Johanne Bégin is one of the most experienced player on the Canadian women's water polo team and also one of its leaders as team captain. She competed at her first World Cup in 1991 and first senior world championships in 1998. At the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, she was the tournament's leading scorer as Canada won the gold medal.
Bégin was disappointed with Canada's fifth place finish at the 2000 Olympics and the team is approaching the Games differently this time. "We're going there to win one game at a time rather than putting pressure on ourselves by saying we have to win the gold medal," she said. "I'm approaching the Games differently on the personal level as well. I have my own little slogan: 'enjoy the moment.'"
With several changes since Sydney to both players and coaching staff, Bégin finds it hard to determine whether this is the best Canadian team she's ever played on.
"It's definitely a different mix as far as teams go," said Bégin. "The most noticeable difference for me is actually how well the players get along outside the pool."
