It was Rafa Aguilar, when he was an international and captain of Tarrassa, who brought Miki Oca to play for his club. The Madrid native had emerged as a water polo player in the pool of the Encinas club, in Boadilla del Monte. A remote corner of the water polo world, which ended up producing a legend: Oca won silver in Barcelona 92 and gold in Atlanta 96 and again Rafa Aguilar, now director of water polo at the federation, suggested his appointment as coach after the 2011 World Cup. Since then, Spain, which did not qualify for Sydney, Athens or Beijing, has won two silver medals, a fifth place and a gold.
“It’s not a coincidence,” says Aguilar. “Miki is an Olympian. There are athletes who go to the Games and win medals and others who are very good, but don’t make it. He always wins at the Games. He acts naturally, without pressure. He has something intangible that helps him achieve things.”
At 54, Miki Oca has one thing: he is a master in the art of staying in the shadows. The swimmers shine. “I don’t have any gift or anything,” he says. “I am the coach. A normal coach who works with girls who are very committed.”
“I don’t downplay my role! I say what I feel. Who won the match? I’m in the background! They are the ones in the water. And if there are coaches who want to be the authors of their teams, that seems fine to me. Of course!”
“I am very lucky,” he says, when asked if it is a coincidence that he is an Olympic champion as a player and coach. “Lucky to have the teammates I had and to be with this group of girls. Being the link with Atlanta 96 is one of life’s coincidences. I don’t even remember the smell of that gold!”
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