Chaz Poot began his journey into the water as a child after winning a state gold medal in nippers. At the start of his high school career, the 14-year-old Cronulla local took up water polo as it was the perfect option for a summer sport that involved water.
After many years of developing as an athlete through the Sutherland Shire Water Polo Association and the NSW Institute of Sport, Chaz finally got his chance to shine for his country at the 2016 Junior World Championships.
Playing in all seven games for Australia and scoring 12 goals in the process, Chaz established himself as a key player for Australia’s juniors.
In 2018, he achieved further success domestically, this time winning the Australian Water Polo League with the Sydney University Lions.
As time passed and the pandemic passed, Chaz made his senior international debut at the 2022 FINA World League Intercontinental Cup, but Australia lost 7-6 to the United States in the final, finishing as runners-up.
After a successful career with the Sharks, Chaz played in 17 World Championship games in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and also competed in the 2023 FINA World Cup in Los Angeles.
After becoming a key player for the Aussie Sharks, Chaz had the opportunity to move overseas and played for Barcelona’s Spanish side CN Santo Andreu.
It wasn’t without its challenges as Chaz had to overcome not one but two stress fractures in his back.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, a statement states that Chaz and the Sharks defeated defending Olympic champions Serbia, hosts France and Hungary in the group stage.
Australia finished second in its group and advanced to the men’s Olympic quarter-finals for the first time since the 2012 London Games.
After losing in the penalty shootout to the United States in the quarterfinals, the Sharks fell from 5th to 8th place, moving up from 9th place overall as a team at the Tokyo 2020 Games to 8th place.
Australian dual water polo Olympian John Cotterill is Chaz’s sporting hero.
