Training, determination elevate Olympian Klatt

Rick Devereux

David Wilson wrote, “Training is everything. The peach was once a

bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college

education,” on his calendar.

While the Mark Twain character more commonly known as “Pudd’nhead”

used this and other sayings to keep himself motivated as a northern

lawyer in a southern town, it could easily apply to Dan Klatt.

Klatt is one of five former UC Irvine water polo players on the

United States men’s Olympic water polo team, which begins competition

in Athens, Greece, Sunday against Spain. As a two-meter defender for

the U.S., Klatt has applied the Wilson philosophy at practices.

“He’s especially working hard, very hard, in training,” U.S. head

coach Ratko Rudic said. “You can tell he gives his maximum.”

His duties with Team USA differ from his role while an Anteater.

The two-time All-American was a utility player and had more

opportunities to score. Now his main focus is to stop the opposing

two-meter man from scoring.

“[Klatt’s] a very unselfish player,” legendary UCI coach Ted

Newland said. “He wants the team to win. He can score when he needs

to, but that’s not his primary [goal].”

Klatt obtained swimming training at an early age. His father,

Rick, coaches a club swimming and water polo team and is the aquatics

director for a school district in Fresno.

As an Anteater, Klatt also won Big West Conference titles in the

50- and 100-meter freestyle. His father also swam and was on the

water polo team while at the University of New Mexico.

“I was always a good swimmer,” Klatt said. “Speed is my biggest

strength in water polo. I can move up and down the pool. And my work

ethic is another strength. I’ve always worked hard.”

Klatt credits his two recent coaches for bringing the best out of

him and making him into the Olympian he is today.

“I learned how to play hard and I gained maturity from Newland,”

he said. “[Rudic’s] attention to detail surpasses anyone around

probably in the world.”

The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder was hired as the UCI women’s water polo

coach last year, but his commitment to Team USA has limited his

ability to focus on the program. Klatt helped the United States

finish sixth at the 2003 world championships, and he is determined to

lead the USA out of Group A in the Olympics and into the medal round.

That will be no small chore considering the Group includes seven-time

gold medalist Hungary, Sydney Olympic Games silver-medalist Russia,

world championship bronze winner Serbia and Montenegro, and Olympic

Games qualifying gold-medalist Croatia.

“[Group A] is probably the hardest bracket,” Klatt said. “I think

we’re ready to play. We’ve put out more effort than any team in any

other country and that’s why we have a good shot at winning this

thing.”

Like Pudd’nhead said, training is everything.