Multiple team captaincy is not uncommon in Australian sports, and yet it was a first for the Aussie Sharks when newly appointed coach Tim Hamill put forward the concept of a shared team leadership after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Hamill saw that the two Olympians' leadership styles were markedly different, but recognised that their chemistry could have a positive impact within the team environment.

For all their differences, Blake and Nathan now share similar responsibilities outside the pool, too. In their thirties and recently returned to Australia after spending several years overseas, they both have to balance sport, family and work commitments to find a winning formula in the lead up to their second Olympic experience.

"My personal preparations for the Olympic Games have been very different this time around. With a baby [due in May] and a business, it's been a bit more of a balance between life inside and outside of the pool," Blake said, who is a self-employed mortgage broker.

"It's a career that provides a lot of flexibility," he explained, "and one of the best things that happened to me, empowering me and giving me the necessary financial stability to commit to this [Olympic] cycle."

Before returning to Australia in 2019, Blake spent three seasons in the United States with the Trojans, the University of Southern California water polo team, and also played for Montenegrin club Budva for a year, alongside Aussie teammate Aidan 'AJ' Roach. Nathan also played overseas, enjoying stints in Croatia and Spain, playing in the Champions League and Euro Cup.

"Living back in Australia and experiencing Australian water polo while working full-time has presented new challenges," Nathan admitted, who works at a professional services firm. "I've been fortunate to have a very supportive environment both at Water Polo Australia and at work.

"Having both to focus on keeps me in check. Having that interchange between the two [activities] allows you to walk in each different environment and reset yourself. I've found that really beneficial. It keeps things fresh," Nathan said.

Blake agrees that despite the obvious challenges of balancing water polo, family and work, having another focus outside of sport can be really helpful for an elite athlete.

"If I look back to when I was younger and water polo was really my only focus in life, the downs can be really low and can affect your mental state and performance.

"Having a balance helps you come back quicker for the next training and the next game, with a clear mind," he said.

And of course, representing your country on the world's stage helps put things into perspective.

"It has been one of my greatest honours in life, so the sacrifices are an easy choice," Blake continued. "And also my partner is just fantastic and allows me to focus [on the sport] as much as I can, but is also always there for me when we get some downtime."

Both players made their Olympic debut in Tokyo, where the Sharks narrowly missed a spot in the knock-out round of the tournament, finishing in 9th position. With former head coach Elvis Fatovic and a few senior players stepping away from the team after the Tokyo Games, Blake and Nathan stepped up and gladly accepted the additional responsibilities of their new co-captaincy role towards Paris.

"Taking a leadership position in the team has been really exciting, and I've really enjoyed the opportunity to mentor some of the young, enthusiastic Aussie Sharks we have at the moment," Blake said. "The way we all work together and with the wider team has been a strength from the start."

"Blake and I have had quite different careers and I think that's what makes us strong in different areas," Nathan added. "Leaning into those strengths and into the experience that has come from our different journeys can only make the team stronger."

Blake's journey in particular hasn't been typical for someone appointed to a crucial leadership role in the national team. Having made his international debut at just 17 years of age, in 2009, Blake was in and out of the Australian squad for almost a decade, missing selection for the Rio 2016 Olympics and then sitting out an entire season due to injuries. But since his successful comeback in 2018, he has been a consistent presence in the Aussie Sharks lineup and now has more than 120 international caps to his name.

"I experienced a few disappointments in my first two cycles but my persistence and hard work has allowed me to land in the position I am today," he said. "Everyone in the Sharks team has their own, unique story. We've got young guys who missed out on trips and some who weren't selected for certain teams until they were a bit older, so being able to relate to them on that level has been really special. It's been really rewarding to see their growth and development."

With a condensed Olympic cycle and a young team to lead towards Paris, Blake and Nathan didn't get to enjoy much downtime during the Australian summer. The Australian men's national water polo team is included in group B alongside reigning European Champions Spain and Tokyo Olympics gold medallists Serbia, amongst others.

"The hardest thing for Australia is getting [international] games, so to have had this much water polo, at this time of the year, is super exciting and will be beneficial for our journey to Paris, as we continue working towards our goals," Nathan said.

Regardless of who will get to stand beside the referees as official captain for their first 2024 Olympics match on 28 July, the Sharks will be confident they can count on strong leadership when the going gets tough in the pool.

"Playing and leading the Aussie Sharks alongside Nathan has been a real privilege and honour," Blake said. "We complement each other well and, along with the coaching staff, we've got a great leadership group.

"This is reflective of the culture we're growing and developing within the team, preparing the Sharks for not just Paris, but beyond."