# Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

The women's water polo tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from 11 August to 21 August at the Ying Tung Natatorium.
Teams from eight nations competed, seeded into two groups for the preliminary round. 20 games were played, 12 of them in the preliminary round (each team played the other teams in the group). Eight games were played in the final round.

## Format

The tournament featured eight teams, separated into two groups of four teams. Each team played the other three teams in its pool once in a round-robin format. The first-place team in each pool qualified directly for the semifinal, the second- and third-place teams moved on to the quarterfinal round, and the fourth-place teams played each other in a seventh place game.
The winners of the quarterfinal games moved on to the semifinals to face the top teams from each pool, while the quarterfinal losers played a fifth place classification game. The semifinal winners played in the gold medal game, while the losers played each other for the bronze.

## Preliminary round

All times are CST (UTC+8).

### Group A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| United States | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 27 | +6 | 5 | Qualified for semifinals |
| Italy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 26 | +2 | 5 | Qualified for quarterfinals |
| China | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 2 | Qualified for quarterfinals |
| Russia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 34 | −8 | 0 | Will play for places 7th–8th |
| 11 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Russia | 8–9 | Italy | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gaetan Turcotte (CAN), Nikolaos Argyros (GRE) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gaetan Turcotte (CAN), Nikolaos Argyros (GRE) |||
| 11 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Smurova 2 | Goals | Miceli 2, di Mario 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gaetan Turcotte (CAN), Nikolaos Argyros (GRE) |
| 11 August 2008 17:00 | Report | United States | 12–11 | China | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |||
| 11 August 2008 17:00 | Report | Golda 4, Craig 3, Hayes 2 | Goals | Gao 3, Teng 2, Sun Yu. 2, Sun H. 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |
| 13 August 2008 15:40 | Report | United States | 9–9 | Italy | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Alan Balfanbayev (KAZ), Gabor Kiszelly (HUN) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Alan Balfanbayev (KAZ), Gabor Kiszelly (HUN) |||
| 13 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Hayes 2, Villa 2 | Goals | Miceli 2, di Mario 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Alan Balfanbayev (KAZ), Gabor Kiszelly (HUN) |
| 13 August 2008 17:00 | Report | Russia | 11–13 | China | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gaetan Turcotte (CAN), Torsten Bock (GER) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gaetan Turcotte (CAN), Torsten Bock (GER) |||
| 13 August 2008 17:00 | Report | Pantyulina 3, Vylegzhanina 2 | Goals | Sun Yu. 4, Gao 2, Sun H. 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gaetan Turcotte (CAN), Torsten Bock (GER) |
| 15 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Russia | 7–12 | United States | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Jaime Moliner Molins (ESP), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Jaime Moliner Molins (ESP), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |||
| 15 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Konukh 2, Turova 2 | Goals | Golda 3, Villa 2, Gregorka 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Jaime Moliner Molins (ESP), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |
| 15 August 2008 17:00 | Report | Italy | 10–9 | China | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Boris Margeta (SLO) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Boris Margeta (SLO) |||
| 15 August 2008 17:00 | Report | Casanova 4, di Mario 3 | Goals | Sun Ya. 3, Wang Yi 2, Qiao 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Boris Margeta (SLO) |

### Group B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| Hungary | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 20 | +8 | 5 | Qualified for semifinals |
| Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 5 | Qualified for quarterfinals |
| Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 2 | Qualified for quarterfinals |
| Greece | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 0 | Will play for places 7th–8th |
| 11 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Hungary | 11–9 | Netherlands | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Massimiliano Caputi (ITA), Radoslaw Piotr Koryzna (POL) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Massimiliano Caputi (ITA), Radoslaw Piotr Koryzna (POL) |||
| 11 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Pelle 4, Kisteleki 2, Stieber 2, Valkai 2 | Goals | de Bruijn 4, van den Berg 3 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Massimiliano Caputi (ITA), Radoslaw Piotr Koryzna (POL) |
| 11 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Greece | 6–8 | Australia | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Decio Jr Patelli (BRA), Boris Margeta (SLO) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Decio Jr Patelli (BRA), Boris Margeta (SLO) |||
| 11 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Roumpesi 3, Liosi 2 | Goals | Beadsworth 4, Gofers 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Decio Jr Patelli (BRA), Boris Margeta (SLO) |
| 13 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Hungary | 7–7 | Australia | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Mario Brguljan (MNE), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Mario Brguljan (MNE), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |||
| 13 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Drávucz 3, Pelle 2, Valkai 2 | Goals | R. Rippon 2, B. Knox 2, M. Rippon 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Mario Brguljan (MNE), Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR) |
| 13 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Greece | 6–9 | Netherlands | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Shiwei Ni (CHN), Decio Jr Patelli (BRA) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Shiwei Ni (CHN), Decio Jr Patelli (BRA) |||
| 13 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Liosi 2 | Goals | Cabout 4, de Bruijn 2, van Belkum 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Shiwei Ni (CHN), Decio Jr Patelli (BRA) |
| 15 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Netherlands | 9–10 | Australia | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Massimiliano Caputi (ITA), Gaetan Turcotte (CAN) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Massimiliano Caputi (ITA), Gaetan Turcotte (CAN) |||
| 15 August 2008 13:00 | Report | van den Ham 3, van Belkum 2, Sijbring 2 | Goals | B. Knox 4, Beadsworth 2, Gynther 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Massimiliano Caputi (ITA), Gaetan Turcotte (CAN) |
| 15 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Hungary | 10–4 | Greece | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Alan Balfanbayev (KAZ), Decio Jr Patelli (BRA) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Alan Balfanbayev (KAZ), Decio Jr Patelli (BRA) |||
| 15 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Kisteleki 2, Stieber 2, Drávucz 2, Pelle 2 | Goals | Gerolymou 1, Liosi 1, Roumpesi 1, Asimaki 1 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Alan Balfanbayev (KAZ), Decio Jr Patelli (BRA) |

## Final rounds
### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Gold medal match | Gold medal match | Gold medal match |
| | | | A1 | United States | 9 | | | |
| A3 | China | 11 | B2 | Australia | 8 | | | |
| B2 | Australia | 12 | | | | | United States | 8 |
| | | | | | | | Netherlands | 9 |
| | | | B1 | Hungary | 7 | | | |
| A2 | Italy | 11 | B3 | Netherlands | 8 | | | |
| B3 | Netherlands | 13 | | | | | | |
| | | | 5th–6th | 5th–6th | 5th–6th | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match | Bronze medal match |
| | | | 5 | China | 10 | | Australia | 12 |
| | | | 6 | Italy | 7 | 4 | Hungary | 11 |

### 7th place match

All times are CST (UTC+8).
| 17 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Russia | 12–6 | Greece | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Stephen Knights (NZL), Guy Pinker (RSA) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Stephen Knights (NZL), Guy Pinker (RSA) |||
| 17 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Shepelina 3, Konukh 3, Pantyulina 2, Belyaeva 2 | Goals | Roumpesi 4 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Stephen Knights (NZL), Guy Pinker (RSA) |

### Quarterfinals

All times are CST (UTC+8).
| 17 August 2008 14:20 | Report | China | 11–12 | Australia | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Decio Jr Patelli (BRA), Jaime Moliner Molins (ESP) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Decio Jr Patelli (BRA), Jaime Moliner Molins (ESP) |||
| 17 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Ma 3, Sun H. 2 | Goals | Gynther 5, Cuffe 2, M. Rippon 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Decio Jr Patelli (BRA), Jaime Moliner Molins (ESP) |
| 17 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Italy | 11–13 | Netherlands | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Torsten Bock (GER), Nikolaos Argyros (GRE) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Torsten Bock (GER), Nikolaos Argyros (GRE) |||
| 17 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Zanchi 4, Miceli 2, Bosurgi 2 | Goals | Cabout 4, de Bruijn 3, Smit 2, van Belkum 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Torsten Bock (GER), Nikolaos Argyros (GRE) |

### 5th place match

All times are CST (UTC+8).
| 19 August 2008 13:00 | Report | China | 10–7 | Italy | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR), Gaetan Turcotte (CAN) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR), Gaetan Turcotte (CAN) |||
| 19 August 2008 13:00 | Report | Gao 4, Sun H. 2 | Goals | di Mario 3, Zanchi 2 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Ahmet Erhan Tulga (TUR), Gaetan Turcotte (CAN) |

### Semifinals

All times are CST (UTC+8).
| 19 August 2008 14:20 | Report | United States | 9–8 | Australia | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Massimiliano Caputi (ITA) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Massimiliano Caputi (ITA) |||
| 19 August 2008 14:20 | Report | Villa 3 Hayes 2 Golda, Steffens, Gregorka, Craig 1 | Goals | Gynther 3 R. Rippon 2 Beadsworth, Knox, M. Rippon 1 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Massimiliano Caputi (ITA) |
| 19 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Hungary | 7–8 | Netherlands | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Mario Brguljan (MNE), Sergey Antsiferov (RUS) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Mario Brguljan (MNE), Sergey Antsiferov (RUS) |||
| 19 August 2008 15:40 | Report | Pelle 3 Drávucz, Primász 2 | Goals | van den Ham, van Belkum 3 Cabout, Sijbring 1 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Mario Brguljan (MNE), Sergey Antsiferov (RUS) |

### Bronze medal match

All times are CST (UTC+8).
| 21 August 2008 17:00 | Report | Australia | 12–11 | Hungary | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Sergey Antsiferov (RUS), Mladen Rak (CRO) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Sergey Antsiferov (RUS), Mladen Rak (CRO) |||
| 21 August 2008 17:00 | Report | Knox, Gynther 3 Fraser 2 Beadsworth, R. Rippon, Santoromito, M. Rippon 1 | Goals | Kisteleki 4 Valkai 3 Drávucz 2 Zantleitner, Pelle 1 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Sergey Antsiferov (RUS), Mladen Rak (CRO) |

### Gold medal match

All times are CST (UTC+8).
| 21 August 2008 18:20 | Report | United States | 8–9 | Netherlands | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Massimiliano Caputi (ITA) |
| Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Massimiliano Caputi (ITA) |||
| 21 August 2008 18:20 | Report | Steffens 2 Hayes, Villa, Golda, Gregorka, van Norman, Craig 1 | Goals | de Bruijn 7 van Belkum, van den Ham 1 | Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Gabor Kiszelly (HUN), Massimiliano Caputi (ITA) |

## Ranking and statistics
### Final ranking

| Rank | Team |
| | Netherlands |
| | United States |
| | Australia |
| 4 | Hungary |
| 5 | China |
| 6 | Italy |
| 7 | Russia |
| 8 | Greece |
* 2008 Women's Olympic champions
* Netherlands First title

### Multi-time Olympians

Three-time Olympian(s): 4 players
* Russia: Sofia Konukh, Elena Smurova
* United States: Heather Petri, Brenda Villa

### Multiple medalists

Three-time Olympic medalist(s): 2 players
* United States: Heather Petri, Brenda Villa

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | GP | G |
| 1 | Daniëlle de Bruijn (NED) | 6 | 17 |
| 2 | Kate Gynther (AUS) | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | Bronwen Knox (AUS) | 6 | 12 |
| 3 | Anikó Pelle (HUN) | 5 | 12 |
| 5 | Ao Gao (CHN) | 5 | 11 |
| 6 | Iefke van Belkum (NED) | 6 | 10 |
| 6 | Mieke Cabout (NED) | 6 | 10 |
| 6 | Rita Drávucz (HUN) | 5 | 10 |
| 6 | Tania di Mario (ITA) | 5 | 10 |
| 10 | Gemma Beadsworth (AUS) | 6 | 9 |
| 10 | Natalie Golda (USA) | 5 | 9 |
| 10 | Marieke van den Ham (NED) | 6 | 9 |
| 10 | Antigoni Roumpesi (GRE) | 4 | 9 |
| 10 | Brenda Villa (USA) | 5 | 9 |

## Medallists

| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Netherlands (NED) Ilse van der Meijden Yasemin Smit Mieke Cabout Biurakn Hakhverdian Marieke van den Ham Daniëlle de Bruijn Iefke van Belkum Noeki Klein Gillian van den Berg Alette Sijbring Rianne Guichelaar Simone Koot Meike de Nooy Head coach: Robin van Galen | United States (USA) Elizabeth Armstrong Heather Petri Brittany Hayes Brenda Villa Lauren Wenger Natalie Golda Patty Cardenas Jessica Steffens Elsie Windes Alison Gregorka Moriah van Norman Kami Craig Jaime Hipp Head coach: Guy Baker | Australia (AUS) Emma Knox Gemma Beadsworth Nikita Cuffe Rebecca Rippon Suzie Fraser Bronwen Knox Taniele Gofers Kate Gynther Jenna Santoromito Mia Santoromito Melissa Rippon Amy Hetzel Alicia McCormack Head coach: Greg McFadden |

## Awards
### Media All-Star Team

* Goalkeeper
** Patrícia Horváth (43 saves)
* Field players
** Daniëlle de Bruijn (left-handed, 17 goals, 15 sprints won)
** Elisa Casanova (left-handed, 7 goals)
** Gao Ao (11 goals)
** Bronwen Knox (12 goals)
** Jessica Steffens (5 goals)
** Ágnes Valkai (7 goals, 10 sprints won)