Water polo’s golden girls have feisty medallist in their corner

Taryn Woods is used to making a splash. In April 1997, as a 21-year-old player in the women’s national water polo team, Woods stood in her swimsuit at Sydney Airport, protesting as a key International Olympic Committee and FINA swimming federation official arrived in the city.

She joined the group greeting Mustapha Larfaoui in a series of protests led by coach Pat Jones against the decision, yet again, to exclude women’s water polo, this time from the upcoming Sydney 2000 Games. Team members were also evicted after gatecrashing an IOC press conference.