# Australia men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics

This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Australia men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
The Australia men's national water polo team has participated in 17 of 27 official men's water polo tournaments.

## Abbreviations

| Apps | Appearances | Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | Cap No. | Water polo cap number |
| Pos | Playing position | FP | Field player | GK | Goalkeeper | ISHOF | International Swimming Hall of Fame |
| L/R | Handedness | L | Left-handed | R | Right-handed | Oly debut | Olympic debut in water polo |
| (C) | Captain | p. | page | pp. | pages | | |

## Team statistics
### Comprehensive results by tournament

Notes:
* Results of Olympic qualification tournaments are not included. Numbers refer to the final placing of each team at the respective Games.
* At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a water polo tournament was contested, but only American contestants participated. Currently the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Swimming Federation (FINA) consider water polo event as part of unofficial program in 1904.
* Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* 1 – Champions
* 2 – Runners-up
* 3 – Third place
* 4 – Fourth place
* – Qualified but were not allowed to compete
* — – The nation did not participate in the Games
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
* – Hosts
| Men's team | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | Years |
| Australia | | | — | — | | | | | | 18 | 19 | 9 | 15 | 10 | | 12 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | Q | 17 |
| Total teams | 7 | | 4 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | |

### Number of appearances

Last updated: 27 July 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Men's team | Apps | Record streak | Active streak | Debut | Most recent | Best finish | Confederation |
| Australia | 17 | 6 | 6 | 1948 | 2020 | Fifth place | Oceania – OSA |

### Best finishes

Last updated: 27 July 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Men's team | Best finish | Apps | Confederation |
| Australia | Fifth place (1984, 1992) | 17 | Oceania – OSA |

### Finishes in the top four

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
| Australia | 0 | | | | | — | — |

### Medal table

Last updated: 5 May 2021.
| Men's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Australia (AUS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Player statistics
### Multiple appearances

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic appearances (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), date of birth (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
* Number of five-time Olympians: 0
* Number of four-time Olympians: 6
* Last updated: 27 July 2021.

#### Legend

* – Hosts
Male athletes who competed in water polo at four or more Olympics :
| Apps | Player | Birth | Pos | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 4 | Peter Montgomery | 1950 | FP | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | | 22/34 | 2013 | | |
| 4 | Andrew Kerr | 1954 | FP | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | | 22/34 | | | |
| 4 | Gavin Woods | 1978 | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 22/34 | | | |
| 4 | Thomas Whalan | 1980 | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 19/31 | | | |
| 4 | Rhys Howden | 1987 | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 21/34 | | | |
| 4 | Richie Campbell | 1987 | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 20/33 | | | |
Note:
* Pietro Figlioli is listed in Italy men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics.

### Top goalscorers

The following table is pre-sorted by number of total goals (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
* Number of goalscorers (50+ goals): 1
* Number of goalscorers (40–49 goals): 0
* Number of goalscorers (30–39 goals): 3
* Last updated: 1 April 2021.

#### Legend

* – Hosts
Male players with 30 or more goals at the Olympics :
| Rk | Player | Birth | L/R | Total goals | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | L/R | Total goals | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 1 | Charles Turner | 1952 | Right | 50 | 1976 (15) | 1980 (17) | 1984 (18) | | | 23/31 | | | |
| 2 | Christopher Wybrow | 1961 | | 36 | 1984 (15) | 1988 (10) | 1992 (11) | | | 22/30 | | | |
| 3 | Geoffrey Clark | 1969 | | 32 | 1988 (14) | 1992 (18) | | | | 19/23 | | | |
| 3 | Thomas Whalan | 1980 | Right | 32 | 2000 (3) | 2004 (14) | 2008 (7) | 2012 (8) | | 19/31 | | | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1948–1964, 1972–1992;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 48, 52, 56, 65–66, 71, 73, 76), 2004 (pp. 187–188), 2008 (pp. 181–182), 2012 (pp. 468–469), 2016 (pp. 103–104).
Note:
* Pietro Figlioli is listed in Italy men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics.

### Goalkeepers

The following table is pre-sorted by edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), cap number or name of the goalkeeper (in ascending order), respectively.
Last updated: 27 July 2021.

#### Legend and abbreviation

* – Hosts
* Eff % – Save efficiency (Saves / Shots)
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 1948 | | Ben Dalley | 1916 | 32 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1948 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1952 | | Doug Laing | 1931 | 21 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1952 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1956 | | Doug Laing (2) | 1931 | 25 | | | |
| 1956 | | Bill McCabe | 1935 | 21 | | | |
| 1960 | | Michael Withers | 1938 | 22 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1960 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1964 | 1 | Michael Withers (2) | 1938 | 26 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1964 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1972 | 1 | Michael Withers (3) | 1938 | 34 | | | |
| 1972 | 13 | Bill Tilley | 1938 | 33 | | | |
| 1976 | 1 | Paul Williams | 1955 | 21 | | | |
| 1976 | 11 | Rodney Woods | 1954 | 21 | | | |
| 1980 | 1 | Michael Turner | 1951 | 29 | | | |
| 1980 | 11 | Andrew Steward | 1954 | 25 | | | |
| 1984 | 1 | Michael Turner (2) | 1951 | 33 | | | |
| 1984 | 13 | Glenn Townsend | 1962 | 22 | | | |
| 1988 | 1 | Glenn Townsend (2) | 1962 | 26 | | | |
| 1988 | 13 | Donald Cameron | 1954 | 34 | | | |
| 1992 | 1 | Glenn Townsend (3) | 1962 | 30 | | | |
| 1992 | 9 | Guy Newman | 1969 | 23 | | | |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Saves | Shots | Eff % | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 2000 | 1 | Eddie Denis | 1970 | 29 | 56 | 107 | 52.3% | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 2000 | 13 | Rafael Sterk | 1978 | 22 | 8 | 18 | 44.4% | | | |
| 2004 | 1 | James Stanton | 1983 | 21 | 57 | 108 | 52.8% | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 2004 | 13 | Rafael Sterk (2) | 1978 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 33.3% | | | |
| 2008 | 1 | James Stanton (2) | 1983 | 25 | 48 | 109 | 44.0% | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 2008 | 13 | Rafael Sterk (3) | 1978 | 30 | 5 | 9 | 55.6% | | | |
| 2012 | 1 | Joel Dennerley | 1987 | 25 | 51 | 104 | 49.0% | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 2012 | 13 | James Clark | 1991 | 21 | 15 | 36 | 41.7% | | | |
| 2016 | 1 | Joel Dennerley (2) | 1987 | 29 | 29 | 51 | 56.9% | | | |
| 2016 | 13 | James Stanton (3) | 1983 | 33 | 22 | 40 | 55.0% | | | |
| 2020 | 1 | Anthony Hrysanthos | 1995 | 25 | | | | | | |
| 2020 | 13 | Joel Dennerley (3) | 1987 | 34 | | | | | | |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Saves | Shots | Eff % | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 48, 52, 56, 65–66, 71, 73, 76), 2004 (pp. 187–188), 2008 (pp. 181–182), 2012 (pp. 468–469), 2016 (pp. 103–104).

### Top sprinters

The following table is pre-sorted by number of total sprints won (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), name of the sprinter (in ascending order), respectively.
* Number of sprinters (30+ sprints won, since 2000): 1
* Number of sprinters (20–29 sprints won, since 2000): 0
* Number of sprinters (10–19 sprints won, since 2000): 2
* Number of sprinters (5–9 sprints won, since 2000): 0
* Last updated: 15 May 2021.

#### Legend and abbreviation

* – Hosts
* Eff % – Efficiency (Sprints won / Sprints contested)
Male players with 5 or more sprints won at the Olympics (statistics since 2000) :
| Rk | Sprinter | Birth | Total sprints won | Total sprints contested | Eff % | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Rk | Sprinter | Birth | Total sprints won | Total sprints contested | Eff % | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 1 | Rhys Howden | 1987 | 42 | 49 | 85.7% | 2008 (5/6) | 2012 (19/24) | 2016 (18/19) | | | 21/29 | | | |
| 2 | Nathan Thomas | 1972 | 15 | 19 | 78.9% | 2000 (15/19) | 2004 (0/0) | | | | 28/32 | | | |
| 3 | Thomas Whalan | 1980 | 13 | 22 | 59.1% | 2000 (9/13) | 2004 (2/4) | 2008 (1/1) | 2012 (1/4) | | 19/31 | | | |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 48, 52, 56, 65–66, 71, 73, 76), 2004 (pp. 187–188), 2008 (pp. 181–182), 2012 (pp. 468–469), 2016 (pp. 103–104).
Note:
* Pietro Figlioli is listed in Italy men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics.

## Water polo people at the opening and closing ceremonies
### Flag bearers

Some sportspeople were chosen to carry the national flag of their country at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games. As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, one male water polo player was given the honour to carry the flag for Australia.

#### Legend

* 2008 O – Opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics
* 2012 C – Closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics
* – Hosts
* Flag bearer$^‡$ – Flag bearer who won the tournament with his team
Water polo people who were flag bearers at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games :
| # | Year | Country | Flag bearer | Birth | Age | Height | Team | Pos | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| # | Year | Country | Flag bearer | Birth | Age | Height | Team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | 1948 O | Australia | Les McKay | 1917 | 31 | | Australia | FP | 1948 | | | | | 0 years (31/31) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |

### Oath takers

Some sportspeople from the host nations were chosen to take the Olympic Oath at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, one water polo referee from Australia was given the honour.
Peter Kerr, an Australian water polo referee, took the Officials' Oath at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

#### Legend

* – Hosts
Water polo people who were oath takers at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games :
| # | Year | Oath | Country | Oath taker | Birth | Age | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Water polo tournament | Ref |
| 1 | 2000 | Officials' Oath | Australia | Peter Kerr | | | 1996 | 2000 | As referee (official) | |