After we published the final results of this year’s Total Player Award, we bring you the first reactions from the laureates.
Maddie Musselman had a great season with Team USA and that was recognised by our Expert and Media Jury. With 75 points, she edged off her teammate (and Total Player 2019) Ashleigh Johnson for first place. Maddie's reaction after hearing she is the Total Player 2021:
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."-
- TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 7: Team United States with Ashleigh Johnson of United States, Maddie Musselman of United States, Melissa Seidemann of United States, Rachel Fattal of United States, Paige Hauschild of United States, Maggie Steffens of United States, Stephania Haralabidis of United States, Jamie Neushul of United States, Aria Fischer of United States, Kaleigh Gilchrist of United States, Makenzie Fischer of United States, Alys Williams of United States, Amanda Longan of United States during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Waterpolo Tournament Women’s Victory Ceremony match between and at Tatsumi Waterpolo Centre on August 7, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures) NOCNSF
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- TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 5: Team United States celebrating victory, Makenzie Fischer of United States, Melissa Seidemann of United States, Margaret Steffens of United States, Paige Hauschild of United States, Kaleigh Gilchrist of United States, Alys Williams of United States, Aria Fischer of United States, Stephania Haralabidis of United States, Amanda Longan of United States, Madeline Musselman of United States, Rachel Fattal of United States during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Waterpolo Tournament Women Semifinal match between Team ROC and Team United States at Tatsumi Waterpolo Centre on August 5, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)
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- TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 24: Maddie Musselman of United States during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Waterpolo Tournament Women match between Japan and United States at Tatsumi Waterpolo Centre on July 24, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)
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- TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 26: Madeline Musselman of United States, Huan Wang of China during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Waterpolo Tournament Women match between Team United States and Team China at Tatsumi Waterpolo Centre on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)
The men's competition "battle" for the title was even closer. As expected, many Serbian players placed at the top of the final standings, but only a few points separated Dusan Mandic (143) and his captain Filip Filipovic (139). This is what Mandic stated after learning he was crowned Total Player 2021:
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!"
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- Dusan Mandic (SRB) Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures
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- Dusan Mandic (Pro Recco) Photo: Pro Recco/FB
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- TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 6: Dusan Mandic of Serbia during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Waterpolo Tournament men’s Semi Final match between Serbia and Spain at Tatsumi Waterpolo Centre on August 6, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)
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- TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 8: Gold medal Serbia with Gojko Pijetlovic of Serbia, Dusan Mandic of Serbia, Nikola Dedovic of Serbia, Sava Randjelovic of Serbia, Strahinja Rasovic of Serbia, Dusko Pijetlovic of Serbia, Djordje Lazic of Serbia, Milan Aleksic of Serbia, Nikola Jaksic of Serbia, Filip Filipovic of Serbia, Andrija Prlainovic of Serbia, Stefan Mitrovic of Serbia, Branislav Mitrovic of Serbia during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Waterpolo Tournament Men’s Victory Ceremony match between and at Tatsumi Waterpolo Centre on August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures) NOCNSF
