Knox returns for tilt at third Olympics

Australian women’s water polo captain and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Bronwen Knox has returned to the water for the Aussie Stingers after being on the brink of ending her dream of playing a third Olympics in Rio. 

NSWIS athlete Knox, who is set to become the most capped player in Australian women’s water polo history in Rio, has been out of the competition pool since fracturing her collarbone during a test event in Brazil last November. 

Considered a genuine gold medal contender, the Stingers will play a three-test series against current Olympic champions the USA in California later this month, in what will be the return to action for Knox. 

“It’s been a hard road coming back,” Knox told AAP. 

"In 12 years, I haven’t had more than eight weeks off so to have that, mid-prep, is not ideal.

"When I first found out what the injury was, I was thinking ‘oh no, this is my Olympic dream over. Am I going to get back in time? Is it worth getting back and am I going to be at my peak?’

"There was that thought, but I wasn’t willing to step away nine months out after 3.5 years’ work.

"I was willing to do whatever it took."

While Knox was pleased that her injury didn’t require surgery, she is now looking ahead to the three-test tournament, and believes that the Stingers are closer than ever before to cracking the consistently strong USA after countless close finishes in the past few years.  

"They’re not unbeatable, we’ve closed the gap quite a bit" she said.  

"This is probably the most prepared and connected team we’ve had. There’s no divide between the seniors who’ve been there and the younger girls; we’ve really started to form that strong bond."