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The split-second Longman became Super Woman

“WE’VE GOT THIS . . .”

With those three words Australian Stingers goalkeeper Genevieve Longman imposed herself on the pressure cooker atmosphere of the Paris Olympics water polo competition to ensure her team’s nail biting victory over the Netherlands.

Longman, a New South Wales Institute of Sport Scholarship athlete, replaced Gabriella ‘Gabby’ Palm during a tense penalty shootout after the Group match finished in regulation time with the scores locked seven-all.

Both teams had already netted four goals when Longman dived into the Paris Aquatic Centre’s pool. Despite the adrenaline, and tension, Longman could have passed for an iceberg due to her Arctic-cool reaction to the rockets fired at her by the Dutch.

“Going into the shootout was very exciting for me,” recalled Longman almost three months since her magic moment. “There are obviously nerves, but [as a goalie those situations] are what you live for.

“We were extremely confident going into that match, and while we hadn’t done a lot of shootouts, we’d done plenty of research. That’s why when I got into the water I said to Gabby: ‘we’ve got this!’

“And I said that because I genuinely believed in what we were doing. We’d done the work, and, also, moments like that one is what you do it all for.”

Longman helped secure the 15-14 victory that allowed Australia to remain undefeated – and on top of their Group – when after stopping one shot at goal, she instinctively thrust her left hand out to block a second – a powerful shot by the Netherlands’ Lola Moolhuijzen, a gold medal winner at the 2023 world championships, and whose father and grandfather competed in water polo at the Olympics.

That victory instilled an even greater sense of self-belief in the Stingers, who, during the course of their Olympic campaign, won each of their three penalty shootouts; the team displayed so much faith in one another, rookie Sienna Hearn, for example, showed no fear when she stepped up during pressure-packed moments; they stunned the reigning world and Olympic champion USA team when Palm made a killer save of her own to win the match in that game’s penalty shootout, and remained undefeated until the gold medal match against hot shots, Spain.

Longman played an important role in an Aussie sporting fairytale. After all, the Stingers – of which 50 percent of the players were NSWIS athletes – finished sixth at the world championships earlier in the year and were given little hope by outsiders of striking a blow in France, while their coach Bec Rippon accepted her role just eight months before the Olympics opening ceremony.

“It still feels surreal,” said Longman – not even attempting to hide her grin – when asked about the Games.

“Everyone felt that they were capable. There was a feeling of ‘who knows where we can go with this,’ and not once in any of our three penalty shootouts did we have the same lineup as shooters.

“So, in a team of 13 players we had the depth, and everyone backed themselves. And it is easy to go out there and back yourself when you know you have a group of amazing people saying to you: ‘you’ve got this!’

“And that was also the feeling the group took from the coaching staff; that sense of: ‘We can do this. We’re not here to make up the numbers. We’re here to have a go.’

“We had the view that we wanted to be in the moment. That meant, every time, whatever it was . . . penalties, or me trying to make a save during a penalty shootout . . . if we were in the gold medal game . . . it was all about remaining in the moment and enjoying the experience for what it was.

“The confidence we enjoyed as a group came from knowing we had each other’s back.”

Longman, who has a university degree for international studies and who practices law, revealed her time in Paris awakened a fierce sense of pride in being an Australian.

“Something I would hope people took from the Olympics and the way Australia presented ourselves to the world was the pride we have in our nation and culture,” she said.

“It wasn’t a feeling that I . . . probably . . . hadn’t had before. But being in that Olympic Village and being in that team – the Australian team – made a great impression on me; a sense we Aussies really do support each other. Whether we win or lose, we do that well.

“We very much live by that ‘win well’ message. I’d like to think that came through loud and clear, and that Australians are proud of what we represent. As members of the Stingers, we want people to look up to us and hopefully want to emulate what we do.”

This Aussie Stinger, who steeled herself to step up in a situation most would dread by saying ‘WE’VE GOT THIS,‘ is also a guiding light for anyone who sticks to a sport despite initially struggling.

“I wasn’t very good at water polo when I started,” she confessed. “I wasn’t a strong swimmer, but I absolutely loved it. And I think that’s the basis for any kid getting into sport; if you enjoy it and love it, my advice is to pursue it because you never know where it’ll take you.

“So, I was by no means a superstar, but I worked hard, and I found with good coaching, being in a good team, listening to feedback, and by working on things, I eventually improved.

“Water polo taught me there’s no point in limiting yourself all because something is hard when you start out. I’ve discovered it can lead to wonderful experiences.”

Longman admits vivid memories of that moment come flooding back whenever she watches video footage of her cool and collected effort against the Netherlands.

“It’s very special,” she conceded. “I really don’t dwell too much on that individual moment, but it is a great reminder that working hard for a long time, putting in early mornings and late nights is worthwhile. At least, that’s how it felt in Paris.