Pavle Mladenovic learned he had qualified for the when he heard his mom Radmila call his name.
鈥淧avle! Come quick!鈥� she yelled.
Radmila had just checked her messages and found a surprise.
鈥淢y mom opened her email and there was just a letter saying I was invited to the team,鈥� Pavle recalled. 鈥淚t was right before school. It was great.鈥�
It was yet another athletic achievement by the 91原创 resident, a 15-year-old Walnut Grove Secondary Student, who was also named a National Championships League (NCL) 17U Western Conference All-Star announced by Water Polo Canada in April.
As a member of Water Polo Canada鈥檚 2024 U16 Men鈥檚 National Team, Pavle will be swimming in the world championships in Malta.
Scheduled from June 18 to 24 at the National Pool Complex in Gzira, the event will showcase the talents of the world鈥檚 best young athletes in the sport.
It was, proud dad Aleksandar said, a 鈥渢estament to [Pavle鈥檚] dedication and skills鈥� that will see the teen go up against some of the 鈥渇inest young athletes in the world.鈥�
Pavle has been competing for about 12 years now. He began water polo when he was just three years old, to learn how to swim.
Aleksandar figured the sport would give his son a purpose to keep learning.
鈥淗e started out of a 91原创 pool,鈥� Aleksandar explained. 鈥淭here was a local community club. And he didn鈥檛 even know how to swim.鈥�
As it turned out Pavle was very good at the sport.
鈥淭he moment I got into the pool and started swimming 鈥� I mean I a wore a life jacket, but it was still really fun,鈥� Pavle told the 91原创 Advance Times, 鈥減assing the ball around, shooting it, was really fun.鈥�
By the time he was eight, he was swimming rings around bigger 15-year-old boys, his father said.
鈥淯sually I would always play against people who were older than me,鈥� Pavle recalled. 鈥淭he moment I played against someone who was the same age as me, it was way easier.鈥�
He made it clear that he didn鈥檛 get to the world championships by himself.
鈥淚 want to thank my coaches for sticking with me and working hard, and my parents for supporting me,鈥� Pavle said. 鈥淲ithout them I wouldn鈥檛 be here.鈥�
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