Learning from Champions – Unai Biel on growing up at CN Barceloneta, Mentorship & Elite Team Culture

In this international episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, I speak with Unai Biel, Spanish national team player and professional athlete at CN Barceloneta, about his journey from a young talent in Catalonia to competing at the highest level of European club water polo — surrounded by Olympic champions and world-class stars.

Unai shares how he started his water polo journey in a small local club near Barcelona, first as a swimmer before switching to water polo at the age of six. When his youth club faced financial problems, he made the crucial move to CN Barceloneta as a teenager — a step that would completely change his development path.

A central focus of the episode is the unique training and development environment in Barcelona and Catalonia. Unai explains why 90% of Spain’s elite water polo is concentrated in this region, how that creates daily high-level competition, and why easy access to top-level matches raises the ambition and standards of young players.

He gives deep insight into what it feels like to enter one of Europe’s strongest clubs as a young player:
– Starting as the 14th man in the squad
– Earning minutes through rotation in the Spanish league
– Training daily with Olympic champions and world stars
– Learning position-specific details from experienced teammates

Unai explains how senior players like Felipe Perrone, Álvaro Granados, Alberto Munarriz and Blai Mallarach shaped his development — not just through example, but through direct communication, daily feedback and personal mentorship.

We also talk about:
– The Catalan high-performance school system with twice-daily training
– How young talents are selected at ages 14–15
– The difference between Spanish and other European youth systems
– Why older players must actively guide the next generation
– His role today as a mentor for younger teammates
– Why elite success is built through cycles of learning and leadership

Topics of this episode:
– Youth development in Catalonia
– Growing up at CN Barceloneta
– Mentorship from Olympic champions
– High-performance school system in Spain
– Entering an elite team as a teenager
– Learning through daily competition
– Role models & leadership in sport
– Transition from youth to professional level
– Building confidence in elite environments
– The cycle of giving knowledge back

This episode is a must-listen for young players, parents, coaches and talent developers worldwide who want to understand how elite environments, mentorship and daily competition shape professional water polo careers.