Sean Ryder
Now signed up to play for Rapid Bucharest, Sean has been part of the British senior team since 2005 when he competed against the Czech Republic.
He considers his 2006 LEN Junior European Championships performance as one of his finest when he scored two goals against Slovenia in the group stages.
Personal Data
Date of Birth: 18/06/87
Height: 188cm
Weight: 98kg
English Club: City of Manchester WPC
Professional Club: Rapid Bucharest
Trains: Basin Flouresca, Bucharest
Born: Nottingham
Hometown: Hucknall
Occupation: Full time athlete and Manchester City Council head junior aquatics development coach.
Getting to know...
When did you begin playing water polo: When I was 14 for Hucknall WPC after swimming for Falcon ASC.
First senior international match/tournament: Czech Republic 2005 with Norman Leighton as Head Coach.
Finest ever performance: The 2006 LEN Junior European Championships in Oradea, Romania. In the group stages I remember scoring a couple of goals against Slovenia.
Favourite competition: Southern Cross Tournament, New Zealand.
Aspiration: To play and win games at the Olympics and do everyone who has supported me proud.
Tip for the top: Make sacrifices - when you look back they will have been worth it.
Water polo role models: Maurizio Felugo (ITA), Daniel Varga (HUN), Denes Kemeny (HUN).
Biggest influences on career: Mum and Dad, Tim and Sarah Dunsbee and Jemma Bury.
Life after water polo: Give back to the sport I love. I'd like to carrying on coaching and then do the normal stuff too - get a house, start a family and go to foreign countries for actual holidays rather than to play water polo!
Best thing about playing for your professional club: No early morning starts.
Favourite music: The old stuff is always better. I was brought up on soul music by my dad. Anything other than jazz is good though.
If I wasn't a water polo player I would be: Probably a teacher or involved in property somehow.
Describe yourself in three words: Passionate, pensive, logical.
Would most like to meet: A corporate sponsor who would like to make my club or our domestic league professional. I'd settle for a meeting Angelina Jolie though!
Most prized possession: My Ipod.
International Competitions
| Competition | Year | Medal/Position |
|---|---|---|
| LEN European B Championships | 2009 | 4th |
| Lugano, Switzerland | ||
| Mithat Hantel Memorial Water Polo Tournament | 2009 | Gold |
| Istanbul, Turkey | ||
| Comen Cup | 2008 | 4th |
| Malta | ||
| LEN European A Qualifiers | 2008 | 4th |
| Dubrovnik, Croatia | ||
| World University Game | 2007 | 12th |
| Bangkok | ||
| LEN European B Nations Trophy | 2007 | 6th |
| Manchester | ||
