Water Polo

Water polo was developed in Europe and the United States as two separate sports. In the United States, it was termed softball water polo, as the ball was an unfilled bladder, and the sport was very rough, often degenerating into numerous fights. In 1897, Harold Reeder, of New York, formulated the first rules for that sport, which were intended to decrease the excessive roughness of the game. The European style of water polo predominated, and today is the form of the game practiced universally. It is more scientific, faster, and less dangerous than the American game.

Water polo was played at the Olympics of both 1900 and 1904. It was not on the 1906 Olympic Programme but has been contested at all Games since.

Great Britain won four of the first five Olympic tournaments but, as of 2024, it hasn’t medaled again since 1920. The greatest exponents of Olympic water polo have been the Hungarians. Between 1928 and 1980, Hungary never failed to medal in the sport at the Olympics, and the country has won 17 Olympic medals in total, including nine golds. They are followed by the United States (also 17 medals but only four golds) and Italy (10 medals and four golds).

Thirteen male players have won three Olympic water polo titles: two British, three Serbians, and eight Hungarian players. Among them is Dezső Gyarmati (HUN), who managed to add a silver and a bronze medal to his three Olympic golds.

Women’s World Championships have been held in water polo since 1986, with women competing in water polo at the 2000 Olympic Games for the first time. Two USA players, Heather Petri and Brenda Villa, have won four Olympic medals, each with one gold. Also from the USA, Melissa Seidemann and Maggie Steffens lead the gold medal count, both with three golds.

Water polo is governed by World Aquatics. The organization was founded as the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) on 19 July 1908 in London, at the end of the Olympics, with eight founding members: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, and Sweden. World Aquatics not only governs water polo, but also swimming, diving, high diving (non-Olympic discipline), marathon (open water) swimming, and artistic (formerly synchronized) swimming. World Aquatics has 209 national federations as members as of 2024.