Background[]
Insights[]
Quotable: "The strong take from the weak, the smart take from the strong, and the smart and strong take from everyone."
Quick fact: Holds team record in bench press (385 pounds) and fastest recorded shot on the team (54 mph).
Position: Center
Ht.: 6-foot-6. Wt.: 245
Home town: Long Beach, Calif.
Education: Millikan High School, Long Beach, 1994; University California-Irvine, graduated with a bachelor's degree in social science in 1998 after four years.
Age: 32. Birthday: 8/28/75. Birth place: Los Angeles. Family: Bailey is the son of Dan and Kay Bailey of Long Beach; he has an older brother Joe, 36 and one sister Dana, 40.
Pro experience: Played for Partizan Belgrade in 2007-2008. Played on Panionios in Greece in 2006-2007Played for Jadran in Split, Croatia, in 2005-2006Played for Dynamo Moscow in 2004-2005..Played for JUG Dubrovnik in Croatia from 2001 to 2003. Played in Euro League Final Four in 2002.
Club/international experience: A standout center whose scoring ability helped Team USA in many international events including 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games when securing sixth and seventh place finishes respectively. Bailey represented USA in at least 17 international events, with first place finishes in five of the events. Was first place in the Fina World Cup in 1997. He was named MVP of 2006 ASUA CupOutstanding Offensive Player at 2006 Premier League ChampionshipsNamed 2003 American Water Polo League Outstanding Offensive Player Named USOC Water Polo Male Athlete of the Year in 2001 and 2002.Chuck Metz MVP in 2002.Most Valuable Offensive Player in his debut season of American Water Polo League (18 goals.)
College: At Irvine, where he was a three-time All-America. Also named Player of the Year by the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 1998, scoring 105 goals in 26 games.
Up Close and Personal: Bailey loves the physical nature of the sport and his strongest skill is wrestling and holding position against the other team's biggest and best players. Ryan's dream is to win an Olympic medal. He says his mental preparation includes early morning crossword puzzles, reading, watching Globe Trotter re-runs, and hanging out with his brother. "It helps me enormously in dealing with the pressures of making the Olympic team," Ryan said.
Winning an Olympic medal would be "the fulfillment of a lifelong dream," he added. "I have played water polo since I was in elementary school."
Did you know: His training diet includes oatmeal and egg whites for breakfast. His favorite food is pizza. He has a pet Chihuahua named Lola. Bailey relaxes by watching DVD movies after practice sessions. His favorite team USA moment is the gold medal performance by USA at the 2007 Pan American games.