When Maxwell Macmillan’s dad, Allan, gives him advice like “stay hydrated,” and “work your heart out,” as he embarked to Montreal for a selection camp to determine Canada’s U19 national water polo team, he listens.
After all, the elder Macmillan attended similar camps — also in Montreal — as he worked his way up to play for Canada’s national water polo team in the 1990s.
Swimming for one of 13 roster and three alternate spots on the team that will compete at the Junior Pan American championships in Clearwater, Florida, beginning July 8 is another rung on the ladder to international water polo success for Maxwell that really took off when he helped Canada’s U17 team to a bronze at last year’s Pan American championship in Lima, Peru.
But this year Macmillan’s swimming with the bigger boys, including several from Canada’s senior men’s national team during a high-performance camp in Calgary last March. He also had a chance to scrimmage against a men’s team comprised of former Olympians.
Macmillan said it was an invaluable learning experience.
“The biggest part is to see if you’re willing to put in the work,” Macmillan said.
In Montreal, that work included twice-daily sessions in the pool, along with dry land workouts like running, lifting weights and strengthening his core with sit-ups and push-ups.
It’s that all-around aspect of training that energizes Macmillan, who’s 16.
“It isn’t just one specific muscle group, you have to train every part of your body,” he said.
Working out and competing for a spot with players who are older and more experienced will also serve Macmillan well as he also tries for a spot on the U18 national team that is going to Szombathley, Hungary, in August for the fourth FINA world men’ youth water polo championships.
In fact, that team’s selection camp conflicts with part of the Pan Am tournament, but Macmillan figures if he’s there with the junior national team, that will serve him well in his bid to make the U18 roster.
It’s all about testing himself to get stronger, faster, tougher.
“It’s definitely more aggressive,” Macmillan said of swimming with players older than him.
But competing at that level makes everyone a better player, he added. “Everyone on your team is capable and playing their role.”
That means success is often determined by intangibles, like desire and work ethic.
“It’s about who wants it more,” Macmillan said.
And he’s got no doubts about his level of desire.
“The more you play, the more awareness you have,” Macmillan said. “At the national level, you’re playing with the best of the best.”
