Their advice to aspiring young athletes is simple: \u201cJust put in 100% effort, do your best at everything, and it\u2019s bound to pay off\u201d.<\/p>\n
Oliver was selected as a centre back in the New Zealand team after progressing through a series of trials that reduced a 35-player squad to 14.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t really put it into words, it really is an honour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His selection follows years of commitment, including training camps, weekend trips away for national squad sessions and a demanding schedule of swimming, gym work, water polo training and matches.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a massive relief and super exciting,\u201d Oliver said about the selection.<\/p>\n
As the youngest of four children, he grew up watching his older siblings compete, an experience that helped inspire his own journey in the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI naturally gravitated towards it and slowly started moving up the ranks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, Oliver represented New Zealand at the Australian State Under-15 Championships in Canberra, where the team won bronze.<\/p>\n
He said \u201ca lot\u201d of hours were put in behind the scenes to earn a national selection.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo much more time than most people realise.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said putting on the New Zealand uniform in Croatia would be \u201csurreal\u201d.<\/p>\n
Oliver Jones represented New Zealand at the Australian State Under-15 Championships in Canberra last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo know all that hard work was really worth it means so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teammate Chase Davies said the selection was \u201cunreal\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the biggest honour, representing the fern is a dream for every New Zealand kid out there and to think I\u2019ll actually be doing it on the world stage, I can\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the opportunity was \u201cincredibly special\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve grown up trying to represent something big, and this is the biggest achievement I could get. I\u2019m excited to test myself against the best players in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The selection follows an impressive season for Chase.<\/p>\n
He was named most valuable goalkeeper at the Secondary Schools Nationals and North Island championships, where his school won gold at each tournament.<\/p>\n
Chase said representing New Zealand in Croatia would be a \u201cfulfilling\u201d moment, made even more special by sharing the experience with his teammates.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you put in 100% effort and do your best at everything, then it\u2019s bound to pay off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chase Davies was named most valuable goalkeeper at the Secondary Schools Nationals and North Island championships.<\/p>\n
Alongside his sporting success, Chase has also built a career in acting.<\/p>\n
His feature film I, Object, directed by Andrew Niccol, debuts in cinemas on July 23, the same day he departs for the World Championships.<\/p>\n
In the film, Chase plays Zach, a supporting character who is a school bully.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost like the pinnacle of two major things I\u2019ve been working towards throughout my life are happening at the same time; it\u2019s pretty crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The role follows his work as one of the main characters in the short film Socks, which premiered this year at the Venice Film Festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess I am pretty busy with it all, but I make sure I still have time to hang out with friends and family, and to also just enjoy my teenage years is really important as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chase and Oliver fly out on July 23 for an initial training camp in Herceg Novi, Montenegro.<\/p>\n
They will then compete in Zagreb, Croatia, from August 3 to 9, at the World Aquatics Men\u2019s U16 Water Polo Championships.<\/p>\n