Nathan Power. Surely with Power as a last name you are destined for greatness?
And although Nathan has a deep fascination with motorsport and vehicles, he is no relation to our Aussie Indycar titan Will Power. But similar to Will, Nathan has forged a path not walked or swum by many. Power is currently the captain of our Olympic Water Polo squad – The Sharks. In a sport where internationally the athletes are paid professionals, down under the whole team must also work to stay afloat, somehow juggling being a full time athlete with a full time job. Nathan’s full time ‘side hustle’ is at KPMG as a risk consultant.
His days consist of waking up at 5am for water polo training, working all day, then training at night. Somewhere in there he has managed to get to Greece, Italy, France, Serbia and Germany in the ramp up to the Olympics. And a few training camps in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra. But the hard work is paying off, the Sharks are punching well above their weight in Paris. At the time this article was published, the squad had made it to the Quarter-Finals – the first time an Australian Water Polo team has done this since 2012.
After Japan, Paris is Power’s second Olympics, having to pull out of Rio after an injury. Nathan tells me “it is awesome to be in Paris at the Olympics. While there are a lot of fun things around an Olympics that are removed from our normal day to day lives, the major thing that being here signifies is that it’s time to compete.”
I asked him what it’s like to finally be able to perform in front of a crowd (Tokyo was COVID crowdless), “it is a special experience which is compounded by the fact that I get to share it with my partner and my father who are both watching from the grandstands along with family and friends who are following from home.”
Rounding out at a tidy two-metres (6’7”) there probably aren’t too many Dream cars that Nathan can fit comfortably in. But that’s not the point of a Dream Car… like a killer high heel, these machines are purely for performance and aesthetic, not for comfort. So what did Power choose to fit those long limbs into for our Dream Garage?
Daily Drive: 2008 Toyota Corolla
He’s a man of the people. Power’s everyday ride is his much loved 2008 Toyota Corolla featuring a generous slather of aesthetically pleasing duct tape holding the beast together. The ‘A to B machine’ as Nathan calls it, holds a fond spot in his heart, safely carrying your Royal Water Polo Highness back and forth between Sydney and Newcastle for important games. But god forbid, if someone stole or further damaged Powers’ A to B’r beyond duct repair he explains “I would opt for the 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500. As a child I had a massive collection of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. Whilst it may seem a bit comical to bring up, this was my first true touchpoint with motorsport and these small toys would capture my imagination as I raced them around the chicanes of our living room. The car which I was most attached to was a Shelby Mustang with the blue bodywork and the white stripes. All these years later, this is the car that holds a warm place in my heart and I could not think of a better option to be the car I get to loudly cruise around town in.”
Something Special: Royal Enfield Continental GT
Like music to my ears, Nathan is also a fellow motorcycle rider.
“When thinking about my special occasion ride, I found myself landing upon the Royal Enfield Continental GT 120th Anniversary Edition,” he said. “A few years ago this wouldn’t have been the case, and I think I would’ve chosen something with four wheels. However, my partner Madeleine is a proud member of the motorcycling community (currently serving as Chair of Motorcycling NSW), and her passion for motorcycles has rubbed off on me. I have chosen this particular motorcycle because it is a representation of the history and influence of one of the most iconic motorcycling manufacturers, along with the playful personalisation of the café racer.
“In the lead up to the Olympics I have had to be very conscious of avoiding anything that might put me at risk of injury, and unfortunately motorcycling falls squarely into that bracket. However, there would be no better way to celebrate a successful Olympics campaign than by jumping on the Continental GT and going for a spin.”
Track Toy: Cooper T51
And finally, a nice spritz of motorsport to round out Nathan’s epic Garage.
“I have gone very old school with my choice, opting for the Cooper T51 from 1959,” he explains. “I absolutely love watching Formula 1 and would say it is on par with Rugby League for the sports I follow most closely (I am a Newcastle Knights tragic). Therefore it only feels appropriate for my track toy to be from the pantheon of Formula 1s legendary creations. While there are many dominant teams and cars that one could choose from, I was more drawn towards the cars which were able to have an impact even though they were up against competitors with far greater budgets and team sizes. It’s a story that parallels with what we experience with the Australian men’s water polo team. Even though our budget does not match the powerhouse nations, and many of us must work a day job to support ourselves while our competitors are fully professional, we still look to come in and shake up the world every time we compete. The two cars I was trying to choose between were the Cooper T51 and the Brawn BGP 01, with the Cooper winning out given it was driven by Sir Jack Brabham. I’m also aware a man my size would struggle to fit in any racing car; however, given my ability behind the wheel doesn’t quite approach that of Sir Brabham, I don’t think any of the customisations required to fit me in would be the cause of me failing to break any land speed records.”
Thanks for chatting Nathan, we wish you all the Olympic medal luck we can muster!
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