Water polo first appeared in 1900 at the Olympics in Paris and ever since it has been a part of the Olympic Games programme. Originally water polo appeared at 27 different Olympic Games tournaments, however, the year 1904 and the Olympics in St. Louis don’t count because water polo was a demonstration sport with only American contestants participating. Therefore 26 water polo tournaments of the Olympics are counted.
This review of water polo at the Olympics presents stats & facts about medals, appearances, hosts, goals, coaches and fun facts that have happened throughout the history of water polo at the Olympic Games.
Medals
From 1900 in Paris until 2021 and Tokyo Olympics, 19 different countries won 79 Olympic medals in total in men’s water polo. 10 different countries made history by winning the gold Olympic medal, 12 countries won silver whereas 13 different countries won the bronze Olympic medal. Hungary has the most gold medals, Belgium and Yugoslavia have the most silver medals and 5 different countries (Hungary, Italy, Soviet Union, France, USA) share the spot for the most bronze medals.
10 different countries won the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo. Gold was never won by non-European countries even though the USA came close on three different occasions when they took home silver Olympic medals.
Hungary is the absolute winner in men’s water polo at the Olympic Games. 15 unbelievable medals out of which 9 historic golds. Hungary’s domination is even greater if we compare them with the competition. Great Britain and Yugoslavia, which are second and third on this list, can’t compare to Hungary even if they combine their medals. Great Britain and Yugoslavia with 7 gold medals are still two gold medals short of Hungary.
There were 26 different water polo tournaments at 26 different Olympic Games but there are 27 different bronze Olympic medals. That is because France won two bronze Olympic medals in 1900 at the Olympics in Paris.
Most GOLD medals in a row
Great Britain and Hungary won the most gold medals in a row in men’s water polo. Great Britain won 3 in a row in 1908, 1912 and 1920. Whereas Hungary also won 3 gold medals in a row in 2000, 2004, 2012.
Most SILVER medals in a row
No one has ever won 3 silver medals in a row. However, Belgium (1920, 1924), Germany (1932, 1936), Yugoslavia (1952, 1956) and the USA (1984, 1988) won 2 silver medals in a row.
Most BRONZE medals in a row
Only Serbia won 2 bronze medals in a row. Serbia won bronze at the Olympic Games in 2008 and in 2012. It is interesting that no one has managed to win two consecutive bronze Olympic medals for more than 100 years.
Most fourth-place finishes in a row
Montenegro finished fourth 3 times in a row and they have a chance to continue the sequence at the Olympic Games this summer because they finished fourth at the Olympics in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
Most medals in a row
Hungary had an unbelievable run at winning consecutive Olympic medals in men’s water polo. From 1928 until 1980 Hungary won an Olympic medal in men’s water polo at every single Olympic Games. That is 12 consecutive Olympic medals in men’s water polo for Hungary.
Longest gap between successive titles
Hungary won the gold Olympic medal in 1976 and the next gold medal in men’s water polo at the Olympic Games was in 2000 at the Olympic Games in Sydney. That is a gap of 24 years between the two gold medals.
Longest gap between successive medals
The USA won the bronze Olympic medal in 1932 and then waited for 40 years to win another Olympic medal in men’s water polo. In 1972 the USA won the bronze Olympic medal and therefore ended the 40-year drought.
The best finish by a debuting team
The best finish by a debuting team in men’s water polo was at the Olympics in 1900 when Great Britain won the gold. But if we don’t count the year 1900, when water polo first appeared at the Olympic Games, then Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro have the best finish by a debuting team. Croatia debuted in 1996 and finished second. Whereas Serbia and Montenegro won silver in their debut in 2004 at the Olympic Games in Athens.
The worst finish by a debuting team
The worst finish by a debuting team happened in 1952 at the Olympic Games in Helsinki when Portugal finished in the 20th position. Portugal never played water polo at the Olympic Games after that.
The most populated country that won the Olympics in men’s water polo
The most populated country that won the Olympic Games in men’s water polo is the Soviet Union in 1980 with a population of more than 260 million people.
The least populated country that won the Olympics in men’s water polo
The least populated country that won the Olympic Games in men’s water polo is Croatia in 2012 with a population of around 4 million people.
Player with most Olympic medals
Since Hungary is dominating statistics for won medals in men’s water polo, it is no surprise that their players are dominating statistics for won medals as well.
Dezso Gyarmati is the first and only water polo player, both man or woman, to win five Olympic medals in water polo. His first medal was silver at the Olympics in 1948. He then went on to win two gold Olympic medals in a row. In 1960 he won the bronze Olympic medal. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Gyarmati won his fifth Olympic medal and his third gold with which he set this unbelievable record.
Seven more athletes won four Olympic medals in water polo. All of them are Hungarian besides Joseph Pletincx who is from Belgium. However, Pletincx never won the gold Olympic medal. Gyorgy Karpati, Laszlo Jeney, Mihaly Mayer, Andras Bodnar, Endre Molnar and Istvan Szivos Jr. all have at least one gold amongst their four Olympic medals.
Moreover, 10 water polo players won three gold Olympic medals in water polo. Dezso Gyarmati, Gyorgy Karpati, Paul Radmilovic, and Charles Smith. The other six players that won three gold Olympic medals in water polo were all members of the Hungary men’s national water polo team that won three gold Olympic medals in a row in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Those players are Tibor Benedek, Peter Biros, Tamas Kasas, Gergely Kiss, Tamas Molnar and Zoltan Szecsi.
Appearances
Water polo was played at 26 different Olympic Games and Hungary didn’t play men’s water polo at only 4 Olympic Games. During those 26 different times, 52 different countries/teams participated in men’s water polo.
Hungary is a winner when it comes to appearances as well. They played water polo at 22 different Olympic Games. Their first appearance at the Olympic Games in men’s water polo was in 1912 and the last one was in 2016.
The second country with the most appearances is the USA with one less appearance than Hungary. They played water polo 21 times at the Olympic Games. Their first appearance in men’s water polo was in 1920 and the last one was in 2016. The USA also holds the record for the country with most appearances without ever winning a title.
Most appearances, never finishing in top 2
The Netherlands played water polo at 17 different Olympic Games but they never won gold or silver. They won two bronze medals. Their first appearance in men’s water polo at the Olympics was in 1908 and the last one in 2000.
Most appearances, never winning a medal
Australia first played water polo at the Olympic Games in 1948 and last time in 2016. They played water polo at 16 different Olympic Games but they never won a medal. Their best result was fifth place on two different occasions. Australia also holds a record for most appearances without ever finishing in the top four.
Fewest appearances, winning a title
Serbia played water polo at only 3 Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016) and they won the title in 2016. Serbia has a chance to defend the title this summer at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Fewest appearances
12 different countries only participated once in men’s water polo at the Olympic Games. Luxemburg (1928), Iceland (1936), Chile (1948), Portugal (1952), Singapore (1956), East Germany (1968), Iran (1976), South Korea (1988), Unified Team (1992), Ukraine (1996), Slovakia (2000), Serbia and Montenegro (2004).
Longest gap between successive appearances
Czechoslovakia and Great Britain had an unbelievable gap between their successive appearances. They both waited for 56 years to play men’s water polo at the Olympic Games. For Czechoslovakia that was between 1936 and 1992 and for Great Britain, the gap was between 1956 and 2012.
Appearances – players
14 different water polo players competed in water polo at 5 or more Olympic Games. Four players who achieved that are from Spain, 3 are from Hungary, 2 are from Italy, 2 from Greece, 1 from Great Britain, Croatia and the USA.
Manuel Estiarte is the first and only water polo player (both man or woman) to compete in water polo at six different Olympic Games. The other 13 players are five-time Olympians.
Jesus Rolan is the first water polo goalkeeper (both man or woman) to compete at five different Olympic Games.
Tony Azevedo is the first non-European water polo player to compete at five Olympic Games.
George Mavrotas and Georgios Afroudakis are the only two five-time Olympians that haven’t won any medals.
Hosts
Only 4 countries won the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo while hosting the Olympic Games. Great Britain won the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo when they hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, France achieved that in 1924 at the Olympic Games in Paris, Italy won the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo as the host of the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960. The last country to win the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo while hosting the Games is the Soviet Union. They won the gold in 1980 at the Olympic Games in Moscow. Those four countries obviously hold the record in men’s water polo for the best finish by the host team.
Worst finish by the host team
Finland hosted the Olympic Games in 1952 in Helsinki and they didn’t participate in men’s water polo at those Olympic Games. They are the only host of the Olympic Games to not participate in men’s water polo while hosting the Olympic Games. Every other host of the Olympic Games at least participated in men’s water polo while hosting the Olympics.
Worst finish by host team that participated in the tournament
Great Britain hosted the Olympic Games in 1948 as well. The year 1948 was long after their golden water polo years. They finished 13th in men’s water polo at those Olympic Games. Which makes it the worst finish by the host team participating in the water polo tournament.
The most populated country hosting the Olympics
China hosted the Olympic Games in 2008 in Beijing. China had a population of more than one billion people in 2008.
The least populated country hosting the Olympics
In 1952, Finland, while hosting the Olympic Games, had a population of around 4 million people.
Goals
Top goal-scorers of ALL-TIME
Only four players scored over 60 goals in total at the Olympic Games in men’s water polo.
Manuel Estiarte holds the record for the most goals scored by a water polo player in Olympic history. He scored unbelievable 127 goals, far more than anyone else.
Tibor Benedek is the second on the top goal-scorers list with 65 goals. Since Benedek was left-handed those 65 goals make him the top left-handed goal-scorer of all time.
Aleksandar Sapic scored 64 goals in total at the Olympics. He scored 64 goals while representing three different countries at the Olympic Games.
Tony Azevedo with 61 goals holds the record for the most goals scored by a non-European water polo player in Olympic history.
Four more players came close to scoring overall 60 goals at the Olympics in men’s water polo. Gianni De Magistris scored 59 goals, Tamas Kasas scored 56, Eraldo Pizzo scored 53 and Charles Turner scored 50.
Most goals in the single tournament
Manuel Estiarte is completely dominating in this category as well. Estiarte in 1984 netted 34 goals and set the record for the most scored goals by a water polo player at one Olympic Games tournament. Moreover, he also scored 27 goals at the Olympic Games in 1988 which puts him in fourth place on this list as well.
Interestingly, out of all water polo players with the most goals in a single Olympic Games tournament, 3 of them achieved this feat at the same Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968. The last one who came onto this list is Alessandro Calcaterra in 2008 at the Olympic Games in Beijing when he scored 27 goals.
Historical progression of the record
The first player ever to have a double-digit number of goals at the end of a single Olympic Games tournament in men’s water polo was a Swedish water polo player who scored 10 goals at the Olympic Games in 1920 when he won the bronze Olympic medal with Sweden. His name was Erik Andersson and at that time he set the record for the most goals at a single Olympic Games tournament. The record was already broken at the next Olympic Games in 1924 by Pierre Dewin who scored 14 goals.
In 1936 at the Games in Berlin, Hans Schneider broke the record again by scoring 22 goals at that tournament. Schneider held the record for more than 30 years until Nico van der Voet scored 33 goals at the Olympics in 1968. Manuel Estiarte is the last one to break the record when he scored 34 goals at the Olympic Games in 1984. If no one manages to break Manuel’s record this summer at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, then Estiarte’s record will celebrate its 40th birthday at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924.
Top goal-scorers in a single match
In the history of the Olympic Games, only 11 athletes scored 7 or more goals in a single men’s water polo match. Out of those 11 water polo players, only 4 scored 9 goals in a single match.
Janos Nemeth is the first water polo player ever to score 9 goals in a single match. He managed to do that with Hungary at the Olympic Games in 1932 in the match against Japan.
Zoran Jankovic of Yugoslavia tied the record in 1968 when he scored 9 goals in the match also against Japan. However, some sources claim that Jankovic even scored 10 goals that game. If that is true, then he holds the record for the most scored goals in a single Olympic water polo match.
Manuel Estiarte scored 9 goals in a match against Brazil at the Olympic Games in 1984, the year when he set the record for the most goals scored (34) in a single Olympic Games tournament.
The last water polo player to score 9 goals in a single match at the Olympic Games and the only one to achieve that feat in the 21st century is Aleksandar Sapic. He scored 9 goals against China when they hosted the Games in their capital in 2008.
Veit Herrmanns and Pierre Garsau scored 8 goals in a single match at the Olympic Games. Veit did that in 1968 and Pierre in 1988.
Oliver Halassy, Laszlo Felkai, Aleksei Barkalov, Ivan Zaitsev and Felipe Perrone scored 7 goals in a single match at the Olympic Games.
Coaches
There are only two water polo coaches who led men’s national water polo teams to win three or more gold Olympic medals.
Ratko Rudic is the most successful water polo coach in the history of the Olympic Games. Rudic led three different countries to win 4 gold Olympic medals in men’s water polo. With Yugoslavia, he won two gold Olympic medals, and with Italy and Croatia, he won one gold medal, in 1992 and 2012. Ratko is the first and only coach to lead three different men’s national water polo teams to the Olympic titles. Rudic also won a bronze Olympic medal with Italy at the Olympics in 1996.
Denes Kemeny is the second coach ever to win three gold Olympic medals in men’s water polo. He achieved this amazing feat by winning three consecutive gold Olympic medals with Hungary in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Kemeny is the only coach in water polo history to win three gold Olympic medals with the same country.
Coaches that won three or more Olympic medals
Besides already mentioned Rudic and Kemeny, two more coaches who led men’s national teams to win three or more Olympic medals are Dezso Gyarmati and Boris Popov.
Gyarmati won three consecutive Olympic medals as a head coach. He won the silver Olympic medal in 1972, gold Olympic medal in 1976 and bronze Olympic medal in 1980. Gyarmati won all three medals as the head coach of Hungary.
Popov also won three Olympic medals as the head coach. He won the gold Olympic medal in 1980 and the bronze Olympic medal in 1988, both as the head coach of the Soviet Union. Then in 1992, Popov led Unified Team to win the bronze Olympic medal at the Olympics in Barcelona.
Winning Olympic medal as coach and player
Only one person in the history of water polo managed to win the gold Olympic medal as a player and then win the gold Olympic medal as a coach. Dezso Gyarmati won the Olympic Games in men’s water polo three times, in 1952, 1956 and 1964. Then in 1976, Gyarmati was the Hungarian head coach that led them to the gold at the Olympics in Montreal.
Besides Dezso Gyarmati, 11 athletes won Olympic medals as players and then as head coaches led men’s national water polo teams to win the Olympic medals as well.
The best goalkeeper of all timeFun facts
Statistic for goalkeepers has only been available since 1996. Therefore, Stefano Tempesti holds the record for the most shots saved by a water polo goalkeeper at the Olympics. Tempesti has 295 total saves.
The best sprinter of all time
Pietro Figlioli holds the record for the most sprints won by a water polo player at the Olympic Games since 2000. Statistic for sprints at the Olympic Games before 2000 and the Olympics in Sydney is not available. Figlioli won 78 sprints at the 4 Olympics that he participated in. Rhys Howden is second with 42 won sprints.
Most teams at the Olympics
The most teams that men’s water polo had at the Olympic Games was in 1952 at the Games in Helsinki. That year 21 teams participated in men’s water polo at the Olympic Games.
Least teams at the Olympics
In 1908 at the Olympic Games in London, only 4 teams participated in men’s water polo. Those teams were Great Britain (gold), Belgium (silver), Sweden (bronze) and the Netherlands.
Youngest Olympian in men’s water polo
Alfonso Tusell played water polo at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920 even though he was only 14 years old. Tusell was born in 1906 and he represented Spain at those Olympics.
Oldest Olympian in men’s water polo
At the Olympic Games in 1924 in Paris, Charles Smith played water polo for Great Britain as a 45-year old. Charles Smith was born in 1879 and he won 3 gold Olympic medals with Great Britain, in 1908, 1912 and 1920.
Youngest Olympic gold medallist in men’s water polo
Gyorgy Karpati won the gold Olympic medal in water polo with only 17 years. He won the gold with Hungary at the Olympic Games in 1952. Karpati was born in 1935 and he won 2 more gold Olympic medals after breaking the mentioned record, in 1956 and in 1964.
Oldest Olympic gold medallist in men’s water polo
Charles Smith also holds this record. He was 41 years old when he won the gold Olympic medal in 1920.
YOUNGEST winning squad in men’s water polo at the Olympics
Italy in 1960 hosted the Olympic Games in Rome. They won the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo for the second time in their history. The average age of their team was 22 years and 363 days.
OLDEST winning squad in men’s water polo at the Olympics
Great Britain won their 4th gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo in 1920. They set the record that year that still lasts as being the oldest winning squad in men’s water polo. Their average age was 33 years and 279 days.
SHORTEST winning squad in men’s water polo at the Olympics
When Hungary won their 4th title in men’s water polo in 1956 their average height was 1.81 m (5 ft11 in) which makes them the shortest team that won the Olympic Games.
TALLEST winning squad in men’s water polo at the Olympics
Croatia is the tallest team ever to win the Olympic Games in men’s water polo. Their average height was 1.97 m (6 ft6 in) in 2012 when they won their first gold Olympic medal in water polo.
It is important to note that the height and weight statistics have been available since 1956.
LIGHTEST winning squad in men’s water polo at the Olympics
Hungary in 1956 was the shortest but also the lightest squad to win the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo. In 1956 average weight of the Hungarian men’s national water polo team was 80 kg (176 lb)
HEAVIEST winning squad in men’s water polo at the Olympics
Croatia in 2012 broke the record for being the tallest and heaviest squad to win the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo. Their average weight was 102 kg (225 lb).
Olympic champion families in men’s water polo
Brothers as gold Olympic medallist
9 different pairs of brothers won the Olympic Games in men’s water polo. Rademacher brothers did it first in 1928 with Germany. At the next Olympics in 1932, Keseru brothers won the gold with Hungary. In 1948 Italian brothers Pandolfini won the gold at the Olympics in London. Konrad brothers have the gold medals from 1964 and 1976 with Hungary. Akimov brothers won the gold Olympic medals with the Soviet Union in 1972 and in 1980. Porzio brothers won the gold with Italy in 1992. Barnabas and Adam Steinmetz have the gold Olympic medals from 2000 and 2004 whereas Daniel and Denes Varga have the gold Olympic medals from 2008. The last time that both brothers were gold Olympic medallists in men’s water polo was in 2016 when brothers Dusko and Gojko Pijetloic won the Olympic Games with Serbia at the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Father and son as gold Olympic medallists
Only three times happened that both father and son won the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo. First where Istvan Szivos Sr. and Istvan Szivos Jr. They both won the gold medals with Hungary. Senior won it in 1952 and in 1956 whereas Junior won one in 1976.
D’Altrui family also has two Olympic gold medals in men’s water polo. Giuseppe won it in 1960 and Marco in 1992. Both with Italy.
The last time something like that happened was in 2012 with the family Sukno. Father Goran won the gold Olympic medal in men’s water polo with Yugoslavia in 1984 and his son Sandro won the gold in 2012 with Croatia.
Women
Medals
Women’s water polo appeared at the Olympics 100 years after men’s water polo did, in 2000 at the Games in Sydney. Four different countries made history by winning the gold Olympic medal. four countries won the silver Olympic medal whereas the bronze Olympic medal was only won by 3 countries.
The USA is dominating the women’s water polo at the Olympics with the most Olympic gold and silver medals ever won. Russia has the most bronze Olympic medals.
Most gold medals in a row
The USA won the most gold medals in a row in women’s water polo at the Olympics. They won the Olympic Games in 2012 and in 2016. The USA has a chance to continue the sequence this summer at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. If the USA wins the Olympics this summer, then they will become the first country ever to win three consecutive gold Olympic medals in women’s water polo.
Most medals in a row
The USA won a medal in women’s water polo at every single Olympic Games. That is five medals in a row, plus a chance for this summer to continue the amazing record. (Silver-2000, bronze-2004, silver-2008, gold-2012 and 2016).
Longest gap between the successive medals
Russia won the bronze medal at the Olympics in 2000 and then waited for 16 years to win the Olympic medal again. In 2016 at the Games in Brazil they ended the drought and won the bronze again.
The best finish by a debuting team
Australia won the gold medal at the first women’s water polo tournament at the Olympic Games in 2000. However, if we don’t count the first tournament and the year 2000 then the best debut had Italy in 2004 when they won the gold Olympic medal in women’s water polo.
Worst finish by a debuting team
Great Britain and Brazil have the worst finishes as a debuting team at the Olympics in women’s water polo. Great Britain debuted in 2012 at the Olympics in London and finished eighth. Whereas Brazil debuted in 2016 at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and finished eighth as well.
The most populated country that won the Olympic Games in women’s water polo
The most populated country that won the Olympic Games in women’s water polo is the USA with a population of more than 320 million people.
The least populated country that won the Olympic Games in women’s water polo
The least populated country that won the Olympic Games in women’s water polo is the Netherlands with a population of around 16 million people in 2008.
Medals – players
The USA water polo players are completely dominating in this category. Heather Petri and Brenda Villa have the most Olympic medals in women’s water polo. They both won the gold in London 2012., silver in 2000. and 2008. and bronze in Athens 2004.
Kami Craig has one medal less than them. She also has a silver from 2008., but she has two gold medals from 2012 and 2016.
Multiple gold medallists
Only four players won two gold Olympic medals in women’s water polo and they are all from the USA. Already mentioned Kami Craig who also has a silver from 2008, Courtney Mathewson, Melissa Seidemann and Maggie Steffens.
Appearances
In total 13 different countries participated in women’s water polo at the Olympic Games. USA, Australia and Russia appeared at all five Olympic Games tournaments.
Russia has the most appearances without ever winning a title. Whereas Hungary has the most appearances without ever winning a medal.
Fewest appearances, winning a title
The Netherlands participated in women’s water polo at only two Olympics, in 2000 and in 2008. They won the gold Olympic medal in 2008 by defeating the USA in the finals 9:8.
Fewest appearances
Great Britain and Brazil each played women’s water polo at only one Olympic Games tournament. Great Britain played it in 2012 while hosting the Games whereas Brazil played it in 2016 also as a host.
Longest gap between successive appearances
The Netherlands had a gap of eight years between successive appearances at the Olympics in women’s water polo. Their first appearance was in 2000 and their last one was in 2008. However, Netherlands will be playing women’s water polo this summer at the Olympics in Japan.
Appearances – players
Four water polo players competed in women’s water polo at four Olympic Games. Heather Petri (USA), Sofia Konukh (Russia) and Brenda Villa (USA) competed at the Olympic Games in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. Tania Di Mario (Italy) is also a four-time Olympian but she competed in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
Hosts
Only Australia won the Olympic Games in women’s water polo while hosting the Olympics. They achieved that in Sydney in 2000.
Worst finish by the host team
Great Britain and Brazil finished at the last position (8th) in women’s water polo when they were the hosts of the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016.
Goals
Top goal-scorers of ALL-TIME
Only three players scored more than 35 goals in total at the Olympic Games in women’s water polo.
Top goal-scorer in one tournamentTania di Mario holds the record for the most goals scored by a women water polo player in Olympic history. She scored 47 goals but Maggie Steffens is only 9 short to tie the record. We might witness a new Olympic record in a few weeks at the Olympics in Tokyo. Ma Haunhuan scored 37 goals in 17 matches that she played for China.
Maggie Steffens holds the record for the most scored goals in women’s water polo at one Olympic tournament. She scored 21 goals at the Olympics Games in 2012. No one else scored more than 20 goals in a single Olympic tournament. She is also the only athlete to score more than 15 goals at a single Olympic tournament twice.
Top goal-scorers in one game
In the history of the Olympic Games, only three athletes scored 7 goals in a single Olympic match in women’s water polo. Danielle de Bruijn scored 7 goals at the Olympics in 2008 in the gold medal match against the USA which makes this record even more impressive. Maggie Steffens scored 7 goals against Hungary in 2012 and Roser Tarrago scored 7 goals against Australia at the Olympics in Brazil in 2016.
Fun facts
Most successful coaches
Guy Baker is the only coach in women’s water polo history to win three Olympic medals. He won three Olympic medals in a row with the United States women’s national team. In 2000 they won silver, in 2004 they won bronze and in 2008 silver again.
Adam Krikorian won two Olympic medals also with the USA. However, he won two gold medals in 2012 and in 2016.
Most successful goalkeeper
Yang Jun holds the record for the most shots saved by a female water polo goalkeeper at the Olympics. Yang Jun represented China at three Olympic Games (2008, 2012 and 2016) and collected unbelievable 138 saves.
Most successful sprinter
Kate Gynther holds the record for the most sprints won by a female water polo player at the Olympics. She won 39 sprints in total at the Olympic Games in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
Most teams at the Olympics
Most teams at the Olympic Games in women’s water polo will be this summer in Tokyo when 10 teams will be participating. If we don’t count that yet, then 8 teams are the most ever to participate in women’s water polo at the Olympics from 2004 until 2016.
Least teams at the Olympics
The first time that the women’s water polo appeared at the Olympic Games was in 2000 when only 6 teams participated.
Youngest Olympian in women’s water polo
Paula Leiton was born in 2000 and she represented Spain at the Olympic Games in Rio at only 16 years of age.
Oldest Olympian in women’s water polo
Camila Pedrosa is the oldest female Olympian in women’s water polo. She was 41 years old at the Olympics in 2016 when she represented Brazil.
Youngest Olympic gold medallist in women’s water polo
Aria Fischer won the Olympic Games in 2016 with the USA. She was only 17 years old at that time.
Oldest Olympic gold medallist in women’s water polo
Gillian van den Berg won the gold Olympic medal in 2008. She was 36 years old at that time which makes her the oldest Olympic gold medallist in women’s water polo history.
YOUNGEST winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics
The USA won the Olympic Games in women’s water polo in 2016. Their average age was 23 years which makes them the youngest winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics.
OLDEST winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics
In 2004 Italy became the oldest winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics. Their average age in 2004 was 28 years.
SHORTEST winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics
In 2004 Italy also became the shortest winning squad in women’s water polo. Their average height was 1.73 m (5 ft8 in).
TALLEST winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics
The USA had an average height of 1.80 m (5 ft11 in) in 2012 and in 2016. That makes them the tallest squad ever to win the gold Olympic medal in women’s water polo.
LIGHTEST winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics
In 2004 Italy broke one more record. They became the lightest winning squad. Their average weight was 67 kg (148 lb).
HEAVIEST winning squad in women’s water polo at the Olympics
The USA had an average weight of 77 kg (170 lb) in both 2012 and 2016. Besides being the tallest they also hold the record for being the heaviest squad to win the gold Olympic medal in women’s water polo.
Olympic champion families in women’s water polo
Sisters as gold Olympic medallist
Bridgette Gusterson and Danielle Woodhouse are the first sisters to win the gold Olympic medal in water polo. They achieved that in 2008 at the Olympics in Australia.
Jessica Steffens and Maggie Steffens also won the gold Olympic medal together in 2012 at the Olympic Games in London.
The last time the sisters won the gold Olympics medal in water polo was in 2016 in Brazil. Aria Fischer and Makenzie Fischer played for the United States women’s national water polo team and won the gold Olympic medal.
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