# Water polo at the 1980 Summer Olympics

Water polo at the 1980 Summer Olympics as usual was a part of the swimming sport, other two parts were swimming and diving. They were not three separate sports, because they all were governed by one federation — FINA. Water Polo discipline consisted of one event: men's team. In the preliminary round 12 teams were divided into three groups. Two best teams from each group (shaded ones) advanced to Group A of the final round to determine places 1 through 6. The rest of teams played in Group B of the final round to determine places 7 through 12.
The event was held between 20 and 29 July in two venues:
* the Swimming Pool of the Olimpiysky Sports Complex (central part of Moscow)
* the Outdoor Swimming Pool of the Central Lenin Stadium at Luzhniki (south-western part of Moscow)

## Medals

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men's | Soviet Union (URS) Vladimir Akimov Aleksey Barkalov Yevgeny Grishin Mikhail Ivanov Aleksandr Kabanov Sergey Kotenko Georgi Mshvenieradze Mait Riisman Viacheslav Sobchenko Yevgeny Sharonov Erkin Shagaev | Yugoslavia (YUG) Luka Vezlić Zoran Gopčević Damir Polić Ratko Rudić Zoran Mustur Zoran Roje Milivoj Bebić Slobodan Trifunović Boško Lozica Predrag Manojlović Milorad Krivokapić | Hungary (HUN) Endre Molnár István Szívós, Jr. Attila Sudár György Gerendás György Horkai Gábor Csapó István Udvardi László Kuncz Tamás Faragó Károly Hauszler István Kiss |

## Qualification

| Qualification | Date | Host | Berths | Qualified |
| Host nation | 23 October 1974 | Vienna | 1 | Soviet Union |
| 1978 World Championships | 19–27 August 1978 | West Berlin | 6 4 | Italy Hungary Yugoslavia United States Romania West Germany |
| Intercontinental qualification | 28 April – 4 May 1980 | Sofia | 5 | Spain Australia Cuba Netherlands Greece |
| Wildcards | | | 2 | Bulgaria Sweden |
| Total | | | 12 | |

## Results
### Preliminary round
#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hungary | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 5 | Medal round |
| 2 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 4 | Medal round |
| 3 | Romania | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 3 | Classification round |
| 4 | Greece | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 22 | −6 | 0 | Classification round |
| 20 July 1980 | Hungary | 6–6 | Romania | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 20 July 1980 | Faragó 2 | Goals | Nastasiu 3 | Luzhniki |
| 20 July 1980 | Greece | 7–8 | Netherlands | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 20 July 1980 | three players 2 | Goals | Van Zeeland 3 | Luzhniki |
| 21 July 1980 | Hungary | 5–3 | Netherlands | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 21 July 1980 | Faragó 2 | Goals | three players 1 | Luzhniki |
| 21 July 1980 | Greece | 4–6 | Romania | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 21 July 1980 | Capralos 2 | Goals | six players 1 | Luzhniki |
| 22 July 1980 | Hungary | 8–5 | Greece | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 22 July 1980 | three players 2 | Goals | Stathakis 4 | Luzhniki |
| 22 July 1980 | Romania | 3–5 | Netherlands | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 22 July 1980 | Rus 2 | Goals | Landeweerd 3 | Luzhniki |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 10 | +14 | 6 | Medal round |
| 2 | Spain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 4 | Medal round |
| 3 | Italy | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 1 | Classification round |
| 4 | Sweden | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 23 | −15 | 1 | Classification round |
| 20 July 1980 | Sweden | 3–7 | Spain | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 20 July 1980 | Stenberg 2 | Goals | Estiarte 4 | Luzhniki |
| 20 July 1980 | Soviet Union | 8–6 | Italy | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 20 July 1980 | Ivanov, Kotenko 2 | Goals | De Magistris 4 | Luzhniki |
| 21 July 1980 | Sweden | 4–4 | Italy | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 21 July 1980 | Andersson 3 | Goals | D'Angelo 2 | Luzhniki |
| 21 July 1980 | Soviet Union | 4–3 | Spain | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 21 July 1980 | Grishin 2 | Goals | three players 1 | Luzhniki |
| 22 July 1980 | Sweden | 1–12 | Soviet Union | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 22 July 1980 | Carlström 1 | Goals | Riisman 3 | Luzhniki |
| 22 July 1980 | Spain | 5–4 | Italy | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 22 July 1980 | Estiarte 2 | Goals | Collina, Simeoni 2 | Luzhniki |

#### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Yugoslavia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 10 | +14 | 5 | Medal round |
| 2 | Cuba | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 5 | Medal round |
| 3 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 2 | Classification round |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 25 | −17 | 0 | Classification round |
| 20 July 1980 | Yugoslavia | 6–6 | Cuba | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 20 July 1980 | Rudić 2 | Goals | Díaz 3 | Luzhniki |
| 20 July 1980 | Australia | 9–5 | Bulgaria | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 20 July 1980 | C. Turner 6 | Goals | five players 1 | Luzhniki |
| 21 July 1980 | Yugoslavia | 9–2 | Bulgaria | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 21 July 1980 | Gopčević 3 | Goals | Nanov, Popov 1 | Luzhniki |
| 21 July 1980 | Australia | 4–6 | Cuba | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 21 July 1980 | Bryant, C. Turner 2 | Goals | Rizo 4 | Luzhniki |
| 22 July 1980 | Yugoslavia | 9–2 | Australia | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 22 July 1980 | Rudić 3 | Goals | Bryant, Neesham 1 | Luzhniki |
| 22 July 1980 | Cuba | 7–1 | Bulgaria | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 22 July 1980 | Benítez 2 | Goals | Nanov 1 | Luzhniki |

### Final round
#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| | Soviet Union (H) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 21 | +13 | 10 |
| | Yugoslavia | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 32 | +2 | 7 |
| | Hungary | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 6 |
| 4 | Spain | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 31 | −3 | 4 |
| 5 | Cuba | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 38 | −7 | 2 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 33 | −7 | 1 |
| 24 July 1980 | Hungary | 4–5 | Soviet Union | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 24 July 1980 | Gerendás 3 | Goals | Shagaev 2 | Luzhniki |
| 24 July 1980 | Netherlands | 5–6 | Spain | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 24 July 1980 | Landeweerd, Veer 2 | Goals | Estiarte 3 | Luzhniki |
| 24 July 1980 | Yugoslavia | 7–7 | Cuba | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 24 July 1980 | Gopčević 4 | Goals | Rizo 4 | Luzhniki |
| 25 July 1980 | Hungary | 7–8 | Yugoslavia | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 25 July 1980 | Horkai 3 | Goals | three players 2 | Luzhniki |
| 25 July 1980 | Netherlands | 7–7 | Cuba | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 25 July 1980 | Van Zeeland 3 | Goals | Rizo 4 | Luzhniki |
| 25 July 1980 | Soviet Union | 6–2 | Spain | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 25 July 1980 | six players 1 | Goals | Carmona 2 | Luzhniki |
| 26 July 1980 | Hungary | 6–5 | Spain | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 26 July 1980 | Faragó, Gerendás 2 | Goals | Estiarte 3 | Luzhniki |
| 26 July 1980 | Netherlands | 4–5 | Yugoslavia | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 26 July 1980 | Noordegraaf, Veer 2 | Goals | Gopčević 2 | Luzhniki |
| 26 July 1980 | Soviet Union | 8–5 | Cuba | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 26 July 1980 | three players 2 | Goals | five players 1 | Luzhniki |
| 28 July 1980 | Hungary | 7–5 | Cuba | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 28 July 1980 | Horkai 3 | Goals | five players 1 | Olimpiysky |
| 28 July 1980 | Netherlands | 3–7 | Soviet Union | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 28 July 1980 | three players 1 | Goals | Ivanov 3 | Olimpiysky |
| 28 July 1980 | Spain | 6–7 | Yugoslavia | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 28 July 1980 | Estiarte 3 | Goals | Bebić, Gopčević 2 | Olimpiysky |
| 29 July 1980 | Hungary | 8–7 | Netherlands | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 29 July 1980 | Faragó, Kuncz 2 | Goals | Veer 3 | Olimpiysky |
| 29 July 1980 | Soviet Union | 8–7 | Yugoslavia | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 29 July 1980 | Kotenko 3 | Goals | Rudić 3 | Olimpiysky |
| 29 July 1980 | Spain | 9–7 | Cuba | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 29 July 1980 | Estiarte 5 | Goals | Rizo 4 | Olimpiysky |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 7 | Australia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 19 | +11 | 9 |
| 8 | Italy | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 18 | +8 | 8 |
| 9 | Romania | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 7 |
| 10 | Greece | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Sweden | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 40 | −17 | 2 |
| 12 | Bulgaria | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 37 | −12 | 0 |
| 24 July 1980 | Romania | 3–5 | Italy | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 24 July 1980 | Greece | 9–5 | Sweden | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 24 July 1980 | Australia | 8–5 | Bulgaria | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 25 July 1980 | Romania | 4–4 | Australia | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 25 July 1980 | Greece | 6–4 | Bulgaria | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 25 July 1980 | Italy | 8–3 | Sweden | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 26 July 1980 | Romania | 8–3 | Sweden | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 26 July 1980 | Greece | 2–4 | Australia | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 26 July 1980 | Italy | 5–4 | Bulgaria | Luzhniki |
| Luzhniki |||
| 28 July 1980 | Romania | 10–6 | Bulgaria | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 28 July 1980 | Greece | 3–4 | Italy | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 28 July 1980 | Sweden | 4–9 | Australia | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 29 July 1980 | Romania | 11–8 | Greece | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 29 July 1980 | Italy | 4–5 | Australia | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||
| 29 July 1980 | Sweden | 8–6 | Bulgaria | Olimpiysky |
| Olimpiysky |||

## Final ranking

| Rank | Team |
| | Soviet Union |
| | Yugoslavia |
| | Hungary |
| 4 | Spain |
| 5 | Cuba |
| 6 | Netherlands |
| 7 | Australia |
| 8 | Italy |
| 9 | Romania |
| 10 | Greece |
| 11 | Sweden |
| 12 | Bulgaria |
* 1980 Men's Olympic champions
* Soviet Union Second title

## Team rosters

| Australia | Bulgaria | Cuba | Greece | Hungary | Italy |
| Robert Bryant Martin Callaghan Anthony Falson Randall Goff Andrew Kerr Peter Montgomery Julian Muspratt David Neesham Andrew Steward Charles Turner Michael Turner | Andrey Andreev Biser Georgiev Georgi Gospodinov Asen Denchev Kiril Kiryakov Petar Kostadinov Vasil Nanov Antoni Partalev Matei Popov Volodya Sirakov Nikola Stamatov | Carlos Benítez Lazaro Costa Orlando Cowley Bárbaro Díaz Oriel Domínguez Nelson Domínguez Oscar Periche Arturo Ramos Jorge Rizo Gerardo Rodríguez Pedro Rodríguez | Antonios Aronis Ioannis Garifallos Ioannis Giannouris Kiriakos Giannopoulos Andreas Gounas Spyros Kapralos Thomas Karalogos Aristidis Kefalogiannis Markellos Sitarenios Sotirios Stathakis Ioannis Vossos | Gábor Csapó Tamás Faragó György Gerendás Károly Hauszler György Horkai István Kiss László Kuncz Endre Molnár Attila Sudár István Szívós István Udvardi | Alberto Alberani Romeo Collina Gianni De Magistris Vincenzo D'Angelo Massimo Fondelli Alfio Misaggi Sante Misaggi Umberto Panerai Paolo Ragosa Roldano Simeoni Antonello Steardo |
| Netherlands | Romania | Spain | Soviet Union | Sweden | Yugoslavia |
| Ton Buunk Wouly de Bie Jan Jaap Korevaar Nico Landeweerd Ruud Misdorp Dick Nieuwenhuizen Eric Noordegraaf Stan van Belkum Aad van Mil Hans van Zeeland Jan Evert Veer | Viorel Costraş Adrian Nastasiu Dinu Popescu Liviu Râducanu Viorel Rus Claudiu loan Rusu Adrian Schervan Florin Slâvei Ilie Slâvei Doru Spînu Vasile Ungureanu | José Alcázar Jorge Alonso Antonio Aquilar Jorge Carmona Manuel Delgado Antonio Esteller Manuel Estiarte Salvador Franch Pedro Robert Federico Sabriá Gaspar Ventura | Vladimir Akimov Aleksei Barkalov Yevgeny Grishin Mikhail Ivanov Aleksandr Kabanov Sergey Kotenko Giorgi Mshvenieradze Mait Riisman Erkin Shagaev Yevgeny Sharonov Viacheslav Sobchenko | Per-Arne Andersson Sören Carlsson Peter Carlström Arne Claesson Tommy Danielson Anders Flodqvist Gunnar Johansson Kenth Karlsson Hans Lundén Lars Skåål Christer Stenberg | Milivoj Bebić Zoran Gopčević Milorad Krivokapić Boško Lozica Predrag Manojlović Zoran Mustur Damir Polić Ratko Rudić Zoran Roje Slobodan Trifunović Luka Vezilić |