefully the fans will come to the Games and learn about the sport and then after the Olympics, more leisure centres will cater for water polo and more sports clubs will play it.”