Spa Talk 7.

I arrived half an hour early for the aquafit class at the neighborhood YMCA. I often go to the outdoor pool and swim lengths until the class starts. Today, the lanes were occupied so I went to the spas.

There was no one there and one of them was closed for maintenance. So, I chose the other one, set the jets on maximum time and placed myself comfortably in front of the strongest jet.

Soon the spa started to fill up with people from the previous aquafit class which was ending. That class is taught by M., a tall guy, in good shape, his body covered in tattoos.

“He has a very loud voice and never uses a mike,” someone remarked. “No,” I said, he doesn’t have to, but the people in his class need ear protectors. His delivery is like that of a sergeant major in boot camp.”

Two elderly ladies are seated opposite me. They only talk to each other, speaking in muffled voices; I can’t hear what they are saying.

A few gentlemen arrive. A tall man, swimmers build, came from his swim in the outdoor pool. Two others came to warm up in the balmy 100°F water of the spa before joining, as I am, the next aquafit class. Both of them are tall. They can stand at the center of the indoor pool which is five and a half foot deep, with their heads above the water. Another lady joins us. The spa now has seven people, the maximum number.

“Any games coming up?” one of the tall men, who has a ponytail, asks of the swimmer. “Oh yes, we still keep a competition going with our team in a senior league,” he says. “We’re discussing whether we should have a team for the 2027 event.”

I start to grasp that he’s talking about waterpolo, and not just a local or regional team, but a national team that participates in Olympics or another world tournament. He was on the team for 70+ seniors in 2023, and they just missed winning the gold medal. In 2027, most of those players would qualify for the 75+ senior category. But they aren’t sure whether they want to do it. “We don’t have a broad bench,” he clarifies. A broad bench is a term used in sports on land, as far as I know.

A lady of color would like to join us in the spa. The two elderly ladies, still busily talking, leave together to make room for the new arrival.

The waterpolo swimmer goes on and compares team USA with teams from other countries, the Germans, Slovakians, Australians. “The Germans are a class apart. The guys have played on a team all their lives and they have grown old together, moving on from one senior category to another. They can field, if you could use that term in waterpolo, a full team off fifteen players.” Our waterpolo player recalls that in the last major senior tournament he played in, Team USA had only twelve players. “So, there are the American swimmers, outmanned by their opponents.

And the Americans aren’t playing as well together as the other team. There may be five American swimmers in front of the net of their opponents, all trying to score on their own, including me. The Germans play so well together. They are like a finely tuned instrument, everyone playing their part, and the results show it.”

“What about refereeing the games,” asks the man with the ponytail. Pretty strict, our swimmer says.” “Yes, but they cannot see what goes on under the water surface,” remarks the other.” “They can, they have under-water cameras for surveillance. Major violations are registered. And penalized.”

“And then we have to travel to wherever the tournament is. Japan, Europe, Australia, says the swimmer.” “Do you have to pay for expenses yourself, flights, accommodation, food,” I ask. “Oh yes, there is verry little support from the national bodies. So, it’s doubtful whether we will do 2027. It may not be in the cards.”

“I’ll stick with tennis,” says the man with the ponytail. Everything is above board. And does your wife still compete,” he asks the swimmer. Apparently, she has been ranked nationally as well; I’m not sure if it’s in waterpolo or another sport.

We’re five minutes from the start of the aquafit class. I climb out of the spa, set the timer for the jets to zero, and make my way to the indoor pool to hand my pass to the instructor.

MvR – 7 november 2025. ✍️