Driver Tony Azevedo is the youngest player to represent the U.S. on a national water polo team since the current selection process began in 1972. At 18, he is already being compared to water polo great Manuel Estiarte of Spain.

Azevedo was voted the top young male player in the world by World Water Polo magazine earlier this year and has been unofficially referred to as the top high school player for the last 50 years.

"He is as quick as can be," says Johns Vargas, the U.S. men’s Olympic water polo coach. "And it’s not necessarily a physical thing; it’s in his head. He can read plays before they happen. It was like he was born to play this sport."

Azevedo debuted with the U.S. National Team in 1997, at age 16. He admits he was overwhelmed. He did not play extremely skillfully, but performed well enough to be invited back in 1998. He later confided that he didn't shoot because he was scared of missing.