Break-out superstars and U20 World Championship bronze medalists, Chase and Ryder Dodd, brought their energy and enthusiasm to the latest episode of the Total Waterpolo Podcast.
Joining us for our 30th episode, these Team USA duo delved into their exhilarating journey representing the senior national team as teenagers, sharing their experiences in collegiate and high school water polo, and much more. Don’t miss out on the action-packed conversation, available for streaming on YouTube or through all major podcast platforms.
Beyond their achievements in the pool, it’s evident that the bond between the two brothers is extraordinary. In a heartwarming admission, Ryder expresses how Chase has been an inspiring figure in his life:
“My brother is one of my role models. Growing up with him he is someone I would always look up to. I want to be in his shoes, especially when he was at the World Champs, when he was playing in front of 4,000 people.”
Having played at junior international level on many occasions, both have now appeared in Dejan Ubovicic’s senior nation team. While Chase has had more prominent appearances, particularly at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, the contrast of playing in Hungary left a lasting impression on him:
“You go from that Intercontinental Cup (in Lima) where water polo isn’t the biggest, and then you go to Budapest and there’s 4,000 people in the stands. ‘You’re like, what?’ I didn’t know that so many people watched water polo!
“It was very eye-opening to me,” the older Dodd recalls. “I’ve never been to a tournament like that where there are that many people.” He added, “It showed how big water polo is, it showed how big water polo can be”.
Despite Ryder still being a high school student, he shares his passion for major European club competitions in the episode, confessing, “The Champions League games are in the middle of the day during school, so I am sitting there and looking at the computer”. Chase predicts that it may not be long before both of them grace Europe’s premier club competition:
“You never know what’s going to happen in two years, but I have good feelings about the future. You have to establish yourself right away when you go to these clubs right away. That’s the only way you can stand out and survive at these clubs. All my teammates on the national team have established themselves again and again.”
Now breaking into the senior team, the brothers set their sights on the Paris Olympics as a realistic goal. However, Chase emphasises that the success of the team takes precedence:
“I am going to try and push for it, but the first thing we have to do is qualify. Even if I don’t make the team, I am going to qualify the team. I will make sure the team goes to Paris no matter what.”
Looking further ahead, representing their country at the 2028 Olympic Games in their hometown of Los Angeles is a long-term aspiration for both young Americans. As boys who grew up in Long Beach, they understand the profound significance of such an opportunity:
“It’s definitely on the radar,” Chase confirmed. “Everyone talks about that. There’s nothing better than playing at an Olympics in your hometown.”
Ryder echoes the sentiment, saying,“It would be a dream come true. But there’s still so much water polo to play”.
Find all episodes of the Total Waterpolo Podcast here
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more video content, subscribe to our Youtube Channel and Tik Tok account
