Guide Note

Water polo has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1900. Two team medal sets, one men's and one women's, are now awarded at each Summer Olympic Games.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, water polo teams played at Ying Tung Natatorium from August 10 to August 24, 2008. The Netherlands defeated the U.S. Olympic water polo team to win the gold medal in the women's tournament on August 21, 2008. Hungary defeated the U.S. men's team to take the gold medal on August 24, 2008.¹

Fast Facts

1. Men's water polo introduced in 1900
2. Women's water polo introduced in 2000
3. Two team medals, one men's and one women's
4. Governed by the Federation Internationale de Natation
5. Game length: four seven-minute quarters²
6. Athletes have been known to swim up to five kilometers in each game²

Water polo was developed in England in the 1800s. Originally an aquatic version of rugby, the sport was adapted in Europe and the United States to resemble soccer before it was added to the Summer Olympics program in 1900. After operating for nearly a century as strictly a men's event, women's water polo was introduced to the Summer Olympics in 2000.

Hungary leads all nations in Olympic water polo medals with eight gold, three silver and three bronze.³

US Olympic Water Polo 2008 | Summer Olympics 2008 | Olympics | Summer Olympics | Water Polo