Home-grown Olympic star making waves in and out of the pool

More accolades have rolled in for Goldfields-born water polo international Luke Pavillard following his return to WA from the 2024 Paris Olympics as captain of the National League’s Fremantle Mariners.

In Paris, Pavillard was among the best performers in a national men’s team that finished eighth by scoring 14 goals in seven games.

He also boasts a gold medal and a silver medal playing for Australia in tournaments dating back to 2017 and 2022, respectively.

However, it is his return to the Mariners, with who he debuted in 2013, that has made waves throughout WA water polo circles — through his own performances in the pool and as a mentor for the next generation of up-and-coming stars.

Pavillard made his 100th National League appearance last month against University of NSW Wests, chalking-up the milestone on the back of a hectic coaching schedule, including at Aquinas College as head coach of their Middle School A Team and as the senior team’s assistant-coach.

He is also working closely with the Mariners’ juniors.

The 28-year-old took up water polo in Perth during his early teens on the influence of his father, Hugh.

Hugh Pavillard arrived in the Goldfields in the mid-1980s and was a key figure when water polo was among the biggest participation sports at the old Lord Forrest Olympic Pool.

It included a mid-1990s stint on the State League roster of the now-defunct Goldfields Vikings.

After the family left the region about 1998, a young Luke began his water polo journey with the Melville Sharks at the Bicton Baths.

“Luke only got into the pool again at the beginning of December (because) he spent the first five months after the Olympics in the gym, putting on muscle and weight,” Hugh Pavillard said.

“In that regard, it’s been nice to see him back where it all began.

“I’m super-proud and so is Luke because he’s putting a lot of his knowledge back into water polo in WA.”

Pavillard was first named to the Australian Sharks squad in 2015, but he severed those ties in favour of a move to the US and a place on the water polo team at the University of the Pacific in California.

By the end of his US stint, Pavillard had scored 248 goals and been named Golden State Conference Player of the Year twice in three seasons.

Pavillard returned to Australia in 2020.

He missed selection for the Tokyo Olympics, but moved into the professional ranks with a three-year contract with Barceloneta in Europe’s lucrative Champions League.