Referee dad is Max's official inspiration

"Being able to watch Max compete in person at the Olympics is really going to be one of the biggest thrills that we've ever had as a family," Michael Irving said.

Max Irving got into water polo as part of a family emphasis on staying active. He played baseball, football and soccer before he went to a summer camp at a community college that included a couple of weeks of diving and water polo.

A couple of camp counselors told Michael and his wife Kelly that they thought Max was a natural for water polo, and they suggested a local club for the sport. Max also had two cousins on his mother's side who played water polo.

"I remember going to watch some of their games," he said, "and just being completely interested in the game because I thought it really had a cool mix of basketball, soccer, a little bit of ice hockey with the exclusion and the penalty box."

Michael Irving said Max "found his calling with water polo". He became a three-time All-American at UCLA, helping the Bruins win three national championships. The attacker still ranks among the career leaders at the vaunted program with 102 assists, 105 steals and 40 field blocks.

Along the way, through his time with the US team and playing abroad, he also has become an advocate for increased diversity in water polo — a seemingly perpetual challenge for the sport. He is the only black man on the national team, but he said he sees signs of progress in the lower levels.

"You're definitely seeing a lot more diversity. Is it at a level that things are completely inviting and inclusive? We're trying to make it that way," he said.

Michael Irving, who played college basketball at Rice and got into refereeing through a friend, said he knew nothing about water polo when Max started playing. He pitched in by taping Max's games so his son could watch them later.

He also used his perspective as a referee to help Max learn to focus on his play.

"I can share with Max as well some of the pet peeves that officials may have as far as player misconduct or coach misconduct or maybe mouthing off too much," he said. "Just letting him know, control what you can control. You're going to waste your efforts and your energy if you're worried about the officials."

Agencies via Xinhua