# Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

The women's water polo tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics was contested between August 16 and August 26 at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. Eight teams qualified for the Games, with Italy defeating the host nation Greece for the gold medal. The United States won the bronze medal.

## Format

The eight qualifying teams were split into two groups of four for the preliminary round, which was played in a round-robin format. The top teams in each group advanced directly to the semi-finals, while second and third place teams advanced to the quarter-finals. Classification matches were also played to determine the final ranking for all teams.

## Background and qualification

The women's water polo tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics was the second time that the tournament was held at the Olympic Games with the previous tournament being held in 2000.
Fifteen teams competed in qualifying for the seven spots. Despite it originally being the winner per continent, the format would only see two continental champions with the United States and Kazakhstan qualifying from their continent. The remaining four spots (Australia got an bye from being the Oceania champions) was then held at the qualifier which was held in Imperia, Italy. The top three teams from the event qualified through to the Olympics Games (Hungary, Italy and Russia) while Canada also got through on the basis of being the replacement for the African team.
| Event | Dates | Hosts | Quota | Qualifier(s) |
| Host nation | — | — | 1 | Greece |
| 2003 Pan American Games | 3–10 August 2003 | Dominican Republic | 1 | United States |
| 2004 Women's Olympic Water Polo Qualifying Tournament | 23–29 February 2004 | Imperia | 4 | Canada |
| 2004 Women's Olympic Water Polo Qualifying Tournament | 23–29 February 2004 | Imperia | 4 | Hungary |
| 2004 Women's Olympic Water Polo Qualifying Tournament | 23–29 February 2004 | Imperia | 4 | Italy |
| 2004 Women's Olympic Water Polo Qualifying Tournament | 23–29 February 2004 | Imperia | 4 | Russia |

### Group A

* Australia (Oceania champions)
* Kazakhstan (Asia champions)

## Preliminary round

All times are EEST (UTC+3)

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 16 | +6 | 5 | Qualified for the Semifinals |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 4 | Qualified for the Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Greece | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 20 | −3 | 3 | Qualified for the Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 25 | −9 | 0 | |
| 16 August 2004 10:45 | Report | Australia | 6–5 | Italy | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Sergio Borrell (ESP) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Sergio Borrell (ESP) |||
| 16 August 2004 10:45 | Report | Gynther 2 Heuchan 2 Norwood 1 Rippon 1 | Goals | Allucci 1 di Mario 1 Miceli 1 Musumeci 1 Zanchi 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Sergio Borrell (ESP) |
| 16 August 2004 17:45 | Report | Greece | 8–6 | Kazakhstan | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Radu Matache (ROU) Daniel Legare (CAN) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Radu Matache (ROU) Daniel Legare (CAN) |||
| 16 August 2004 17:45 | Report | Roumpesi 2 Karagianni 1 Kozompoli 1 Liosi 1 Moraiti 1 Evangelia Moraitidou 1 Oikonomopoulou 1 | Goals | Gritsenko 2 Jakayeva 2 Koroleva 1 Tolkunova 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Radu Matache (ROU) Daniel Legare (CAN) |
| 18 August 2004 09:30 | Report | Australia | 9–4 | Kazakhstan | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO) Hector Valcarce (ARG) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO) Hector Valcarce (ARG) |||
| 18 August 2004 09:30 | Report | Heuchan 3 Norwood 3 Castle 1 Gynther 1 Rippon 1 | Goals | Ignatyeva 1 Jakayeva 1 Tolkunova 1 Zubkova 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO) Hector Valcarce (ARG) |
| 18 August 2004 17:45 | Report | Greece | 2–7 | Italy | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP) Radosław Koryzna (POL) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP) Radosław Koryzna (POL) |||
| 18 August 2004 17:45 | Report | Liosi 1 Moraitidou 1 | Goals | di Mario 3 Miceli 3 Musumeci 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP) Radosław Koryzna (POL) |
| 20 August 2004 09:00 | Report | Italy | 8–6 | Kazakhstan | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Mario Brguljan (SCG) Yesenia Marrero (USA) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Mario Brguljan (SCG) Yesenia Marrero (USA) |||
| 20 August 2004 09:00 | Report | di Mario 4 Araujo 1 Miceli 1 Tóth 1 Zanchi 1 | Goals | Koroleva 3 Gubina 2 Mikhailova 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Mario Brguljan (SCG) Yesenia Marrero (USA) |
| 20 August 2004 18:00 | Report | Australia | 7–7 | Greece | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Aaron Chaney (USA) Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Aaron Chaney (USA) Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) |||
| 20 August 2004 18:00 | Report | Castle 3 Gynther 3 Heuchan 1 | Goals | Asilian 2 Lara 2 Karagianni 1 Moraiti 1 Moraitidou 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Aaron Chaney (USA) Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 4 | Qualified for the Semifinals |
| 2 | Russia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 22 | −1 | 4 | Qualified for the Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Hungary | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 2 | Qualified for the Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Canada | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 2 | |
| 16 August 2004 09:30 | Report | United States | 7–6 | Hungary | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Nikolaos Stavropoulos (GRE) Mario Brguljan (SCG) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Nikolaos Stavropoulos (GRE) Mario Brguljan (SCG) |||
| 16 August 2004 09:30 | Report | Villa 4 Rulon 2 Golda 1 | Goals | Dravucz 1 Pelle 1 Primász 1 Stieber 1 Tiba 1 Zantleitner 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Nikolaos Stavropoulos (GRE) Mario Brguljan (SCG) |
| 16 August 2004 16:30 | Report | Russia | 8–6 | Canada | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Erhan Tulga (TUR) Torsten Bock (GER) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Erhan Tulga (TUR) Torsten Bock (GER) |||
| 16 August 2004 16:30 | Report | Konukh 3 Yaina 2 Salimova 1 Smurova 1 Turova 1 | Goals | Gardiner 2 Arpin 1 Bégin 1 Dow 1 Robinson 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Erhan Tulga (TUR) Torsten Bock (GER) |
| 18 August 2004 10:45 | Report | United States | 5–6 | Canada | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Nikolaos Stavropoulos (GRE) Noel Harrod (AUS) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Nikolaos Stavropoulos (GRE) Noel Harrod (AUS) |||
| 18 August 2004 10:45 | Report | Beauregard 1 Dingeldein 1 Lorenz 1 Moody 1 Rulon 1 | Goals | Bégin 3 Dow 2 Campbell 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Nikolaos Stavropoulos (GRE) Noel Harrod (AUS) |
| 18 August 2004 16:30 | Report | Russia | 9–8 | Hungary | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |||
| 18 August 2004 16:30 | Report | Konukh 3 Salimova 3 Turova 3 | Goals | Kisteleki 2 Primász 2 Stieber 2 Dravucz 1 Pelle 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |
| 20 August 2004 10:15 | Report | United States | 8–4 | Russia | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP]) Boris Margeta (SLO) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP]) Boris Margeta (SLO) |||
| 20 August 2004 10:15 | Report | Beauregard 2 Villa 2 Dingeldein 1 Lorenz 1 Stachowski 1 Rulon 1 | Goals | Salimova 1 Shepelina 1 Turova 1 Yaina 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP]) Boris Margeta (SLO) |
| 20 August 2004 16:45 | Report | Hungary | 5–4 | Canada | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: R adu Matache (ROU) Roberto Pentronilli (ITA) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: R adu Matache (ROU) Roberto Pentronilli (ITA) |||
| 20 August 2004 16:45 | Report | Stieber 2 Kisteleki 1 Primász 1 Valkay 1 | Goals | Bégin 1 Dionne 1 Gardiner 1 Salat 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: R adu Matache (ROU) Roberto Pentronilli (ITA) |

## Final round
### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Gold medal match | Gold medal match | Gold medal match |
| | | | A1 | Australia | 2 | | | |
| B2 | Russia | 4 | A3 | Greece | 6 | | | |
| A3 | Greece | 7 | | | | | Greece | 9 |
| | | | | | | | Italy | 10 |
| | | | B1 | United States | 5 |
| A2 | Italy | 8 | A2 | Italy | 6 |
| B3 | Hungary | 5 | | | | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match |
| | | | | | | 4 | Australia | 5 |
| | | | | | | | United States | 6 |

### 7th place match

All times are EEST (UTC+3)
| 22 August 2004 10:45 | Report | Kazakhstan | 4–10 | Canada | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Radosław Koryzna (POL) Elizabeth Burman (NZL) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Radosław Koryzna (POL) Elizabeth Burman (NZL) |||
| 22 August 2004 10:45 | Report | Koroleva 4 | Goals | Arpin 2 Bégin 2 Campbell 2 Gardiner 2 Dow 1 Illing 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Radosław Koryzna (POL) Elizabeth Burman (NZL) |

### Quarterfinals

All times are EEST (UTC+3)
| 22 August 2004 17:00 | Report | Greece | 7–4 | Russia | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Zoran Tomić (CRO) Mario Brguljan (SCG) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Zoran Tomić (CRO) Mario Brguljan (SCG) |||
| 22 August 2004 17:00 | Report | Liosi 2 Roumpesi 2 Asilian 1 Karagianni 1 Oikonomopoulou 1 | Goals | Konukh 1 Salimova 1 Smurova 1 Yaina 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Zoran Tomić (CRO) Mario Brguljan (SCG) |
| 22 August 2004 18:15 | Report | Italy | 8–5 | Hungary | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP) Boris Margeta (SLO) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP) Boris Margeta (SLO) |||
| 22 August 2004 18:15 | Report | di Mario 3 Bosurgi 1 Grego 1 Malato 1 Miceli 1 Ragusa 1 | Goals | Dravucz 2 Stieber 2 Pelle 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Sergio Borrell (ESP) Boris Margeta (SLO) |

### 5th place match

All times are EEST (UTC+3)
| 24 August 2004 10:45 | Report | Russia | 12–11 | Hungary | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Daniel Legare (CAN) Noel Harrod (AUS) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Daniel Legare (CAN) Noel Harrod (AUS) |||
| 24 August 2004 10:45 | Report | Salimova 4 Konukh 2 Yaina 2 Bogdanova 1 Smurova 1 Turova 1 Vasilieva 1 | Goals | Dravucz 3 Stieber 3 Kisteleki 2 Györe 1 Pelle 1 Szremkó 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Daniel Legare (CAN) Noel Harrod (AUS) |

### Semifinals

All times are EEST (UTC+3)
| 24 August 2004 18:15 | Report | Australia | 2–6 | Greece | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Pneter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Pneter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |||
| 24 August 2004 18:15 | Report | Fox 1 Stuhmcke 1 | Goals | Roumpesi 2 Karagianni 1 Kozompoli 1 Moraitidou 1 Oikonomopoulou 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Pneter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |
| 24 August 2004 17:00 | Report | United States | 5–6 | Italy | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) Zoran Tomić (CRO) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) Zoran Tomić (CRO) |||
| 24 August 2004 17:00 | Report | Dingeldein 1 Estes 1 Munro 1 Petri 1 Villa 1 | Goals | di Mario 2 Araujo 1 Malato 1 Ragusa 1 Zanchi 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) Zoran Tomić (CRO) |

### Bronze medal match

All times are EEST (UTC+3)
| 26 August 2004 17:00 | Report | Australia | 5–6 | United States | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |||
| 26 August 2004 17:00 | Report | Brooks 2 Fox 1 Gynther 1 Norwood 1 | Goals | Estes 3 Beauregard 1 Golda 1 Stachowski 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Peter Bookelman (NED) Torsten Bock (GER) |

### Gold medal match

All times are EEST (UTC+3)
| 26 August 2004 18:15 | Report | Greece | 9–10 | Italy | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO) Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) |
| Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO) Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) |||
| 26 August 2004 18:15 | Report | Liosi 5 Moraitidou 3 Oikonomopoulou 1 | Goals | Grego 3 Miceli 3 Bosurgi 1 Malato 1 di Mario 1 Zanchi 1 | Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO) Gábor Kiszelly (HUN) |

## Ranking and statistics
### Final ranking

| Rank | Team |
| | Italy |
| | Greece |
| | United States |
| 4 | Australia |
| 5 | Russia |
| 6 | Hungary |
| 7 | Canada |
| 8 | Kazakhstan |
* 2004 Women's Olympic champions
* Italy First title

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Name | Goals | Shots | % |
| 1 | Tania Di Mario | 14 | 27 | 52 |
| 2 | Ekaterina Salimova | 10 | 19 | 53 |
| 2 | Mercedes Stieber | 10 | 22 | 45 |
| 4 | Sofia Konukh | 9 | 25 | 36 |
| 4 | Martina Miceli | 9 | 25 | 36 |
| 4 | Kyriaki Liosi | 9 | 27 | 33 |

## Medallist

| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Italy (ITA) Francesca Conti Martina Miceli Carmela Allucci Silvia Bosurgi Elena Gigli Manuela Zanchi Tania Di Mario Cinzia Ragusa Giusi Malato Alexandra Araujo Maddalena Musumeci Melania Grego Noémi Tóth Head Coach: Pierluigi Formiconi | Greece Georgia Ellinaki Dimitra Asilian Antiopi Melidoni Angeliki Karapataki Kyriaki Liosi Stavroula Kozompoli Aikaterini Oikonomopoulou Antigoni Roumpesi Evangelia Moraitidou Eftychia Karagianni Georgia Lara Antonia Moraiti Anthoula Mylonaki Head Coach: Kyriakos Iosifidis | United States Jacqueline Frank Heather Petri Ericka Lorenz Brenda Villa Ellen Estes Natalie Golda Margaret Dingeldein Kelly Rulon Heather Moody Robin Beauregard Amber Stachowski Nicolle Payne Thalia Munro Head Coach: Guy Baker |

## Awards

The women's all-star team was announced on 29 August 2004.

### Most Valuable Player

* Tania Di Mario (14 goals, 7 sprints won)

### Media All-Star Team

* Goalkeeper
** Georgia Ellinaki (40 saves)
* Field players
** Tania Di Mario (14 goals, 7 sprints won)
** Rita Drávucz (7 goals, 6 sprints won)
** Kyriaki Liosi (9 goals, 21 sprints won)
** Martina Miceli (9 goals)
** Evangelia Moraitidou (7 goals)
** Brenda Villa (7 goals)