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

This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Germany men's national water polo team, the United Team of Germany men's national water polo team, and the West Germany men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
The Germany men's national water polo team, the United Team of Germany men's national water polo team, and the West Germany men's national water polo team have 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.
* Related teams: United Team of Germany men's Olympic water polo team$^†$, East Germany men's Olympic water polo team$^†$, West Germany men's Olympic water polo team$^†$.
* Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* 1 – Champions
* 2 – Runners-up
* 3 – Third place
* 4 – Fourth place
* — – The nation did not participate in the Games
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
* – Hosts
* = – More than one team tied for that rank
* Team$^†$ – Defunct team

#### Abbreviation

* EUA – United Team of Germany
* FRG – West Germany
* GDR – East Germany
| 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 |
| Germany | =5 | | | | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 15 | See EUA | See EUA | See EUA | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | 7 | 9 | | 5 | 10 | | | | 9 |
| United Team of Germany$^†$ | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | 6 | 6 | 6 | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See FRG and GDR | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | See Germany | 3 |
| East Germany$^†$ | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | P. of EUA | P. of EUA | P. of EUA | 6 | | | | — | | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | 1 |
| West Germany$^†$ | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | P. of EUA | P. of EUA | P. of EUA | 10 | 4 | 6 | — | 3 | 4 | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | Part of Germany | 5 |
| 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: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
| Men's team | Apps | Record streak | Active streak | Debut | Most recent | Best finish | Confederation |
| Germany | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1900 | 2008 | Champions | Europe – LEN |
| West Germany$^†$ | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1968 | 1988 | Third place | Europe – LEN |
| United Team of Germany$^†$ | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1956 | 1964 | Sixth place | Europe – LEN |

### Best finishes

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
| Men's team | Best finish | Apps | Confederation |
| Germany | Champions (1928) | 9 | Europe – LEN |
| West Germany$^†$ | Third place (1984) | 5 | Europe – LEN |
| United Team of Germany$^†$ | Sixth place (1956, 1960, 1964) | 3 | Europe – LEN |

### Finishes in the top four

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
| Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
| Germany | 3 | 1 (1928) | 2 (1932, 1936$^*$) | | | 1928 | 1936 |
| West Germany$^†$ | 3 | | | 1 (1984) | 2 (1972$^*$, 1988) | 1972 | 1988 |
| United Team of Germany$^†$ | 0 | | | | | — | — |

### Medal table

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
| Men's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Germany (GER) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| West Germany (FRG)$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| United Team of Germany (EUA)$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals (3 entries) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |

## 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: 2
* Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Abbreviation

* FRG – West Germany
* GER – Germany
* MEX – Mexico
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 | Armando Fernández | 1955 | FP | 1972 MEX | 1976 MEX | | 1984 FRG | 1988 FRG | 17/33 | | | |
| 4 | Peter Röhle | 1957 | GK | 1976 FRG | | 1984 FRG | 1988 FRG | 1992 GER | 19/35 | | | |

### Multiple medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by total number of Olympic medals (in descending order), number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), year of receiving the last Olympic medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first Olympic medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
* Number of four-time Olympic medalists: 0
* Number of three-time Olympic medalists: 1
* Last updated: 1 May 2021.

#### Legend

* – Hosts
Male athletes who won three or more Olympic medals in water polo :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | 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 |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Fritz Gunst | 1908 | | FP | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | | | 8 years (19/27) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |

### 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): 0
* Number of goalscorers (40–49 goals): 1
* Number of goalscorers (30–39 goals): 2
* Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Abbreviation

* FRG – West Germany
* GER – Germany
* MEX – Mexico
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 | Hagen Stamm | 1960 | Right | 45 | 1984 FRG (18) | 1988 FRG (15) | 1992 GER (12) | | | 24/32 | | | |
| 2 | Frank Otto | 1959 | Left | 38 | 1984 FRG (18) | 1988 FRG (16) | 1992 GER (4) | | | 25/33 | | | |
| 3 | Armando Fernández | 1955 | | 37 | 1972 MEX (11) | 1976 MEX (16) | | 1984 FRG (6) | 1988 FRG (4) | 17/33 | | | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900, 1928–1936, 1952–1976, 1984–1996;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2004 (pp. 199–200), 2008 (pp. 196–197).

### 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: 1 April 2021.

#### Legend and abbreviation

* – Hosts
* Eff % – Save efficiency (Saves / Shots)
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | ISHOF member | Note |
| 1900 | | Georg Hax | 1870 | 29 | | The only goalkeeper in the squad |
| 1928 | | Johann Blank | 1904 | 24 | | |
| 1928 | | Erich Rademacher | 1901 | 27 | 1972 | |
| 1932 | | Hans Eckstein | 1908 | 23 | | |
| 1932 | | Erich Rademacher (2) | 1901 | 31 | 1972 | |
| 1936 | | Paul Klingenburg | 1907 | 28 | | |
| 1936 | | Fritz Stolze | 1910 | 25 | | |
| 1952 | | Emil Bildstein | 1931 | 21 | | |
| 1952 | | Günter Heine | 1919 | 32 | | |
| 1956 | | Emil Bildstein (2) | 1931 | 25 | | |
| 1956 | | Karl Neuse | 1930 | 25 | | |
| 1960 | | Emil Bildstein (3) | 1931 | 29 | | |
| 1960 | | Hans Hoffmeister | 1936 | 24 | | |
| 1964 | | Heinz Mäder | 1937 | 27 | | |
| 1964 | | Peter Schmidt | 1937 | 26 | | |
| 1968 | 1 | Hans Hoffmeister (2) | 1936 | 32 | | |
| 1968 | 11 | Günter Kilian | 1950 | 18 | | |
| 1972 | 1 | Gerd Olbert | 1948 | 24 | | |
| 1972 | 11 | Hans Hoffmeister (3) | 1936 | 36 | | |
| 1976 | 1 | Günter Kilian (2) | 1950 | 26 | | |
| 1976 | 11 | Peter Röhle | 1957 | 19 | | |
| 1984 | 1 | Peter Röhle (2) | 1957 | 27 | | |
| 1984 | 12 | Santiago Chalmovsky | 1959 | 25 | | |
| 1988 | 1 | Peter Röhle (3) | 1957 | 31 | | |
| 1988 | 7 | Ingo Borgmann | 1965 | 23 | | |
| 1992 | 1 | Ingo Borgmann (2) | 1965 | 27 | | |
| 1992 | 5 | Peter Röhle (4) | 1957 | 35 | | |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Saves | Shots | Eff % | Note |
| 1996 | 1 | Ingo Borgmann (3) | 1965 | 31 | 51 | 111 | 45.9% | Starting goalkeeper |
| 1996 | 9 | Daniel Voß | 1971 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 66.7% | |
| 2004 | 1 | Alexander Tchigir (2) | 1968 | 35 | 39 | 80 | 48.8% | Starting goalkeeper |
| 2004 | 2 | Michael Zellmer | 1977 | 27 | 3 | 6 | 50.0% | |
| 2008 | 1 | Alexander Tchigir (3) | 1968 | 39 | 63 | 130 | 48.5% | Starting goalkeeper |
| 2008 | 13 | Michael Zellmer (2) | 1977 | 31 | 0 | 0 | — | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1996 (pp. 57–61, 67–69);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2004 (pp. 199–200), 2008 (pp. 196–197).
Notes:
* Alexander Tchigir is also listed in Unified Team men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics.

### 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): 0
* Number of sprinters (20–29 sprints won, since 2000): 1
* Number of sprinters (10–19 sprints won, since 2000): 0
* Number of sprinters (5–9 sprints won, since 2000): 1
* Last updated: 15 May 2021.

#### Abbreviation

* 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 | Tobias Kreuzmann | 1981 | 25 | 34 | 73.5% | 2004 (17/22) | 2008 (8/12) | | | | 23/27 | | | |
| 2 | Moritz Oeler | 1985 | 8 | 16 | 50.0% | 2008 (8/16) | | | | | 22/22 | | | |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2004 (pp. 199–200), 2008 (pp. 196–197).

## Olympic champions
### 1928 Summer Olympics

* Edition of men's tournament: 7th
* Host city: Amsterdam, Netherlands
* Number of participating teams: 14
* Competition format: Single-elimination tournament; Bergvall system for third-place
* Champion: Germany (1st title)
| Match | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Goals for | Goals against | Goal diff. |
| Match 1/3 | Quarter-finals | 6 August 1928 | Belgium | Won | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Match 2/3 | Semi-finals | 7 August 1928 | Great Britain | Won | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Match 3/3 | Gold medal match | 10 August 1928 | Hungary | Won | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | 18 | 10 | 8 |
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1928 (pp. 803, 804, 806).
* Head coach:
Roster :
| # | Player | Pos | Height | Date of birth | Age of winning gold | Oly debut | ISHOF member |
| P1 | Max Amann | FP | | 19 January 1905 | 23 years, 205 days | Yes | |
| P2 | Karl Bähre | FP | | 11 April 1899 | 29 years, 122 days | Yes | |
| P3 | Emil Benecke | FP | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 4 October 1898 | 29 years, 312 days | Yes | |
| P4 | Johann Blank | GK | | 17 April 1904 | 24 years, 116 days | Yes | |
| P5 | Otto Cordes | FP | | 31 August 1905 | 22 years, 346 days | Yes | |
| P6 | Fritz Gunst | FP | | 22 September 1908 | 19 years, 324 days | Yes | 1990 |
| P7 | Erich Rademacher | GK | | 9 June 1901 | 27 years, 63 days | Yes | 1972 |
| P8 | Joachim Rademacher | FP | | 20 June 1906 | 22 years, 52 days | Yes | |
| Average | Average | Average | | 17 September 1903 | 24 years, 329 days | | |
Note: Erich Rademacher and Joachim Rademacher are brothers. Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1928 (pp. 803, 804, 806);
* Olympedia: 1928 (men's tournament);
* Sports Reference: 1928 (men's tournament);
* ISHOF.