SALEM, W.Va. (March 31) – Former Salem International University standout Michael Izdinsky and the French National Team will compete at the 2016 FINA Men's Water Polo Olympic Games Qualification Tournament on April 3-10, 2016 in Trieste, Italy at Polo Natatorio Bruno Bianchi.

Izdinsky, who scored two goals and dished out five assists to lead the French National Team to a Ninth Place finish at the 2016 European Water Polo Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, on January 10-23, will join his teammates in participating to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  To make the Olympic field, France must finish among the Top Four teams.

The Ninth Place finish earned the French a slot in the qualifying tournament field as France was selected by FINA into Group A for the event on January 23 as the draw occurred in Belgrade during the European Championships.

There were 12 places originally allocated to continental associations in the tournament not already directly qualified for the Olympics - nine from Europe, one from the Americas, one from Asia and one from Africa.

The French will face Russia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Canada in Group A, while Italy, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Kazakhstan comprise Group B.

Following bracket (A, B) play on Sunday-Thursday, April 3-7, the Top Four teams in Bracket A and B will crossover in the quarterfinals.  A victory in the quarterfinals advances a team to the semifinals and guarantees a spot in Rio de Janeiro this Summer for the Olympic Games.

A 2013 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division II All-America to go along with Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Scholar-Athlete Outstanding honors, Izdinsky established a Salem International single season record with 106 goals in his season with the Tigers.

2016 FINA Men's Olympic Games Qualification Tournament Draw