How A Local Water Polo Community Lifted Cianne Benjamin to the World Stage
Discover more from Scarborough Made Press
How A Local Water Polo Community Lifted Cianne Benjamin to the World Stage
You might have heard of the proverbial saying of how a rising tide raises all ships, well this story embodies that saying
When tasked with finding a newsworthy “Water” story for Scarborough Made’s collaboration with PhotoED magazine, it quickly became evident that our borough isn’t well-documented. Even through my Google query “Scarborough Water”, it grew laborious just to discern whether results were featuring Scarborough, Ontario or Scarborough, Australia, or Scarborough, Tobago. However, through some miracle, my search term was fruitful, pinpointing a nearby organization on Google Maps: Scarborough Shadow Water Polo.
While deep diving through their water-themed site, I discovered they churned out champions. They have a whole webpage spotlighting their high-performance athletes, comprised of determined youth who — unlike myself — learned to swim, and pursued this difficult sport at an early age. Despite being school-aged athletes, I learned they are the sport’s future, representing Scarborough Shadow nationally and internationally.
We were told we’d meet one of the athletes sitting atop that list, Cianne Benjamin, who recently came back with a bronze medal from the PanAm Aquatics Water Polo championship in Brazil. Upon getting to know her, she was much more unassuming than the athletes I’d remember in high school leaving an hour early to compete elsewhere. Through our conversation — from her upbringing to her favourite Scarborough spots — I’d come to understand that I was sitting across a humble team player, a leader, and a rising star.
Ziyaad: I was also raised in Scarborough, and as someone who can’t swim, it was never a sport on my radar. I’m interested in hearing how you picked up on water polo. What caught your interest in it?
Cianne: I was always put in swimming classes when I was younger because my mom decided that was something we just had to do. But I always thought it was really boring because you’re just swimming back and forth, and I would usually forget how many laps I did. One day I was getting my hair cut and I was complaining about swimming lessons; I was probably around 10 or 11. The lady who cut my hair, her son, was the goalie on a Junior Olympics team. She recommended water polo for me, and then I tried it out and I loved it.
Ziyaad: Can you tell me more about the community that supported that initial interest?
Cianne: It was the coaches, the other kids that play, parents, my parent; people just want to encourage you to play sports. Especially a sport like water polo, where it’s not known. I always had people encouraging me to stay in water polo and practice water polo. I said I loved it when I joined, but I didn’t [laughs]. Water polo is a very hard sport. When you’re young, unless you’re being developed, it’s hard to enjoy it because it’s a difficult sport. But now I love water polo and I’m so happy to be able to play every day.
Ziyaad: Where does Shadow come into play? How did they develop that love and nurture you in this demanding sport?
Cianne: Shadow is a club that focuses on its athletes. I felt like I knew my coaches very well, and at some point, they’re your family, especially when you see them every day. My coaches know me; they encourage me. You have different coaches depending on your level, and the coaches I had when I was 10 still talk to me every day. They would even watch my games when I was in Brazil.
Ziyaad: When we were trying to schedule this conversation at the Pan Am Centre, we were told it’d be quite easy because you’re practicing here almost every day. What does the balance look like between being a high school student and an athlete representing their country internationally?
Cianne: I think it depends on what season you’re in. In September, October, and November, the season doesn’t start but you still practice. It’s easier because we don’t have competitions, so you’re not leaving the city and you have a lot more free time. But when the season starts, it becomes difficult. If you can’t manage your time, then it will be a challenge.
I’m lucky enough to have a good relationship with my teachers and principal. They're flexible and they understand my situation. They’re able to adapt and offer extensions. My teachers post everything on Google Classroom, so if I miss a day, I can see exactly what I missed. So I never found myself really behind except when I went to Brazil.
Ziyaad: How did you feel when you got the news that you were selected for that National team?
Cianne: I was kind of scared because I never had to travel out of the country without my mom or family. It’s not like a weekend; it was ten days. So it was a long period to be without anyone you know; there was nobody else from my team that was on it. I was scared that we wouldn’t get along. But at the same time, I was so excited because the whole process of getting on the team was stressful. You’re wondering, “Am I going to make it?”, and there are a lot of people saying, “You’ll make it”, but you don’t want to let anyone down. I was relieved and nervous when I found out I had made the team.
Ziyaad: What was it like touching down in Brazil for the first time?
Cianne: We met our team in Brazil while we were at the airport. When we arrived, I was looking to see if I recognized anyone there. I was trying to find a group of friends. It was really interesting meeting all these girls I probably played against but didn’t know their names, and didn’t know them. Everyone was so nice and wanted to get to know each other. The girls who would usually be on a rival team, we became best friends and would hang out every day.
[From nearby, Cianne’s mother, Erin, chimes in: “Tell them about the exchange between the teams!”]
Cianne: When you go to these competitions, you’re supposed to bring shirts, bathing suits, anything that has “Canada” on it. And you just trade them with other teams. Me and the Mexico team are best friends! So I have a bunch of their shirts, and you give them your shirts. It’s like you bring a piece of the other countries back with you. And they want you to have it. No one is like, “ugh, Canada”. After the game, they come up to me and say, “Please, let’s trade”! Everyone just wants you to love their country and love your country in return.
Ziyaad: How does that feel to be a representative of Canada and Scarborough?
Cianne: When they first tell you you’re on Team Canada, at first, it just feels like any other team. I’ve played for many teams, but when you wear the flag, we have these robes that say Canada on them, you realize what level we’re playing at, and you realize you're representing a country. To me, when I represent Team Canada, I’m representing my family, my friends, my teachers, and all the people I know. And I didn’t realize that until I got to Brazil.
I’m oftentimes reminded that a community is not only a group of people within close proximity; it’s a melting pot of shared interests, pursuits, adversities, and victories. Although you may be adjacent to a subculture brewing in our borough, learning more about your neighbours is a way to celebrate alongside them. Scarborough Shadow Water Polo and Cianne are welcomed nudges that the exceptional things you’re searching for can be in your own backyard.
A win for one Scarborough talent is a win for us all. And it’s the representation we’re looking for as we climb one step further up the Google search results.
Cianne’s Favourite Scarborough Spots:
A secret beach in Guildwood by the Bluffs. “I don’t want to give you the exact coordinates because it’s my secret beach, but if you find it, you find it [laughs]”
Pizza Nova, specifically on Kingston Road
Paradise Shawarma
Scarborough Made Press Story | August 2023
Location: Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
Scarborough Made is a community arts organization championing Toronto’s East through storytelling.
Follow Scarborough Made on Instagram
Article & Interview Written By:
| Photography by: Ziyaad HaniffZiyaad Haniff is a Creative Director, Digital Storyteller, and SM's Communications & Outreach Coordinator.
How A Local Water Polo Community Lifted Cianne Benjamin to the World Stage
Cianne, we’re so proud of you. Don’t forget about us when you’re [more] famous! Your fans, Steph & Damian
Well done Cianne! Keep up the good work. I am so proud of your accomplishments ❤️👍🏾🥰