We bring you the first reactions from this year’s Total 7 players.
Maggie Steffens (USA)
Driver in Total 7 Team for 2021 | USA National Player
"Wow! Thank you so much! To be amongst these legendary players is such an honor and very humbling. These players inspire me, challenge me, and motivate me - they are a huge reason I keep growing, keep playing and keep loving the game. I am so blessed to get to play side by side with Maddie and Ashleigh, whom make the game so much easier for their teammates (lucky me and Team USA!!!) and are continuing to change the game for the better. Maddie is one of the greatest threats of all time offensively and defensively, such a selfless teammate, and was by far the best player of 2022… and I have no doubt she will continue to be moving forward! I’ve also been lucky to play with Keszi, Parkes, and Espar who truly make the game more FUN for their teammates and a nightmare for their opponents! Simone has shown the world who she is with no fear and I look forward to see where she takes this sport in years to come! I would LOVE to play with this group all together one day… it would be an honor :)"
Rita Keszthelyi-Nagy (HUN)
Driver in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Hungarian National Player
"First of all I would like to thank the expert jury and team captains for the vote. It is such an honour to be part of the top7 players of the world even if there are so many more players who would deserve this. Congratulations to all of the players who were competing these hard two years and never gave up on their dream."
Simone van der Kraast (NED)
Right winger in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Dutch National Player
"What a nice surprise that I was selected for this. I am happy that I was able to participate with the Dutch team in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It's also nice that I was able to play well, also thanks to my teammates. As extra, it was really nice to see that I was allowed to come in 3 from Total Waterpolo and that I was chosen by expert coaches, team captains and the public for Total7 'All-star' team. All top players together, nice to be next to them. Thanks to my family, friends and everyone who supported the Dutch team and wished us the best ❤️."
Anni Espar (ESP)
Driver in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Spanish National Player
"It is a huge honor to be selected among the best players in the world. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my amazing team who helped me become the player I am today day after day."
Rebecca Parkes (HUN)
Center forward in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Spanish National Player
"First I would like to say thank you very much for putting this all together. You guys do a great job getting water polo the recognition it deserves and I am very honored to be a part of the total 7. It has been one of my biggest goals to be amongst the best players in the world! Of course without the help of all my teammates and coaches I would not be where I am, lastly I’d like to thank my family and my fiancé for helping me be in a good mind space to be able to perform for my club and country without them I wouldn’t be where I am the are the best support I could ever ask for. My unimaginable dreams are becoming reality and it only makes me want to see where I will be in another year and so on."
Maddie Musselman (USA)
Total Player 2021 | USA National Player
"I’m humbled and honored to be named Total Player of the Year for 2021 amongst such an amazing pool of athletes. A huge thank you to my teammates, coaches, my family, and everyone cheering for Team USA for their support and guidance over the past year."
Dusko Pijetlovic (SRB)
Center forward in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Serbian National Player
"It's a huge honor and pleasure to be recognized in your sport, especially at that level and by a respected water polo website like Total Waterpolo. I'm even more honored that I was chosen by people who have proven to be experts in my sport. I'd like to thank them for that, as well as the Total Waterpolo website for such a prestigious recognition."
Angelos Vlachopoulos (GRE)
Driver in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Greek National Player
"Heyyy thank you very much! I want to thank everyone for voting for me. Also I want to thank my teammates and coaches in Brescia and the national team.. Was an amazing year that I'll never forget!"
Branislav Mitrovic (SRB)
Goalkeeper in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Serbian National Player
"The outcome of the voting for the award confirms the quality of the Serbian national team. As for my four teammates picked for the best team, the Olympic gold medal was a crown of their outstanding seasons that started in national and European competitions for clubs. Dusan Mandic won the Champions League and was voted the MVP of the Final Eight. That is perhaps the crucial factor in why he won first place. Filip Filipovic and Dusko Pijetlovic gave enormous contributions to Szolnok’s successes in the previous season. Nikola Jaksic continues proving that he is an excellent all-rounder. He grows into one of the best players in the world. I am pleased to have been chosen as the best goalkeeper, particularly because the jury was composed of water polo experts. This is recognition for my many years of work. However, it isn’t only my reward, but the Serbian national team’s defense award."
Stylianos Argyropoulos (GRE)
Driver in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Greek National Player
"It's an honor to be voted to the 7 best players in the world, there were amazing names in this voting and be one of the "chosen" ones is something unique."
Nikola Jaksic (SRB)
Center back in Total 7 Team for 2021 | Serbian National Player
I am honored to be chosen in the best team in the world and I hope to justify that election in the upcoming years, but also to improve my game to reach the level of the best player in the world. I am really glad to receive this recognition."
Dusan Mandic (SRB)
Total Player 2021 | Serbian National Player
"I'm honoured to be selected for the best water polo player in 2021 in the selection of the Total Waterpolo portal. I want to thank all the coaches, captains, media and the audience who voted for me. This award is a team victory, and my encouragement to do my best in the pool in the future!
I owe a special thanks to my former club, Pro Recco, teammates and coach Gabi Hernandez, with whom I started this year with the title of club European champion in Belgrade.
A big thank you to all my teammates in the Serbian national team led by captain Filip Filipović and coach Deki Savić, as well as people from the Water Polo Federation of Serbia, for winning gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and for holding on as a team and bravely until the very end!
It is the family that is my biggest support all the time and motivation to fight for new trophies! I wish the Total Waterpolo portal many more years of successful work in the world of water polo and that you continue to work on the promotion of our wonderful sport, just like all these years so far!"
