Water polo at the Summer Olympics
Water polo at the Summer Olympics | |
---|---|
IOC Code | WPO |
Governing body | World Aquatics |
Events | 2 (men: 1; women: 1) |
Summer Olympics | |
Overall statistics (men • women) Champions (men • women) Team appearances (men • women) Player appearances (men • women) Top goalscorers (men • women) Goalkeepers (men • women) Flag bearers and oath takers Venues |
Water polo has been part of the Summer Olympics program since the second games, in 1900. A women's water polo tournament was introduced for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Hungary has been the most successful country in men's tournament, while the United States is the only team to win multiple times at the women's tournament since its introduction. Italy was the first to win both the men's and women's water polo tournaments.
History
[edit]The history of water polo as a team sport began in mid-19th century England and Scotland, where water sports were a feature of county fairs and festivals.[1][2] Water polo has been included in every Summer Olympic Games as a men's competition sport, except 1896. Women's water polo made its debut in the Summer Olympics in 2000.
Beginnings
[edit]Men's water polo was among the first team sports introduced at the modern Olympic Games in 1900.[3] Seven European teams from four countries, including four from the host nation France, took part in the competition. The British team was the inaugural champion.[4]
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a water polo tournament was contested, three club teams of seven players each entered.[5] A German team tried to enter, but its entry was refused because the players did not play for the same club.[6] The event took place in a pond in Forest Park, the location of both the Olympics and the World's Fair.[7] Previously, the International Olympic Committee and International Swimming Federation (FINA) considered the water polo event at the 1904 Olympics as a demonstration sport.[5] However, in July 2021, after accepting the recommendation of Olympic historian Bill Mallon, the IOC recognized water polo along with several others as an official sport of the 1904 Olympic program.[8] Water polo was not played at the 1906 Olympics.[3]
From 1908 to 1920, the Great Britain men's national water polo team won three consecutive gold medals at the Olympics, becoming the first water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak (winning three or more Olympic titles in a row).
Hungarian dominance
[edit]Hungary men's national water polo team has participated in 22 of 27 Olympic tournaments, with fifteen Olympic medals (nine gold, three silver and three bronze). From 1928 to 1980, the Hungarians won twelve consecutive medals in water polo. Twenty years later, the team won three golds in a row between 2000 and 2008, becoming the second team to have an Olympic winning streak in water polo.
Blood in the Water match
[edit]The most famous water polo match in Olympic history often referred to as the Blood in the Water match, was a 1956 Summer Olympics semi-final match between Hungary and the Soviet Union, played in Melbourne on 6 December 1956. As the athletes left for the games, the Hungarian revolution began, and the Soviet army crushed the uprising. The match was bloody and violent. The Hungarians defeated the Soviets 4–0 before the game was called off in the final minute to prevent angry Hungarians in the crowd reacting to Soviet player Valentin Prokopov punching Hungarian player Ervin Zádor. Pictures of Zádor's injuries were published around the world, leading to the "Blood in the Water" moniker.[9]
The Hungarians went on to win the Olympic gold medal by defeating Yugoslavia 2–1 in the final.
Addition of women's program
[edit]Women's water polo became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Six nations competed in the women's tournament with home team Australia winning the gold medal over the United States.
From 2012 to 2020, the United States women's team won three consecutive gold medals at the Summer Olympics, becoming the first women's water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak.
Geography
[edit]Water polo is now popular in many countries around the world, notably in Europe (particularly in Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Spain), Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States.
As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, 51 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from six continents have sent their water polo teams to the Olympic Games. Men's water polo teams of European NOCs won all 27 official tournaments, while women's teams from Europe, North America and Oceania won all six gold medals. Water polo teams from Africa, Asia and South America have not won an Olympic medal yet.
Venues
[edit]For the Summer Olympics, there are 34 venues that have been or will be used for water polo.
The Seine in Paris hosted the first water polo competitions at the 1900 Olympics. The Forest Park in St. Louis hosted the water polo events for the 1904 Summer Olympics.
The first water polo venue not located on a river or a lake took place at the 1908 London Olympics. It was not until the 1920 Olympics that a separate venue was created for the aquatic venues. The 1948 Games were the first Olympics in which water polo took place both indoors and in more than one venue. The first separate water polo venue that was not connected to other aquatic venues was at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
The Water Polo Arena of the 2012 London Olympics was the first dedicated water polo venue to be built for an Olympics, the structure was taken down after the games.
- Paris 1900: Seine, Paris
- St. Louis 1904: Forest Park, St. Louis
- London 1908: White City Stadium, White City
- Stockholm 1912: Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, Stockholm
- Antwerp 1920: Stade Nautique d'Antwerp, Antwerp
- Paris 1924: Piscine des Tourelles, Paris
- Amsterdam 1928: Olympic Sports Park Swim Stadium, Amsterdam
- Los Angeles 1932: Swimming Stadium, Los Angeles
- Berlin 1936: Olympic Swimming Stadium, Berlin
- London 1948: Empire Pool (final), Wembley; and Finchley Lido, North Finchley
- Helsinki 1952: Swimming Stadium, Helsinki
- Melbourne 1956: Swimming/Diving Stadium, Melbourne
- Rome 1960: Piscina delle Rose and Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto (final), both in Rome
- Tokyo 1964: Tokyo Metropolitan Indoor Swimming Pool, Tokyo
- Mexico City 1968: Francisco Márquez Olympic Pool (final) and University City Swimming Pool, both in Mexico City
- Munich 1972: Dantebad and Schwimmhalle (final), both in Munich
- Montreal 1976: Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard and Olympic Pool (final), both in Montreal
- Moscow 1980: Swimming Pool - Moscow and Swimming Pool - Olimpiysky (final), both in Moscow
- Los Angeles 1984: Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool, Malibu, California
- Seoul 1988: Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool, Seoul
- Barcelona 1992: Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc and Piscines Bernat Picornell (finals), both in Barcelona
- Atlanta 1996: Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, Atlanta
- Sydney 2000: Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre, Ryde; and Sydney International Aquatic Centre, Sydney
- Athens 2004: Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre, Athens
- Beijing 2008: Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing
- London 2012: Water Polo Arena, London
- Rio de Janeiro 2016: Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre and Olympic Aquatics Stadium (finals), Rio de Janeiro
- Tokyo 2020: Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, Tokyo
- Paris 2024: Paris Aquatic Centre (prelims phase) and Paris La Défense Arena (final phase)
- Los Angeles 2028: Long Beach Waterfront
- Brisbane 2032: Sleeman Centre
Sources:
- Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996;
- Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2016;
- Olympedia: Water polo venues.
Events
[edit]- Notes
- The X indicates that the tournament was held as a full Olympic medal sport.
- The bullet (•) denotes that it was contested as an unofficial sport.
Rules
[edit]Qualification summary
[edit]Qualification
[edit]Since 2012, the qualifying process consists of five stages:
- The team of the host nation qualifies automatically.
- No more than one team qualifies as the top team in the FINA World League.
- No more than three teams qualify as the top teams in the World Aquatics Championships.
- No more than five teams qualify as the continental Olympic qualification tournament champions.
- No more than four teams qualify through a world qualifying tournament, in which the best teams which did not qualify directly from each continent compete for the remaining berths.
Stage | Zone | Tournament | Berths | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 2016 | 2020 | |||
1 | — | Host nation | 1 (from Europe) | 1 (from Americas) | 1 (from Asia) |
2 | World – FINA | FINA Water Polo World League | 1 | 1 | 1 |
3 | World – FINA | World Aquatics Championships | 3 | 2 | 2 |
4 | Africa – CANA | African Continental Selection | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Americas – UANA | Pan American Games | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Asia – AASF | Asian Water Polo Championship | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Europe – LEN | European Water Polo Championship | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Oceania – OSA | Oceanian Continental Selection | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
5 | World – FINA | World Qualification Tournament | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Total | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Stage | Zone | Tournament | Berths | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 2016 | 2020 | |||
1 | — | Host nation | 1 (from Europe) | 1 (from Americas) | 1 (from Asia) |
2 | World – FINA | FINA Water Polo World League | 0 | 0 | 1 |
3 | World – FINA | World Aquatics Championships | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4 | Africa – CANA | African Continental Selection | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Americas – UANA | Pan American Games | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Asia – AASF | Asian Water Polo Championship | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Europe – LEN | European Water Polo Championship | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Oceania – OSA | Oceanian Continental Selection | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
5 | World – FINA | World Qualification Tournament | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Total | 8 | 8 | 10 |
Players
[edit]Eligibility
[edit]According to the FINA General Rules,[10] the list below shows the requirements for a player to be eligible to play in international tournaments:
- "GR 1.1: All competitors shall be registered with their National Federation to be eligible to compete."
- "GR 2.5: When a competitor or competition official represents his/her country in a competition, he/she shall be a citizen, whether by birth or naturalisation, of the nation he/she represents, provided that a naturalised citizen shall have lived in that country for at least one year prior to that competition. Competitors, who have more than one nationality according to the laws of the respective nations must choose one 'Sport Nationality'. This choice shall be exercised by the first representation of the competitor for one of the countries."
- "GR 2.6: Any competitor or competition official changing his sport nationality from one national governing body to another must have resided in the territory of and been under the jurisdiction of the latter for at least twelve months prior to his first representation for the country."
Competition format
[edit]For both the men's and women's tournaments at the 2020 Olympics (which was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic),[11] the competition consists of a round-robin group stage followed by a knockout stage. Teams are placed into two groups, with each team playing each other team in its group once. Teams earn 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The top four teams in each group advance to the knockout rounds. The knockout rounds are a single-elimination tournament consisting of quarterfinals, semifinals, and the gold and bronze medal matches.
Matches consist of four quarters of eight minutes each. During the knockout rounds, if the score is tied after four quarters (32 minutes), penalty shootouts, which is 5 rounds, plus extra rounds if tied, are used to determine the winner.
# | Year | Dates | Number of | Competition format | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams | Matches | ||||
1 | 1900 | 11–12 August | 7 teams | 6 matches | Single-elimination tournament |
2 | 1904 | 5–6 September | 3 teams | 2 matches | |
3 | 1908 | 15–22 July | 4 teams | 4 matches | |
4 | 1912 | 7–16 July | 6 teams | 10 matches | |
5 | 1920 | 22–29 August | 12 teams | 19 matches | Single-elimination tournament with Bergvall system for second- and third-place |
6 | 1924 | 13–20 July | 13 teams | 19 matches | |
7 | 1928 | 4–11 August | 14 teams | 18 matches | Single-elimination tournament with Bergvall system for third place |
8 | 1932 | 4–13 August | 5 teams | 6 matches[a] | Round-robin tournament |
9 | 1936 | 8–15 August | 16 teams | 40 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin semi-final pool; round-robin semi-final pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
10 | 1948 | 28 July – 7 August | 18 teams | 40 matches[b] | Series of round-robin elimination pools, followed by round-robin semi-final pools, and then round-robin final pools |
11 | 1952 | 25 July – 2 August | 21 teams | 56 matches[c] | Single-elimination tournament qualifying; round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin semi-final pool; round-robin semi-final pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
12 | 1956 | 28 November – 7 December | 10 teams | 29 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
13 | 1960 | 25 August – 3 September | 16 teams | 40 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin semi-final pool; round-robin semi-final pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
14 | 1964 | 11–18 October | 13 teams | 31 matches | |
15 | 1968 | 14–26 October | 15 teams | 63 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
16 | 1972 | 27 August – 4 September | 16 teams | 59 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
17 | 1976 | 18–27 July | 12 teams | 48 matches | |
18 | 1980 | 20–29 July | 12 teams | 48 matches | |
19 | 1984 | 1–10 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | |
20 | 1988 | 21 September – 1 October | 12 teams | 42 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
21 | 1992 | 1–9 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | |
22 | 1996 | 20–28 July | 12 teams | 48 matches | |
23 | 2000 | 23 September – 1 October | 12 teams | 48 matches | |
24 | 2004 | 15–29 August | 12 teams | 44 matches | |
25 | 2008 | 10–24 August | 12 teams | 44 matches | |
26 | 2012 | 29 July – 12 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | |
27 | 2016 | 6–20 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | |
28 | 2020 | 25 July – 8 August 2021[11] | 12 teams | 42 matches | |
# | Year | Dates | Teams | Matches | Competition format |
Number of |
# | Year | Dates | Number of | Competition format | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams | Matches | ||||
1 | 2000 | 16–23 September | 6 teams | 20 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
2 | 2004 | 16–26 August | 8 teams | 20 matches | |
3 | 2008 | 11–21 August | 8 teams | 20 matches | |
4 | 2012 | 30 July – 9 August | 8 teams | 24 matches | |
5 | 2016 | 9–19 August | 8 teams | 24 matches | |
6 | 2020 | 24 July – 7 August 2021[11] | 10 teams | 32 matches |
Sources:
- Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996;
- Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2016;
- Olympedia: 1900–2016;
- Sports Reference: 1900–2016.
Game rules
[edit]Maximum number of players per team
[edit]Maximum number of players | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
1900–1904 | 1908–1980 | 1984–2016 | 2020– | |
In the playing area of the pool during an Olympic match | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
During an Olympic match | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12[12] |
During an Olympic tournament | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13[12] |
per club | per nation | per nation | per nation |
Maximum number of players | ||
---|---|---|
2000–2016 | 2020– | |
In the playing area of the pool during an Olympic match | 7 | 7 |
During an Olympic match | 13 | 12[12] |
During an Olympic tournament | 13 | 13[12] |
per nation | per nation |
Sources:
- Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996;
- Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2016.
Anti-doping
[edit]The FINA follows the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) regulations on performance-enhancing drugs. According to the WADA, a positive in-competition test results in disqualification of the player and a suspension that varies based on the number of offences. When a player tests positive, the rest of their team is subjected to testing; another positive test can result in a disqualification of the entire team.[13][14][15][16]
Men's tournament
[edit]Results summary
[edit]Sources:
- Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996 (men's tournaments);
- Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2020 (men's tournaments);
- Olympedia: 1900–2020 (men's tournaments);
- Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).
Confederation statistics
[edit]Best performances by tournament
[edit]This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament.[5] Last updated: 8 August 2021.
Note: italic number in header means unofficial tournament was held.
Legend
- 1st – Champions
- 2nd – Runners-up
- 3rd – Third place
- 4th – Fourth place
- Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
Confederation | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa – CANA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7th | 10th | — | 9th | 12th | 15th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12th | — | — | — | 12th | — | |
Americas – UANA | — | — | — | 4th | 3rd | 7th | 3rd | 9th | 10th | 4th | 5th | 7th | 9th | 5th | 3rd | 7th | 5th | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 7th | 6th | 7th | 2nd | 8th | 10th | 6th | 3rd | |
Asia – AASF | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4th | 14th | 12th | 21st | 10th | 14th | 11th | 12th | 15th | 12th | — | 9th | 11th | — | — | 9th | 11th | 12th | 11th | 12th | 10th | 11th | |
Europe – LEN | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | |
Oceania – OSA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18th | 19th | 9th | 15th | 10th | — | 12th | 11th | 7th | 5th | 8th | 5th | — | 8th | 9th | 8th | 7th | 9th | 9th | 8th | |
Total teams | 7 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Team statistics
[edit]Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | p. | page | pp. | pages |
---|
Comprehensive team results by tournament
[edit]Note: Results of Olympic qualification tournaments are not included. Numbers refer to the final placing of each team at the respective Games; italic number in header means unofficial tournament was held. Last updated: 11 February 2024.
Legend
- 1 – Champions
- 2 – Runners-up
- 3 – Third place
- 4 – Fourth place
- – Qualified but were not allowed to compete
- – Disqualified
- — – The nation did not participate in the Games
- Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
- – Hosts
- = – More than one team tied for that rank
- Team† – Defunct team
Abbreviation
- stats – Olympic water polo team statistics
- EUA – United Team of Germany
- FRG – West Germany
- FRY – FR Yugoslavia
- GDR – East Germany
- SCG – Serbia and Montenegro
Men's team[5] | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egypt (stats) | — | — | — | — | 7 | 10 | — | 13 | 12 | 15 | — | 12 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
South Africa | — | 14 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | WD | 3 |
Men's team[5] | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | — | — | 13 | 10 | 16 | 11 | — | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Brazil (stats) | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | [a] | 9 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
Canada (stats) | 16 | 9 | — | 10 | 11 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chile | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cuba | — | — | — | 8 | 9 | 7 | 5 | — | — | 8 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mexico | — | — | — | — | 18 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
United States (stats) | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 23 | |||||
Uruguay | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 16 | — | 2 |
Men's team[5] | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 11 | 12 | 3 | |||||||||
India | — | — | — | 12 | 21 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iran | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Japan (stats) | — | — | — | 4 | 14 | — | 14 | 11 | 12 | 15 | — | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
Kazakhstan (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | [g] | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
Singapore | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
South Korea | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 1 |
Men's team[5] | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 4 | — | 7 | 13 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belgium (stats) | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
Bulgaria | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 12 | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
Croatia (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | 2 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
Czechoslovakia† | — | — | — | — | 12 | 6 | 10 | 11 | — | 12 | Defunct | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
East Germany† | Part of Germany | P. of EUA | 6 | — | Part of Germany | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
France (stats) | 3[d] | — | 6 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
Germany (stats) | =5 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 15 | See EUA | See FRG and GDR | 7 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
Great Britain (stats) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||
Greece (stats) | 8 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 17 | ||||||||||||
Hungary (stats) | 5 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 24 | |||
Iceland | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ireland | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 14 | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Italy (stats) | — | 10 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 22 | ||||||
Luxembourg | — | — | — | 11 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malta | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
Montenegro (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | P. of FRY / SCG | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Netherlands (stats) | — | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 17 | |||||||||||
Portugal | — | — | — | 20 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Romania (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | |||||||||||||
Russia (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | [g] | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
Serbia (stats) | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | P. of FRY / SCG | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
Serbia and Montenegro† (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | See FRY | 2 | Defunct | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Slovakia | — | — | — | — | Part of Czechoslovakia | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Soviet Union†[i] (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | 3 | Defunct | 9 | ||||||||
Spain (stats) | — | — | — | 7 | 10 | 9 | — | 8 | 8 | — | 9 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 19 | |||||
Sweden (stats) | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Switzerland | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ukraine | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | [g] | 12 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
Unified Team†[g] (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | 3 | Defunct | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
United Team of Germany† (stats) | See Germany | 6 | 6 | 6 | See FRG and GDR | See Germany | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
West Germany† (stats) | Part of Germany | P. of EUA | 10 | 4 | 6 | — | 3 | 4 | Part of Germany | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Yugoslavia† (stats) | — | — | — | — | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Defunct | 12 | ||||||||||||
Yugoslavia†[h] (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | — | 8 | 3 | Defunct | 2 |
Men's team[5] | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia (stats) | — | — | 18 | 19 | 9 | 15 | 10 | [j] | 12 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 18 |
Men's team[5] | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total teams | 7 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Finishes in the top four
[edit]The following table is pre-sorted by total finishes in the top four (in descending order), number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 8 August 2021.
Legend
- Year* – As host team
- Team† – Defunct team
Rk | Men's team[5] | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hungary | 17 | 9 (1932, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1976, 2000, 2004, 2008) | 3 (1928, 1948, 1972) | 4 (1960, 1968, 1980, 2020) | 2 (1996, 2024) | 1928 | 2024 |
2 | Italy | 11 | 3 (1948, 1960*, 1992) | 2 (1976, 2012) | 3 (1952, 1996, 2016) | 3 (1956, 1964, 1968) | 1948 | 2016 |
3 | United States | 10 | 3 (1984*, 1988, 2008) | 4 (1924, 1932*, 1972, 2024) | 3 (1920, 1952, 1992) | 1920 | 2024 | |
4 | Yugoslavia† | 8 | 3 (1968, 1984, 1988) | 4 (1952, 1956, 1964, 1980) | 1 (1960) | 1952 | 1988 | |
5 | Soviet Union† | 7 | 2 (1972, 1980*) | 2 (1960, 1968) | 3 (1956, 1964, 1988) | 1956 | 1988 | |
6 | Belgium | 7 | 4 (1900, 1908, 1920*, 1924) | 2 (1912, 1936) | 1 (1948) | 1900 | 1948 | |
7 | Spain | 6 | 1 (1996) | 1 (1992*) | 4 (1980, 1984, 2000, 2020) | 1980 | 2020 | |
8 | Great Britain | 5 | 4 (1900, 1908*, 1912, 1920) | 1 (1928) | 1900 | 1928 | ||
9 | France | 5 | 1 (1924*) | 3 (1900*×2,[d] 1928) | 1 (1936) | 1900 | 1936 | |
10 | Serbia | 5 | 3 (2016, 2020, 2024) | 2 (2008, 2012) | 2008 | 2024 | ||
11 | Croatia | 4 | 1 (2012) | 3 (1996, 2016, 2024) | 1996 | 2024 | ||
12 | Sweden | 4 | 1 (1912*) | 2 (1908, 1920) | 1 (1924) | 1908 | 1924 | |
13 | Germany | 3 | 1 (1928) | 2 (1932, 1936*) | 1928 | 1936 | ||
14 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 (1948, 1976) | 1 (1908) | 1908 | 1976 | ||
15 | West Germany† | 3 | 1 (1984) | 2 (1972*, 1988) | 1972 | 1988 | ||
16 | Montenegro | 3 | 3 (2008, 2012, 2016) | 2008 | 2016 | |||
17 | Russia | 2 | 1 (2000) | 1 (2004) | 2000 | 2004 | ||
18 | Greece | 2 | 1 (2020) | 1 (2004*) | 2004 | 2020 | ||
19 | Serbia and Montenegro† | 1 | 1 (2004) | 2004 | 2004 | |||
20 | Yugoslavia†[h] | 1 | 1 (2000) | 2000 | 2000 | |||
Unified Team†[g] | 1 (1992) | 1992 | 1992 | |||||
22 | Austria | 1 | 1 (1912) | 1912 | 1912 | |||
Japan | 1 (1932) | 1932 | 1932 | |||||
Romania | 1 (1976) | 1976 | 1976 | |||||
Rk | Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
Medal table
[edit]The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 11 August 2024.
Hungary is the most successful country in the men's Olympic water polo tournament, with nine gold, three silver and four bronze.[5]
- Legend
- Team† – Defunct team
Rank | Men's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hungary (HUN) | 9 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
2 | Yugoslavia (YUG)† | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
3 | Italy (ITA) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
4 | Serbia (SRB) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
5 | Great Britain (GBR)[k] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
6 | Soviet Union (URS)† | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
7 | United States (USA)[l] | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
8 | Croatia (CRO) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
9 | Germany (GER) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
10 | Spain (ESP) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
11 | France (FRA)[d] | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
12 | Mixed team (ZZX)† | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
13 | Belgium (BEL) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
14 | Sweden (SWE) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
15 | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Serbia and Montenegro (SCG)†[h] | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
17 | Greece (GRE) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
18 | Netherlands (NED) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
19 | Unified Team (EUN)†[g] | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
West Germany (FRG)† | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Totals (20 entries) | 29 | 29 | 30 | 88 |
Champions (results, squads)
[edit]Champions (results)
The following table shows results of Olympic champions in men's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 8 August 2021.
Legend
- 6 – Winning 6 matches during the tournament
- 4 – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament
- 2 – Losing 2 matches during the tournament
- 100.0% – Winning all matches during the tournament
- Team – Olympic winning streak (winning three or more Olympic titles in a row)
- Team – Host team
- Team† – Defunct team
Abbreviation
- MP – Matches played
- W – Won
- D – Drawn
- L – Lost
- GF – Goals for
- GA – Goals against
- GD – Goal difference
- GF/MP – Goals for per match
- GA/MP – Goals against per match
- GD/MP – Goal difference per match
# | Men's tournament | Champions | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Paris 1900 | Great Britain (1st title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 29 | 3 | 26 | 9.667 | 1.000 | 8.667 |
2 | St. Louis 1904 | Water polo was a demonstration sport | |||||||||||
3 | London 1908 | Great Britain (2nd title) | 1[e] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9.000 | 2.000 | 7.000 |
4 | Stockholm 1912 | Great Britain (3rd title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 21 | 8 | 13 | 7.000 | 2.667 | 4.333 |
5 | Antwerp 1920 | Great Britain (4th title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 19 | 4 | 15 | 6.333 | 1.333 | 5.000 |
6 | Paris 1924 | France (1st title) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 16 | 6 | 10 | 4.000 | 1.500 | 2.500 |
7 | Amsterdam 1928 | Germany (1st title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 18 | 10 | 8 | 6.000 | 3.333 | 2.667 |
8 | Los Angeles 1932 | Hungary (1st title) | 3[a] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 30 | 2 | 28 | 10.000 | 0.667 | 9.333 |
9 | Berlin 1936 | Hungary (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 44 | 4 | 40 | 6.286 | 0.571 | 5.714 |
10 | London 1948 | Italy (1st title) | 7[b] | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 35 | 14 | 21 | 5.000 | 2.000 | 3.000 |
11 | Helsinki 1952 | Hungary (3rd title) | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75.0% | 53 | 16 | 37 | 6.625 | 2.000 | 4.625 |
12 | Melbourne 1956 | Hungary (4th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 26 | 4 | 22 | 4.333 | 0.667 | 3.667 |
13 | Rome 1960 | Italy (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 31 | 12 | 19 | 4.429 | 1.714 | 2.714 |
14 | Tokyo 1964 | Hungary (5th title) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.3% | 34 | 13 | 21 | 5.667 | 2.167 | 3.500 |
15 | Mexico City 1968 | Yugoslavia† (1st title) | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 77.8% | 86 | 35 | 51 | 9.556 | 3.889 | 5.667 |
16 | Munich 1972 | Soviet Union† (1st title) | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75.0% | 48 | 24 | 24 | 6.000 | 3.000 | 3.000 |
17 | Montreal 1976 | Hungary (6th title) | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87.5% | 45 | 32 | 13 | 5.625 | 4.000 | 1.625 |
18 | Moscow 1980 | Soviet Union† (2nd title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 58 | 31 | 27 | 7.250 | 3.875 | 3.375 |
19 | Los Angeles 1984 | Yugoslavia† (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 72 | 44 | 28 | 10.286 | 6.286 | 4.000 |
20 | Seoul 1988 | Yugoslavia† (3rd title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 83 | 55 | 28 | 11.857 | 7.857 | 4.000 |
21 | Barcelona 1992 | Italy (3rd title) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71.4% | 59 | 50 | 9 | 8.429 | 7.143 | 1.286 |
22 | Atlanta 1996 | Spain (1st title) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 75.0% | 58 | 48 | 10 | 7.250 | 6.000 | 1.250 |
23 | Sydney 2000 | Hungary (7th title) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 75.0% | 78 | 57 | 21 | 9.750 | 7.125 | 2.625 |
24 | Athens 2004 | Hungary (8th title) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 59 | 39 | 20 | 8.429 | 5.571 | 2.857 |
25 | Beijing 2008 | Hungary (9th title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 85 | 55 | 30 | 12.143 | 7.857 | 4.286 |
26 | London 2012 | Croatia (1st title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 73 | 42 | 31 | 9.125 | 5.250 | 3.875 |
27 | Rio 2016 | Serbia (1st title) | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 62.5% | 80 | 66 | 14 | 10.000 | 8.250 | 1.750 |
28 | Tokyo 2020 | Serbia (2nd title) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 75.0% | 103 | 71 | 32 | 12.875 | 8.875 | 4.000 |
# | Men's tournament | Total | 169 | 144 | 16 | 9 | 85.2% | 1352 | 747 | 605 | 8.000 | 4.420 | 3.580 |
Champions | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
Sources:
- Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996 (men's tournaments);
- Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 207), 2008 (p. 202), 2012 (p. 471), 2016 (p. 131), 2020 (p. 150);
- Olympedia: 1900–2020 (men's tournaments);
- Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).
Champions (squads)
The following table shows number of players and average age, height and weight of Olympic champions