Estevan's Auriel Bill has travelled the world for various water polo experiences, but her most recent tops them all.
Bill, 18, was part of the Canadian team that won silver at the FINA World Women's Youth Championship in Madrid Aug. 25-31.
Canada lost 5-4 to the United States in the gold medal game.
A year ago, Bill played in the Youth Pan American Championship in Argentina, and she said this experience was on a totally different level.
"Worlds was definitely different. The scenery and everything, all the fans being there - and these are just locals, they might not be parents of players - the fans were always there. The cheering was amazing. It's the FINA worlds, so they had beautiful posters everywhere showcasing the worlds being there. Just being surrounded by the other teams was really cool because everybody was really nice to each other, except in the water, but that's just how sports work," she said.
"The competition was extremely hard this year in comparison to Argentina last year. Every team we faced, it was never really a blowout game. There was one game that was quite (easily) handled by our team, against New Zealand, but every other game was won by one or two points. It was really cool, because we were playing the best teams in the world. If those games were played again, they could go another way. It gave more of a thrill to the athletes playing in the tournament."
Bill, who spent the summer with the national team, feels she is at the pinnacle of her career to date.
"It means the world to me, honestly. I felt like I was at the top level. I don't know if I'm going to go to the Olympics, but winning a silver medal at the worlds is the best thing that's ever happened in my water polo career. They put the medals around our necks and we had so much pride in winning it for our country."
The final was very tightly contested, with the score going back and forth from start to finish.
"The gold medal game was intense. It started with USA scoring two goals. I don't know about my teammates, but I was nervous. We had trouble getting momentum, but once we actually started scoring, it was good," said Bill.
"We were either tying them or down by one. I don't think we were ever ahead of them. We made it close for them. We made them a little scared, for sure. USA was definitely deserving of the place they finished in. They played amazing. We did too, we just couldn't get it in the last couple minutes. Kudos to them, first in the world is amazing."
Bill said if the game were played again, Canada might have been able to win, but she noted a better warmup would be needed to get them more ready to play.
She was satisfied with her performance when she got a chance to play.
"I feel like I was good. I'm in the top 13 in the country for (1996-born players), which is amazing, but it doesn't mean I'm going to be in the water all the time. When I did play, I tried to play my heart out. I made a couple of nice assists and tried to help out my teammates. When I wasn't in the water, I was a good cheerleader. Every time I went in, I felt like I left my best in the pool, and that's all I could do."
She said she had some doubts about her ability when she was sitting, "but in the end, it was a matter of 'I made this team for a reason, so every second I get in that water I'm going to prove myself and represent Saskatchewan.'"
Earlier in the summer, Team Canada trained in Montreal and played in a pre-worlds tournament in Hungary, where they went undefeated.
While the team didn't get to do any sightseeing in Madrid, they did get a day off in Budapest.
"Playing in Hungary was actually really awesome. We were in a smaller city for the first bit of the tournament. We did end up winning both of those games, so our vibe was really good when we were in Hungary. Going undefeated there was awesome."
After her achievements of the last few years, Bill is looking to take a bit of a break and not spend all her time on water polo.
"I feel like my career is at the highest point. I love water polo, but really, right now, I'm going to focus on coaching in Regina, I'm going to focus on university and keep my water polo to Team Sask, which will be a great season. My focal point is on that right now.
"I do have an opportunity to try out for the 20-and-under (national) team next summer, but that depends on how much I'm willing to commit myself to just water polo. I feel like now is the time to spread my wings and do some other things as well. I don't regret anything. The last three summers have been amazing with Team Canada."
