This is a list of

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece bet ...

champions in men's

water polo Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...

since the inaugural official edition in

1900 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15 ...

Abbreviations

History

Men's water polo tournaments have been staged at the

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a Multi-s ...

since 1900. Men's water polo was among the first team sports introduced at the modern Olympic Games in 1900. Seven

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an teams from four countries, including four from the host nation France, took part in the competition. The British team was the inaugural champion. At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a water polo tournament was contested, three club teams of seven players each entered. A German team tried to enter, but its entry was refused because the players did not play for the same club. The event took place in a pond in Forest Park, the location of both the Olympics and the World's Fair. Previously, the

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based i ...

and

International Swimming Federation World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA (; ), is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competitions in water sports. It is one of several international federations whi ...

(FINA) considered the water polo event at the 1904 Olympics as a demonstration sport. 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. Water polo was not played at the 1906 Olympics. As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, men's water polo teams from ten European countries won all 27 official tournaments. From 1908 to 1920, the Great Britain men's national water polo team won three consecutive gold medals at the Olympics, becoming the first team to have an Olympic

winning streak A winning streak, also known as a win streak or hot streak, is an uninterrupted sequence of success in games or competitions, commonly measured by at least three wins that are uninterrupted by losses or ties. In sports, it can be applied to te ...

in water polo.

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

is the most successful country in the men's Olympic water polo tournament, with nine Olympic gold medals. The team won three gold medals in a row between 2000 and 2008, becoming the second water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak.

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

and

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

have both won three Olympic titles in men's water polo tournament. The Serbia men's national team is the reigning Olympic champion. Legend * – Debut * – Champions * – Olympic

(winning three or more Olympic titles in a row) * – Hosts * ''Team''^† – Defunct team

Team statistics

Results

The following table shows results of Olympic champions in men's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 8 August 2021. Legend * – Winning 6 matches during the tournament * – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament * – Losing 2 matches during the tournament * – Winning all matches during the tournament * – Olympic

(winning three or more Olympic titles in a row) * – 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 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 Sports Reference, LLC is an American sports statistics company that operates databases of several sports. They include Pro Football Reference for American football, Baseball Reference for baseball, Basketball Reference for basketball, Hockey R ...

: 1900–2020 (men's tournaments); *

Sports Reference Sports Reference, LLC is an American sports statistics company that operates databases of several sports. They include Pro Football Reference for American football, Baseball Reference for baseball, Basketball Reference for basketball, Hockey ...

: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).

From 1900 to 1928,

single-elimination tournament A single-elimination knockout, or sudden-death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of a match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final match-up, ...

s were used to determine Olympic champions in men's water polo. The following table shows men's teams that won all matches during the Olympic tournament since 1932. The following tables show records of goals for per match. The following tables show records of goals against per match. The following tables show records of goal difference per match.

Squads

The following table shows number of players and average age, height and weight of Olympic champions in men's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 30 August 2021. Legend * – Olympic

* – Winning all matches during the tournament * – Host team * ''Team''^† – Defunct team Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996 (men's tournaments); * Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 208), 2008 (p. 203), 2012 (p. 472), 2016 (p. 132), 2020 (p. 151); *

: 1900–2020 (men's tournaments); *

: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).

The following tables show records of the number of returning Olympians. The following tables show records of average age. The following tables show records of average height. The following tables show records of average weight.

Olympic and world champions (teams)

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic titles (in descending order), number of world titles (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 26 February 2024. As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, there are seven men's national water polo teams that won gold medals at the

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics or the Games of the Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inaugural Games took place in 1896 in Athens, then part of the King ...

and the

World Aquatics Championships The World Aquatics Championships, formerly the FINA World Championships, are the World Championships for six aquatic disciplines: swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming, and water polo. The championships are st ...

. Legend * Year^* – As host team * ''Team''^† – Defunct team

Player statistics

Age records

The following tables show the oldest and youngest male Olympic champions in water polo. Last updated: 12 September 2021. Legend * – Host team

Multiple gold medalists

The following tables are pre-sorted by year of receiving the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021. Ten male athletes won three Olympic gold medals in water polo. Legend * Year^* – As host team Forty-one male athletes won two Olympic gold medals in water polo. Legend * Year^* – As host team

Olympic and world champions (players)

The following tables are pre-sorted by number of Olympic titles (in descending order), number of world titles (in descending order), year of receiving the last gold medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 11 August 2023. As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, there are ninety-six male athletes who won gold medals in water polo at the

and the

. Legend * Year^* – As host team

Olympic champion families

The following tables are pre-sorted by year of receiving the Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021. Legend * Year^* – As host team

Coach statistics

Most successful coaches

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), year of winning the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the coach (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021. There are four coaches who led men's national water polo teams to win two or more Olympic gold medals.

Ratko Rudić Ratko Rudić (born 7 June 1948) is a retired Croatian water polo coach and a former water polo player. , he has won 38 medals as a coach at major events, making him the most successful water polo coach in history, and second most successful team ...

is the most successful water polo coach in Olympic history. As a head coach, he led three men's national water polo teams to win four Olympic gold medals. He guided Yugoslavia men's national team to two consecutive gold medals in 1984 and 1988, Italy men's national team to a gold medal in 1992, and Croatia men's national team to a gold medal in 2012, making him the first and only coach to lead three different men's national water polo teams to the Olympic titles.

Dénes Kemény Dénes Kemény (born 14 June 1954) is a former Hungary, Hungarian water polo player who was the trainer and president of the Hungary men's national water polo team from 1997 to 2012. During his reign the Hungarian team won at least a medal in 2 ...

of Hungary is another coach who led men's national water polo team(s) to win three Olympic gold medals. Under his leadership, the Hungary men's national team won three gold in a row between 2000 and 2008, becoming the second water polo team to have an Olympic

. Béla Rajki coached the Hungary men's national team to two consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1952 and 1956.

Dejan Savić Dejan Savić ( sr-cyr, Дејан Савић; born 24 April 1975) is a Serbian professional water polo coach and former player. During his playing career, he was part of two Olympic bronze medal squads, one for FR Yugoslavia at the 2000 Olympic ...

led Serbia men's national team to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2016 and 2021. Legend * Year^* – As host team

Champions as coach and player

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), year of winning the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the person (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021. Only one water polo player won an Olympic gold medal and then guided a men's national water polo team to the Olympic title as a head coach.

Dezső Gyarmati Dezső Gyarmati (23 October 1927 – 18 August 2013) was a Hungarian professional water polo player and three-time Olympic champion; he later became the coach of the Hungarian national water polo team. Widely regarded as a "legendary player", ...

of Hungary won three Olympic gold medals in 1952–1956 and 1964. He coached the Hungary men's national team to a gold in 1976. Legend * Year^* – As host team

Olympic and world champions (coaches)

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic titles (in descending order), number of world titles (in descending order), year of winning the last gold medal (in ascending order), year of winning the first gold medal (in ascending order), name of the coach (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021. As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, there are six head coaches who led men's national teams to win gold medals in water polo at the

and the

. Legend * Year^* – As host team

Champions by tournament

2020 (Serbia, 2nd title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 28th * Host city:

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (2nd title; 3rd place in preliminary B group) Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2020 (pp. 22, 28, 48, 54, 68, 76, 88, 96). * Head coach:

(2nd title as head coach) * Assistant coaches:

Stefan Ćirić Stefan may refer to: * Stefan (given name) * Stefan (surname) * Ștefan, a Romanian given name and a surname * Štefan, a Slavic given name and surname * Stefan (footballer) (born 1988), Brazilian footballer * Stefan Heym, pseudonym of German writ ...

Vladimir Vujasinović Vladimir Vujasinović ( sr-cyrl, Владимир Вујасиновић; ; born 14 August 1973) is a Serbian professional water polo head coach and former player. He currently serves as head coach of VK Novi Beograd. During his playing career ...

Note:

Duško Pijetlović Duško Pijetlović ( sr-cyr, Душко Пијетловић; born 25 April 1985) is a Serbian water polo center forward for VK Novi Beograd. He was a member of the Serbia men's national water polo teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2016 and ...

and

Gojko Pijetlović Gojko Pijetlović ( sr-cyr, Гојко Пијетловић; born 7 August 1983) is a Serbian water polo player who plays as goalkeeper for VK Novi Beograd and the Serbia men's national water polo team. He was voted the best goalkeeper of 2014 E ...

are brothers.
Sources: * Official Results Books (PDF): 2020 (p. 151); * ISHOF. Abbreviation * MP – Matches played * Min – Minutes * Avg min – Average minutes * G – Goals * Sh – Shots * TF – Turnover fouls * ST – Steals * RB – Rebounds * BL – Blocked shots * SP – Sprints Abbreviation * CP – Centre forward position exclusion * FP – Field exclusion * DS – Driving situation exclusion * M6 – Exclusion in 6 metre free throw situation * CS – Counter attacking situation exclusion * DE – Double exclusion * Pen – Penalty foul * EX – Exclusions with substitution Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2020 (p. 150).

2016 (Serbia, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 27th * Host city:

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (1st title; 4th place in preliminary A group) Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2016 (pp. 9, 21, 37, 53, 65, 75, 83, 91). * Head coach:

(1st title as head coach) * Assistant coaches:

Note:

and

are brothers.
Sources: * Official Results Books (PDF): 2016 (p. 132); * ISHOF. Abbreviation * MP – Matches played * Min – Minutes * G – Goals * Sh – Shots * AS – Assists * TF – Turnover fouls * ST – Steals * BL – Blocked shots * SP – Sprints * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion * DE – Double exclusion * Pen – Penalty * EX – Exclusion Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2016 (p. 131).

2012 (Croatia, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

26th 26 (twenty-six) is the natural number following 25 and preceding 27. In mathematics *26 is the seventh discrete semiprime (2 \times 13) and the fifth with 2 as the lowest non-unitary factor thus of the form (2.q), where q is a higher prime. ...

* Host city:

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (1st title; 1st place in preliminary A group) Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2012 (pp. 373, 391, 399, 415, 421, 433, 445, 455). Josip Pavic 2015

* Head coach:

(4th title as head coach) * Assistant coaches:

Elvis Fatović Elvis Fatović (born 8 May 1971) is a Croatian professional water polo coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta senior men's team. His son Loren is a professional water polo player. Play ...

, Vjekoslav Kobešćak Sources: * Official Results Books (PDF): 2012 (p. 472); * ISHOF. Abbreviation * MP – Matches played * Min – Minutes * G – Goals * Sh – Shots * AS – Assists * TF – Turnover fouls * ST – Steals * BL – Blocked shots * SP – Sprints * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion * DE – Double exclusion * Pen – Penalty * EX – Exclusion Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2012 (p. 471).

2008 (Hungary, 9th title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 25th * Host city:

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (9th title; 1st place in preliminary A group) Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2008 (pp. 84, 92, 94, 104, 106, 156, 168). * Head coach:

(3rd title as head coach) * Assistant coach:

Csaba Mátéfalvy Csaba () is a Hungarian given name for males. Prince Csaba is the legendary son of Attila the Hun in Hungarian chronicles.''Gesta Hungarorum'', Simon Keza, Edited and translated by László Veszprémy and Frank Schaer with a study by Jenő Szűc ...

Note:

Dániel Varga Dániel Rudolf Varga (born 25 September 1983) is a Hungarian water polo coach. He was a member of the gold medal winning Hungary men's national water polo team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is the older brother of Dénes Varga, they were tea ...

and

Dénes Varga Dénes Andor Varga (born 29 March 1987) is a Hungarian professional water polo player, currently playing for Ferencváros. He was a member of the gold medal winning Hungary men's national water polo team at the Water polo at the 2008 Summer Ol ...

are brothers.
Sources: * Official Results Books (PDF): 2008 (p. 203); * ISHOF. Abbreviation * MP – Matches played * Min – Minutes * G – Goals * Sh – Shots * AS – Assists * TF – Turnover fouls * ST – Steals * BL – Blocked shots * SP – Sprints * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion * Pen – Penalty * EX – Exclusion Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2008 (p. 202).

2004 (Hungary, 8th title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 24th * Host city:

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (8th title; 1st place in preliminary A group) Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2004 (pp. 93, 101, 105, 109, 116, 164, 173). KissGergelyFotoThalerTamas

* Head coach:

(2nd title as head coach) * Assistant coach:

Note:

Ádám Steinmetz Ádám Steinmetz (born 11 August 1980 in Budapest) is a Hungarian water polo player, Olympic champion, and politician, who played for Hungarian Championship outfit Vasas SC. He has a brother, Barnabás Steinmetz, who is also a water polo player ...

and

Barnabás Steinmetz Barnabás Steinmetz (born 6 October 1975 in Budapest) is a Hungarian water polo player who played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. He is nicknamed ''Barney'' and ''Sema'', and made his debut for the n ...

are brothers.
Sources: * Official Results Books (PDF): 2004 (p. 208); * ISHOF. Abbreviation * MP – Matches played * Min – Minutes * G – Goals * Sh – Shots * AS – Assists * TF – Turnover fouls * ST – Steals * BL – Blocked shots * SP – Sprints * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion * Pen – Penalty * EX – Exclusion Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2004 (p. 207).

2000 (Hungary, 7th title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 23rd * Host city:

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (7th title; 3rd place in preliminary B group) Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45, 50, 55, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90). * Head coach:

(1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45, 50, 55, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90); *

: 2000 (men's tournament); * ISHOF. Abbreviation * MP – Matches played * Min – Minutes * G – Goals * Sh – Shots * AS – Assists * TF – Turnover fouls * ST – Steals * BL – Blocked shots * SP – Sprints * 20S – 20 seconds exclusion * Pen – Penalty * EX – Exclusion Source: Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45, 50, 55, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90).

1996 (Spain, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 22nd * Host city:

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (1st title; 3rd place in preliminary A group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1996 (p. 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 70, 71, 73). * Head coach:

Juan Jané Juan Jané (born 31 May 1953) is a Spanish water polo player. He competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics. See also * Spain men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics * List of Olympic champions in men's wate ...

(1st title as head coach) * Assistant coach: Santiago Fernandez de Cuevas Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1996 (p. 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 70, 71, 73); *

: 1996 (men's tournament); *

: 1996 (men's tournament); * ISHOF. Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1996 (p. 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 70, 71, 73).

1992 (Italy, 3rd title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 21st * Host city:

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (3rd title; 2nd place in preliminary B group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1992 (pp. 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 399, 400). * Head coach:

(3rd title as head coach) * Assistant coach: Giuseppe Castellucci Note:

Francesco Porzio Francesco Porzio (born 26 January 1966) is an Italian former water polo player who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics and in the 1992 Summer Olympics. Brother of Giuseppe Porzio. See also * Italy men's Olympic water polo team records and sta ...

and

Pino Porzio Giuseppe "Pino" Porzio (born February 26, 1967) is a coach and a former Italian water polo player. He is one of the most titled European coaches of all time, and, as his list of prizes demonstrates, is one of the most winning sportsmen among Ita ...

are brothers.
Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1992 (pp. 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 399, 400); *

: 1992 (men's tournament); *

: 1992 (men's tournament); * ISHOF. Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1992 (pp. 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 399, 400).

1988 (Yugoslavia, 3rd title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 20th * Host city:

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (3rd title; 1st place in preliminary B group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1988 (pp. 593, 594, 595, 597). * Head coach:

(2nd title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1988 (pp. 593, 594, 595, 597); *

: 1988 (men's tournament); *

: 1988 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1984 (Yugoslavia, 2nd title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

19th 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics Nineteen is the eighth prime number. Number theory 19 forms a twin prime with 17, a cousin prime with 23, and a sexy prime with 13. ...

* Host city:

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool * Champion: (2nd title; 1st place in preliminary A group; 1st place in final D group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1984 (pp. 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533). * Head coach:

(1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1984 (pp. 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533); *

: 1984 (men's tournament); *

: 1984 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1980 (Soviet Union, 2nd title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 18th * Host city:

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool * Champion: (2nd title; 1st place in preliminary A group; 1st place in final A group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1980 (pp. 497, 500, 501, 502). * Head coach: Boris Popov (1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1980 (pp. 497, 500, 501, 502); *

: 1980 (men's tournament); *

: 1980 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1976 (Hungary, 6th title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 17th * Host city:

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool * Champion: (6th title; 1st place in preliminary C group; 1st place in final E group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1976 (pp. 487, 489, 491, 492). * Head coach:

(1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1976 (pp. 487, 489, 491, 492); *

: 1976 (men's tournament); *

: 1976 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1972 (Soviet Union, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 16th * Host city:

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...

* Number of participating teams: 16 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool * Champion: (1st title; 1st place in preliminary C group; 1st place in final I group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1972 (pp. 358, 359, 363, 364, 365). * Head coach: Vladimir Semyonov (1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1972 (pp. 358, 359, 363, 364, 365); *

: 1972 (men's tournament); *

: 1972 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1968 (Yugoslavia, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 15th * Host city:

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

* Number of participating teams: 15 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches * Champion: (1st title; 2nd place in preliminary B group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1968 (pp. 812, 814, 816, 817, 819, 822, 824, 826). * Head coach:

Aleksandar Sajfert Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are A ...

(1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1968 (pp. 812, 814, 816, 817, 819, 822, 824, 826); *

: 1968 (men's tournament); *

: 1968 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1964 (Hungary, 5th title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 14th * Host city:

* Number of participating teams: 13 * Competition format: 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 * Champion: (5th title; 1st place in preliminary D group; 2nd place in semi-final B group; 1st place in final group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1964 (pp. 685, 687, 691, 694, 695, 698). * Head coach: Károly Laky (1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1964 (pp. 685, 687, 691, 694, 695, 698); *

: 1964 (men's tournament); *

: 1964 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1960 (Italy, 2nd title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

13th In music or music theory, a thirteenth is the Musical note, note thirteen scale degrees from the root (chord), root of a chord (music), chord and also the interval (music), interval between the root and the thirteenth. The thirteenth is m ...

* Host city:

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

* Number of participating teams: 16 * Competition format: 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 * Champion: (2nd title; 1st place in preliminary A group; 1st place in semi-final A group; 1st place in final group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1960 (pp. 618, 619, 627, 628, 631). Eraldo Pizzo

* Head coach: Andres Zolyomy (1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1960 (pp. 618, 619, 627, 628, 631); *

: 1960 (men's tournament); *

: 1960 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1956 (Hungary, 4th title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

12th Twelfth can mean: *The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution *The Twelfth, a Protestant celebration originating in Ireland In mathematics: * 12th, an ordinal number; as in the item in an order twelve places from the beginning, follo ...

* Host city:

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

* Number of participating teams: 10 * Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool * Champion: (4th title; 1st place in preliminary B group; 1st place in final group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1956 (pp. 625, 626). * Head coach: Béla Rajki (2nd title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1956 (pp. 625, 626); *

: 1956 (men's tournament); *

: 1956 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1952 (Hungary, 3rd title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 11th * Host city:

Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

* Number of participating teams: 21 * Competition format:

Single-elimination tournament A single-elimination knockout, or sudden-death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of a match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final match-up, ...

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 * Champion: (3rd title; 1st place in preliminary B group; 1st place in semi-final F group; 1st place in final group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1952 (pp. 602, 603, 606, 607, 608). * Head coach: Béla Rajki (1st title as head coach) Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1952 (pp. 602, 603, 606, 607, 608); *

: 1952 (men's tournament); *

: 1952 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1948 (Italy, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 10th * Host city:

* Number of participating teams: 18 * Competition format: Series of round-robin elimination pools, followed by round-robin semi-final pools, and then round-robin final pools * Champion: (1st title; 1st place in round one D group; 1st place in round two I group; 1st place in semi-final L group; 1st place in final group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1948 (pp. 643, 645, 646). * Head coach: Giuseppe Valle (1st title as head coach) Note:

Gianfranco Pandolfini Gianfranco Pandolfini (16 September 1920 – 3 January 1997) was an Italian water polo player who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics. Pandolfini was part of the Italian team which won the gold medal. He played five matches. His older brot ...

and

Tullio Pandolfini Tullio "Tullo" Pandolfini (6 August 1914 – 23 April 1999) was an Italian water polo player who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics. Pandolfini was part of the Italian team which won the gold medal. He played two matches. His younger brot ...

are brothers.
Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1948 (pp. 643, 645, 646); *

: 1948 (men's tournament); *

: 1948 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1936 (Hungary, 2nd title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 9th * Host city:

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

* Number of participating teams: 16 * Competition format: 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 * Champion: (2nd title; 1st place in preliminary II group; 1st place in semi-final I group; 1st place in final group) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1936 (pp. 347, 349, 355). * Head coach: Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1936 (pp. 347, 349, 355); *

: 1936 (men's tournament); *

: 1936 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1932 (Hungary, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

8th Eighth is ordinal form of the number eight. Eighth may refer to: * One eighth, , a fraction, one of eight equal parts of a whole * Eighth note (quaver), a musical note played for half the value of a quarter note (crotchet) * Octave, an interval b ...

* Host city:

* Number of participating teams: 5 * Competition format: Round-robin tournament * Champion: (1st title) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1932 (pp. 646, 649, 650). * Head coach: Note:

Alajos Keserű Alajos Keserű (8 March 1905 – 3 May 1965) was a Hungarian water polo player who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics, in the 1928 Summer Olympics, and in the 1932 Summer Olympics. Born in Budapest, he first competed at the Olympics in 19 ...

and Ferenc Keserű are brothers.
Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1932 (pp. 646, 649, 650); *

: 1932 (men's tournament); *

: 1932 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1928 (Germany, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

7th Seventh is the ordinal form of the number seven. Seventh may refer to: * Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution * A fraction (mathematics), , equal to one of seven equal parts Film and television *"The Seventh", a second-season ep ...

* Host city:

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

* Number of participating teams: 14 * Competition format: Single-elimination tournament;

Bergvall system The Bergvall system was a variation of the traditional knockout tournament system. It was used at the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics after being devised by Erik Bergvall, a Swedish water polo player, journalist and sports official who want ...

for third-place * Champion: (1st title) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1928 (pp. 803, 804, 806). * Head coach: Note:

Erich Rademacher Fritz Albert Erich "Ete" Rademacher (9 June 1901 – 2 April 1979) was a German breaststroke swimmer and water polo goalkeeper who competed at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics. In 1928 he was a member of the German water polo team that won the gold m ...

and Joachim Rademacher are brothers.
Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1928 (pp. 803, 804, 806); *

: 1928 (men's tournament); *

: 1928 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1924 (France, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 6th * Host city:

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

* Number of participating teams: 13 * Competition format: Single-elimination tournament; Bergvall system for second- and third-place * Champion: (1st title) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1924 (pp. 488, 490, 492). * Head coach: Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1924 (pp. 488, 490, 492); *

: 1924 (men's tournament); *

: 1924 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1920 (Great Britain, 4th title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

5th Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five. Fifth or The Fifth may refer to: * Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth" * Fifth Avenue * Fifth column, a political term * Fifth disease, a cont ...

* Host city:

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

* Number of participating teams: 12 * Competition format: Single-elimination tournament; Bergvall system for second- and third-place * Champion: (4th title) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1920 (p. 130). Paul Radmilovic 1909

* Head coach: Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1920 (p. 130); *

: 1920 (men's tournament); *

: 1920 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1912 (Great Britain, 3rd title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

4th Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'', a 1972 Soviet drama ...

* Host city:

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

* Number of participating teams: 6 * Competition format: Single-elimination tournament * Champion: (3rd title) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1912 (pp. 1022, 1024, 1033). * Head coach: Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1912 (pp. 1022, 1024, 1033); *

: 1912 (men's tournament); *

: 1912 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1908 (Great Britain, 2nd title)

* Edition of men's tournament: 3rd * Host city:

* Number of participating teams: 4 * Competition format: Single-elimination tournament * Champion: (2nd title) Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1908 (pp. 360, 361). * Head coach: Sources: * Official Reports (PDF): 1908 (pp. 360, 361); *

: 1908 (men's tournament); *

: 1908 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

1904 (demonstration program)

* Edition of men's tournament: ''

2nd A second is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). Second, Seconds, The Second, or (The) 2nd may also refer to: Mathematics * 2 (number), as an ordinal (also written as ''2nd'' or ''2d'') * Minute and second of arc, ...

'' (''demonstration program'') * Host city: ''

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

'', ''

'' * Number of participating teams: ''3 teams from the United States'' * Competition format: ''Single-elimination tournament'' * Champion: ''

New York Athletic Club The New York Athletic Club is a Gentlemen's club, private social club and athletic club in New York (state), New York state. Founded in 1868, the club has approximately 8,600 members and two facilities: the City House, located at 180 Central Pa ...

1900 (Great Britain, 1st title)

* Edition of men's tournament:

1st First most commonly refers to: * First, the ordinal form of the number 1 First or 1st may also refer to: Acronyms * Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters, an astronomical survey carried out by the Very Large Array * Far Infrared a ...

* Host city:

* Number of participating teams: 7 teams from 4 countries, including 4 from France * Competition format: Single-elimination tournament * Champion: Osborne Swimming Club (, 1st title) Sources: *

: 1900 (men's tournament); *

: 1900 (men's tournament). * Head coach: Sources: *

: 1900 (men's tournament); *

: 1900 (men's tournament); * ISHOF.

Notes

References

Sources

ISHOF

External links

Olympic water polo – Official website
{{Water polo records and statistics

Men A man is an adult male human. Before adulthood, a male child or adolescent is referred to as a boy. Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromosome from the fa ...

.Champions, Men Lists of Olympic sportsmen