By Alexis Corona – Spear Reporter | Samu Biros attempts a shot during a game against UC Irvine on Nov. 3. (photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
Pursuing a water polo career wasn’t always the end goal for freshman driver Samu Biros.
“I played handball, I tried swimming, I played ice hockey as well but at the end of the day I chose water polo,” Samu said. “I just started to fall in love with the sport, the atmosphere with the swimming pool.”
Samu is the son of Peter Biros, a three-time water polo Olympic gold medalist with the Hungarian national team.
One of Samu’s favorite memories growing up was seeing his father be the flag bearer for Hungary at the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony in London.
“It’s a memory that in my head I can imagine every second of the day,” Samu said. “We were watching the television and my dad was bringing the flag in London.”
Today, Peter remains a great mentor for Samu’s water polo career.
“He’s just telling me how I can improve and what I did wrong during the games,” Samu said.
Peter never influenced Samu to pursue a water polo career.
“He just told me that if I do something, I have to do it with 100% that’s all he asked,” Samu said.
Samu was born in Budapest, Hungary, where his family is from.
The hardest thing for Samu was adjusting to a city 6,095 miles away from home.
“I have been homesick this entire time, like completely alone,” Samu said. “I have to cook for myself, work for myself and be 15,000 kilometers away from my loved ones.”
Samu looks to pass the ball in a game against UC Irvine on Nov. 3. (photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
Samu and his family try their best to keep in touch with each other on the phone, but it has been difficult navigating a nine-hour time difference.
Despite this, he has received great support and encouragement from people on the team.
Samu gives a lot of credit to San Jose State men’s water polo head coach Gabor Sarusi for joining the team.
“We started messaging. He said he needed a player on the right side, and he said he would call me back,” Samu said.
Samu said he couldn’t reject the offer of coming to the U.S. to play water polo at a great school.
In most U.S. high schools, you are required to have four years of education, but Samu took another route.
Samu attended a five-year bilingual school back in Hungary, during which he had to learn school subjects such as English and mathematics.
This set him back regarding his recruiting eligibility because he was a year older than the usual recruiting age.
“When I found out that he’s still available, I thought it was a no-brainer,” said Sarusi. “You know we have a spot for him, and I know he would be a good addition.”
Samu and Sarusi are both from Hungary and they’ve picked up a great relationship because of it.
Sarusi has been able to help Samu throughout his first few months at SJSU and settle him into a new lifestyle.
Samu prepares to take a shot during a game against Cal Baptist on Nov. 15. (photo by Alexis Corona – The Spear)
Outside the pool, Samu has adjusted well and built comradery with his teammates and coaches.
“He’s open with everyone in the locker room,” junior two-meter Maro Tiozzo said. “He got together with everyone quickly and it did not take long to settle in with the team and build a connection.”
Although he’s only been with the team for a few months, Samu has shown good character in the locker room.
“He’s positive in the locker room and his demeanor is good. He’s a good person,” Sarusi said.
Samu’s ultimate aspiration is to make the Olympics for the Hungarian national team and said people like his dad are very lucky to have won in three Olympics.
“Even at one Olympics, it would be awesome,” Samu said. “Not many people can say that they played in the Olympics.”
Sarusi said Samu is both great offensively and defensively, which makes him an outstanding overall player.
“I think he’s just gonna be somebody who’s really gonna help us down the line in the future,” Sarusi said.
Samu will make the most of his opportunity to continue his education and play water polo at SJSU.
“My main goal is to enjoy what I’m doing with this and be successful like everybody else on this planet,” Samu said.
