# Water polo at the Summer Olympics

Water polo has been part of the Summer Olympics program since the second games, in 1900. A women's water polo tournament was introduced for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Hungary has been the most successful country in men's tournament, while the United States is the only team to win multiple times at the women's tournament since its introduction. Italy was the first to win both the men's and women's water polo tournaments.

## History

The history of water polo as a team sport began in mid-19th century England and Scotland, where water sports were a feature of county fairs and festivals. Water polo has been included in every Summer Olympic Games as a men's competition sport, except 1896. Women's water polo made its debut in the Summer Olympics in 2000.

### Beginnings

Men's water polo was among the first team sports introduced at the modern Olympic Games in 1900. Seven European teams from four countries, including four from the host nation France, took part in the competition. The British team was the inaugural champion.
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a water polo tournament was contested, three club teams of seven players each entered. A German team tried to enter, but its entry was refused because the players did not play for the same club. The event took place in a pond in Forest Park, the location of both the Olympics and the World's Fair. Previously, the International Olympic Committee and International Swimming Federation (FINA) considered the water polo event at the 1904 Olympics as a demonstration sport. However, in July 2021, after accepting the recommendation of Olympic historian Bill Mallon, the IOC recognized water polo along with several others as an official sport of the 1904 Olympic program. Water polo was not played at the 1906 Olympics.
From 1908 to 1920, the Great Britain men's national water polo team won three consecutive gold medals at the Olympics, becoming the first water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak (winning three or more Olympic titles in a row).

### Hungarian dominance

Hungary men's national water polo team has participated in 22 of 27 Olympic tournaments, with fifteen Olympic medals (nine gold, three silver and three bronze). From 1928 to 1980, the Hungarians won twelve consecutive medals in water polo. Twenty years later, the team won three golds in a row between 2000 and 2008, becoming the second team to have an Olympic winning streak in water polo.

#### Blood in the Water match

The most famous water polo match in Olympic history often referred to as the Blood in the Water match, was a 1956 Summer Olympics semi-final match between Hungary and the Soviet Union, played in Melbourne on 6 December 1956. As the athletes left for the games, the Hungarian revolution began, and the Soviet army crushed the uprising. The match was bloody and violent. The Hungarians defeated the Soviets 4–0 before the game was called off in the final minute to prevent angry Hungarians in the crowd reacting to Soviet player Valentin Prokopov punching Hungarian player Ervin Zádor. Pictures of Zádor's injuries were published around the world, leading to the "Blood in the Water" moniker.
The Hungarians went on to win the Olympic gold medal by defeating Yugoslavia 2–1 in the final.

### Addition of women's program

Women's water polo became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Six nations competed in the women's tournament with home team Australia winning the gold medal over the United States.
From 2012 to 2020, the United States women's team won three consecutive gold medals at the Summer Olympics, becoming the first women's water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak.

## Geography

Water polo is now popular in many countries around the world, notably in Europe (particularly in Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Spain), Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States.
As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, 51 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from six continents have sent their water polo teams to the Olympic Games. Men's water polo teams of European NOCs won all 27 official tournaments, while women's teams from Europe, North America and Oceania won all six gold medals. Water polo teams from Africa, Asia and South America have not won an Olympic medal yet.

## Venues

For the Summer Olympics, there are 34 venues that have been or will be used for water polo.
The Seine in Paris hosted the first water polo competitions at the 1900 Olympics. The Forest Park in St. Louis hosted the water polo events for the 1904 Summer Olympics.
The first water polo venue not located on a river or a lake took place at the 1908 London Olympics. It was not until the 1920 Olympics that a separate venue was created for the aquatic venues. The 1948 Games were the first Olympics in which water polo took place both indoors and in more than one venue. The first separate water polo venue that was not connected to other aquatic venues was at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
The Water Polo Arena of the 2012 London Olympics was the first dedicated water polo venue to be built for an Olympics, the structure was taken down after the games.
* Paris 1900: Seine, Paris
* St. Louis 1904: Forest Park, St. Louis
* London 1908: White City Stadium, White City
* Stockholm 1912: Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, Stockholm
* Antwerp 1920: Stade Nautique d'Antwerp, Antwerp
* Paris 1924: Piscine des Tourelles, Paris
* Amsterdam 1928: Olympic Sports Park Swim Stadium, Amsterdam
* Los Angeles 1932: Swimming Stadium, Los Angeles
* Berlin 1936: Olympic Swimming Stadium, Berlin
* London 1948: Empire Pool (final), Wembley; and Finchley Lido, North Finchley
* Helsinki 1952: Swimming Stadium, Helsinki
* Melbourne 1956: Swimming/Diving Stadium, Melbourne
* Rome 1960: Piscina delle Rose and Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto (final), both in Rome
* Tokyo 1964: Tokyo Metropolitan Indoor Swimming Pool, Tokyo
* Mexico City 1968: Francisco Márquez Olympic Pool (final) and University City Swimming Pool, both in Mexico City
* Munich 1972: Dantebad and Schwimmhalle (final), both in Munich
* Montreal 1976: Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard and Olympic Pool (final), both in Montreal
* Moscow 1980: Swimming Pool - Moscow and Swimming Pool - Olimpiysky (final), both in Moscow
* Los Angeles 1984: Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool, Malibu, California
* Seoul 1988: Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool, Seoul
* Barcelona 1992: Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc and Piscines Bernat Picornell (finals), both in Barcelona
* Atlanta 1996: Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, Atlanta
* Sydney 2000: Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre, Ryde; and Sydney International Aquatic Centre, Sydney
* Athens 2004: Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre, Athens
* Beijing 2008: Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing
* London 2012: Water Polo Arena, London
* Rio de Janeiro 2016: Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre and Olympic Aquatics Stadium (finals), Rio de Janeiro
* Tokyo 2020: Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, Tokyo
* Paris 2024: Paris Aquatic Centre and Paris La Défense Arena (finals)
* Los Angeles 2028: Long Beach Waterfront
* Brisbane 2032: Sleeman Centre
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2016;
* Olympedia: Water polo venues.

## Events
### Notes

    The X indicates that the tournament was held as a full Olympic medal sport.
    The bullet (•) denotes that it was contested as an unofficial sport.
| Event | 96 | 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 | 24 | Games |
| Men's tournament | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 29 |
| Women's tournament | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 7 |
| Total | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |

## Rules
### Qualification summary

| Year | M | W |
| 1900-1956 | No Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1960 | 1960 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1964 | 1964 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1968 | 1968 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1972 | 1972 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1976 | 1976 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1980 | 1980 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1984 | 1984 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1988 | 1988 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1992 | 1992 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 1996 | 1996 Men's Qualification | No Tournament |
| 2000 | 2000 Men's Qualification | 2000 Women's Qualification |
| 2004 | 2004 Men's Qualification | 2004 Women's Qualification |
| 2008 | 2008 Men's Qualification | 2008 Women's Qualification |
| 2012 | 2012 Men's Qualification | 2012 Women's Qualification |
| 2016 | 2016 Men's Qualification | 2016 Women's Qualification |
| 2020 | 2020 Men's Qualification | 2020 Women's Qualification |
| 2024 | 2024 Men's Qualification | 2024 Women's Qualification |
| Total | 17 | 7 |

### Qualification

Since 2012, the qualifying process consists of five stages:
* The team of the host nation qualifies automatically.
* No more than one team qualifies as the top team in the FINA World League.
* No more than three teams qualify as the top teams in the World Aquatics Championships.
* No more than five teams qualify as the continental Olympic qualification tournament champions.
* No more than four teams qualify through a world qualifying tournament, in which the best teams which did not qualify directly from each continent compete for the remaining berths.
Men's qualification :
| Stage | Zone | Tournament | Berths | Berths | Berths |
| Stage | Zone | Tournament | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 |
| 1 | — | Host nation | 1 (from Europe) | 1 (from Americas) | 1 (from Asia) |
| 2 | World – FINA | FINA Water Polo World League | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | World – FINA | World Aquatics Championships | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Africa – CANA | African Continental Selection | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Americas – UANA | Pan American Games | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Asia – AASF | Asian Water Polo Championship | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Europe – LEN | European Water Polo Championship | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Oceania – OSA | Oceanian Continental Selection | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | World – FINA | World Qualification Tournament | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Total | Total | Total | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Women's qualification :
| Stage | Zone | Tournament | Berths | Berths | Berths |
| Stage | Zone | Tournament | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 |
| 1 | — | Host nation | 1 (from Europe) | 1 (from Americas) | 1 (from Asia) |
| 2 | World – FINA | FINA Water Polo World League | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | World – FINA | World Aquatics Championships | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Africa – CANA | African Continental Selection | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Americas – UANA | Pan American Games | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Asia – AASF | Asian Water Polo Championship | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Europe – LEN | European Water Polo Championship | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Oceania – OSA | Oceanian Continental Selection | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | World – FINA | World Qualification Tournament | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | 8 | 8 | 10 |

### Players
#### Eligibility

According to the FINA General Rules, the list below shows the requirements for a player to be eligible to play in international tournaments:
* "GR 1.1: All competitors shall be registered with their National Federation to be eligible to compete."
* "GR 2.5: When a competitor or competition official represents his/her country in a competition, he/she shall be a citizen, whether by birth or naturalisation, of the nation he/she represents, provided that a naturalised citizen shall have lived in that country for at least one year prior to that competition. Competitors, who have more than one nationality according to the laws of the respective nations must choose one 'Sport Nationality'. This choice shall be exercised by the first representation of the competitor for one of the countries."
* "GR 2.6: Any competitor or competition official changing his sport nationality from one national governing body to another must have resided in the territory of and been under the jurisdiction of the latter for at least twelve months prior to his first representation for the country."

### Competition format

For both the men's and women's tournaments at the 2020 Olympics (which was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the competition consists of a round-robin group stage followed by a knockout stage. Teams are placed into two groups, with each team playing each other team in its group once. Teams earn 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The top four teams in each group advance to the knockout rounds. The knockout rounds are a single-elimination tournament consisting of quarterfinals, semifinals, and the gold and bronze medal matches.
Matches consist of four quarters of eight minutes each. During the knockout rounds, if the score is tied after four quarters (32 minutes), penalty shootouts, which is 5 rounds, plus extra rounds if tied, are used to determine the winner.
Men's tournament :
| # | Year | Dates | Number of | Number of | Competition format |
| # | Year | Dates | Teams | Matches | Competition format |
| 1 | 1900 | 11–12 August | 7 teams | 6 matches | Single-elimination tournament |
| 2 | 1904 | 5–6 September | 3 teams | 2 matches | Single-elimination tournament |
| 3 | 1908 | 15–22 July | 4 teams | 4 matches | Single-elimination tournament |
| 4 | 1912 | 7–16 July | 6 teams | 10 matches | Single-elimination tournament |
| 5 | 1920 | 22–29 August | 12 teams | 19 matches | Single-elimination tournament with Bergvall system for second- and third-place |
| 6 | 1924 | 13–20 July | 13 teams | 19 matches | Single-elimination tournament with Bergvall system for second- and third-place |
| 7 | 1928 | 4–11 August | 14 teams | 18 matches | Single-elimination tournament with Bergvall system for third place |
| 8 | 1932 | 4–13 August | 5 teams | 6 matches | Round-robin tournament |
| 9 | 1936 | 8–15 August | 16 teams | 40 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin semi-final pool; round-robin semi-final pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 10 | 1948 | 28 July – 7 August | 18 teams | 40 matches | Series of round-robin elimination pools, followed by round-robin semi-final pools, and then round-robin final pools |
| 11 | 1952 | 25 July – 2 August | 21 teams | 56 matches | Single-elimination tournament qualifying; round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin semi-final pool; round-robin semi-final pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 12 | 1956 | 28 November – 7 December | 10 teams | 29 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 13 | 1960 | 25 August – 3 September | 16 teams | 40 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin semi-final pool; round-robin semi-final pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 14 | 1964 | 11–18 October | 13 teams | 31 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin semi-final pool; round-robin semi-final pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 15 | 1968 | 14–26 October | 15 teams | 63 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 16 | 1972 | 27 August – 4 September | 16 teams | 59 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 17 | 1976 | 18–27 July | 12 teams | 48 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 18 | 1980 | 20–29 July | 12 teams | 48 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 19 | 1984 | 1–10 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool |
| 20 | 1988 | 21 September – 1 October | 12 teams | 42 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 21 | 1992 | 1–9 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 22 | 1996 | 20–28 July | 12 teams | 48 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 23 | 2000 | 23 September – 1 October | 12 teams | 48 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 24 | 2004 | 15–29 August | 12 teams | 44 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 25 | 2008 | 10–24 August | 12 teams | 44 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 26 | 2012 | 29 July – 12 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 27 | 2016 | 6–20 August | 12 teams | 42 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 28 | 2020 | 25 July – 8 August 2021 | 12 teams | 42 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| # | Year | Dates | Teams | Matches | Competition format |
| Competition format ||
Women's tournament :
| # | Year | Dates | Number of | Number of | Competition format |
| # | Year | Dates | Teams | Matches | Competition format |
| 1 | 2000 | 16–23 September | 6 teams | 20 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 2 | 2004 | 16–26 August | 8 teams | 20 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 3 | 2008 | 11–21 August | 8 teams | 20 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 4 | 2012 | 30 July – 9 August | 8 teams | 24 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 5 | 2016 | 9–19 August | 8 teams | 24 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
| 6 | 2020 | 24 July – 7 August 2021 | 10 teams | 32 matches | Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2016;
* Olympedia: 1900–2016;
* Sports Reference: 1900–2016.

### Game rules
#### Maximum number of players per team

Men's tournament :
| | Maximum number of players | Maximum number of players | Maximum number of players | Maximum number of players |
| | 1900–1904 | 1908–1980 | 1984–2016 | 2020– |
| In the playing area of the pool during an Olympic match | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| During an Olympic match | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
| During an Olympic tournament | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| | per club | per nation | per nation | per nation |
Women's tournament :
| | Maximum number of players | Maximum number of players |
| | 2000–2016 | 2020– |
| In the playing area of the pool during an Olympic match | 7 | 7 |
| During an Olympic match | 13 | 12 |
| During an Olympic tournament | 13 | 13 |
| | per nation | per nation |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2016.

### Anti-doping

The FINA follows the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) regulations on performance-enhancing drugs. According to the WADA, a positive in-competition test results in disqualification of the player and a suspension that varies based on the number of offences. When a player tests positive, the rest of their team is subjected to testing; another positive test can result in a disqualification of the entire team.

## Men's tournament
### Results summary

| Year | Hosts | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game | Number of teams |
| Year | Hosts | Gold | Score | Silver | Bronze | Score | 4th place | Number of teams |
| 1900 | Paris | Great Britain (Mixed team) (Osborne Swimming Club) | 7–2 | Belgium (Brussels Swimming and Water Polo Club) | France (Mixed team) (Libellule de Paris) France (Pupilles de Neptune de Lille #2) | | | 7 |
| 1904 | St. Louis | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | |
| 1908 | London | Great Britain | 9–2 | Belgium | Sweden | | Netherlands | 4 |
| 1912 | Stockholm | Great Britain | 8–0 | Sweden | Belgium | 5–4 | Austria | 6 |
| 1920 | Antwerp | Great Britain | 3–2 | Belgium | Sweden | 5–0 | United States | 12 |
| 1924 | Paris | France | 3–0 | Belgium | United States | 3–2 | Sweden | 13 |
| 1928 | Amsterdam | Germany | 5–2 | Hungary | France | 8–1 | Great Britain | 14 |
| 1932 | Los Angeles | Hungary | Round-robin | Germany | United States | Round-robin | Japan | 5 |
| 1936 | Berlin | Hungary | Round-robin | Germany | Belgium | Round-robin | France | 16 |
| 1948 | London | Italy | Round-robin | Hungary | Netherlands | Round-robin | Belgium | 18 |
| 1952 | Helsinki | Hungary | Round-robin | Yugoslavia | Italy | Round-robin | United States | 21 |
| 1956 | Melbourne | Hungary | Round-robin | Yugoslavia | Soviet Union | Round-robin | Italy | 10 |
| 1960 | Rome | Italy | Round-robin | Soviet Union | Hungary | Round-robin | Yugoslavia | 16 |
| 1964 | Tokyo | Hungary | Round-robin | Yugoslavia | Soviet Union | Round-robin | Italy | 13 |
| 1968 | Mexico City | Yugoslavia | 13–11 (aet) | Soviet Union | Hungary | 9–4 | Italy | 15 |
| 1972 | Munich | Soviet Union | Round-robin | Hungary | United States | Round-robin | West Germany | 16 |
| 1976 | Montreal | Hungary | Round-robin | Italy | Netherlands | Round-robin | Romania | 12 |
| 1980 | Moscow | Soviet Union | Round-robin | Yugoslavia | Hungary | Round-robin | Spain | 12 |
| 1984 | Los Angeles | Yugoslavia | Round-robin | United States | West Germany | Round-robin | Spain | 12 |
| 1988 | Seoul | Yugoslavia | 9–7 (aet) | United States | Soviet Union | 14–13 | West Germany | 12 |
| 1992 | Barcelona | Italy | 9–8 (aet) | Spain | Unified Team | 8–4 | United States | 12 |
| 1996 | Atlanta | Spain | 7–5 | Croatia | Italy | 20–18 (aet) | Hungary | 12 |
| 2000 | Sydney | Hungary | 13–6 | Russia | Yugoslavia | 8–3 | Spain | 12 |
| 2004 | Athens | Hungary | 8–7 | Serbia and Montenegro | Russia | 6–5 | Greece | 12 |
| 2008 | Beijing | Hungary | 14–10 | United States | Serbia | 6–4 | Montenegro | 12 |
| 2012 | London | Croatia | 8–6 | Italy | Serbia | 12–11 | Montenegro | 12 |
| 2016 | Rio | Serbia | 11–7 | Croatia | Italy | 12–10 | Montenegro | 12 |
| 2020 | Tokyo | Serbia | 13–10 | Greece | Hungary | 9–5 | Spain | 12 |
| 2024 | Paris | Serbia | 13–11 | Croatia | United States | 8–8 (3–0) (ps) | Hungary | 12 |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996 (men's tournaments);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2020 (men's tournaments);
* Olympedia: 1900–2020 (men's tournaments);
* Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).

### Confederation statistics
#### Best performances by tournament

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament. Last updated: 8 August 2021.
Note: italic number in header means unofficial tournament was held.
Legend
* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
| Confederation | 00 | 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 | 24 |
| Africa – CANA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7th | 10th | — | 9th | 12th | 15th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12th | — | — | — | 12th | — |
| Americas – UANA | — | — | — | 4th | 3rd | 7th | 3rd | 9th | 10th | 4th | 5th | 7th | 9th | 5th | 3rd | 7th | 5th | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 7th | 6th | 7th | 2nd | 8th | 10th | 6th | 3rd |
| Asia – AASF | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4th | 14th | 12th | 21st | 10th | 14th | 11th | 12th | 15th | 12th | — | 9th | 11th | — | — | 9th | 11th | 12th | 11th | 12th | 10th | 11th |
| Europe – LEN | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| Oceania – OSA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18th | 19th | 9th | 15th | 10th | — | 12th | 11th | 7th | 5th | 8th | 5th | — | 8th | 9th | 8th | 7th | 9th | 9th | 8th |
| 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 | 12 |

### Team statistics

| Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | p. | page | pp. | pages |

#### Comprehensive team results by tournament

Note: Results of Olympic qualification tournaments are not included. Numbers refer to the final placing of each team at the respective Games; italic number in header means unofficial tournament was held. Last updated: 11 February 2024.
Legend
* 1 – Champions
* 2 – Runners-up
* 3 – Third place
* 4 – Fourth place
* – Qualified but were not allowed to compete
* – Disqualified
* — – 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
* stats – Olympic water polo team statistics
* EUA – United Team of Germany
* FRG – West Germany
* FRY – FR Yugoslavia
* GDR – East Germany
* SCG – Serbia and Montenegro
Africa – CANA (2 teams) :
| 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 | 24 | Years |
| Egypt (stats) | — | — | — | | | | | — | | 7 | 10 | — | 13 | 12 | 15 | | | — | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | 6 |
| South Africa | — | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | 12 | WD | 3 |
Americas – UANA (8 teams) :
| 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 | 24 | Years |
| Argentina | | — | | — | | | 13 | | | 10 | 16 | | 11 | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| Brazil (stats) | — | — | — | — | 6 | | — | | | | 9 | | 12 | 13 | 13 | | | | 12 | | | | | | | | 8 | | | 8 |
| Canada (stats) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | 9 | — | 10 | | | | | | 11 | | | | | 4 |
| Chile | — | — | — | | | | | — | | 17 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Cuba | | | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 9 | 7 | 5 | — | — | 8 | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| Mexico | | — | — | — | — | | | | | | 18 | | | | 11 | 13 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| United States (stats) | | | | | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 3 | | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 23 |
| Uruguay | — | — | — | — | — | | | | 13 | 16 | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
Asia – AASF (7 teams) :
| Men's team | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
| China | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 11 | | | 12 | | | | | 3 |
| India | | — | — | — | | | | | | 12 | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Iran | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | 12 | — | — | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Japan (stats) | — | — | — | | | | | 4 | 14 | — | | | 14 | 11 | 12 | 15 | | — | 11 | | | | | | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
| Kazakhstan (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | 9 | 11 | | 11 | | 11 | | 4 |
| Singapore | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | 10 | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| South Korea | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | — | | 12 | | | | | | | | 1 |
Europe – LEN (34 teams) :
| 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 | 24 | Years |
| Austria | | | | 4 | — | | | | 7 | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Belgium (stats) | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | | 3 | 4 | 6 | | 16 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Bulgaria | — | — | — | — | — | | | — | | — | | | | | | 11 | | 12 | — | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Croatia (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | | 2 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| Czechoslovakia$^†$ | — | — | — | — | 12 | 6 | 10 | | 11 | | | | | | | | | | — | | 12 | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | | 5 |
| 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 |
| France (stats) | 3 | — | | 6 | 9 | 1 | 3 | | 4 | 6 | | | 10 | | | | | | | 10 | 11 | | | | | | 11 | | 10 | 12 |
| Germany (stats) | =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 |
| Great Britain (stats) | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | | 8 | 13 | 12 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | 11 |
| Greece (stats) | | | | | 8 | 13 | | | | 15 | | | | | 14 | 14 | | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 17 |
| Hungary (stats) | | | | 5 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 24 |
| Iceland | — | — | — | | — | — | — | — | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Ireland | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 14 | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Italy (stats) | | — | | | 10 | 11 | | | | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 22 |
| Luxembourg | — | — | — | | | | 11 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Malta | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 16 | | — | — | | — | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Montenegro (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | P. of FRY / SCG | P. of FRY / SCG | P. of FRY / SCG | P. of FRY / SCG | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 5 |
| Netherlands (stats) | | — | 4 | | 5 | 7 | 5 | | 5 | 3 | 5 | | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | 9 | 10 | 11 | | | | | | | 17 |
| Portugal | — | — | — | | | | | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Romania (stats) | | — | — | — | — | | | — | | — | 17 | 8 | 5 | 5 | | 8 | 4 | 9 | | | | 11 | | | | 10 | | | 12 | 10 |
| Russia (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | 5 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | 3 |
| Serbia (stats) | — | — | — | | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | P. of FRY / SCG | P. of FRY / SCG | P. of FRY / SCG | P. of FRY / SCG | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | See FRY | See FRY | See FRY | 2 | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 1 |
| Slovakia | — | — | — | — | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | Part of Czechoslovakia | | 12 | | | | | | | 1 |
| Soviet Union$^†$ (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | 3 | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 9 |
| Spain (stats) | | — | — | — | 7 | 10 | 9 | | — | 8 | 8 | — | | | 9 | 10 | | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 19 |
| Sweden (stats) | | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | 6 | 5 | 11 | | | | | | | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| Switzerland | | | | | 11 | 12 | 12 | | 12 | 14 | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| Ukraine | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | 12 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Unified Team$^†$ (stats) | — | — | — | — | — | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | 3 | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 1 |
| United Team of Germany$^†$ (stats) | 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 | See Germany | 3 |
| West Germany$^†$ (stats) | 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 | Part of Germany | 5 |
| Yugoslavia$^†$ (stats) | — | — | — | — | | | | | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 12 |
| Yugoslavia$^†$ (stats) | — | — | — | — | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | — | 8 | 3 | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | Defunct | 2 |
Oceania – OSA (1 team) :
| 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 | 24 | Years |
| Australia (stats) | | | — | — | | | | | | 18 | 19 | 9 | 15 | 10 | | 12 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 | | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 18 |
| 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 | 24 | Years |
| 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 | 12 | |

#### Finishes in the top four

The following table is pre-sorted by total finishes in the top four (in descending order), number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 8 August 2021.
Legend
* Year$^*$ – As host team
* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
| Rk | Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
| 1 | Hungary | 17 | 9 (1932, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1976, 2000, 2004, 2008) | 3 (1928, 1948, 1972) | 4 (1960, 1968, 1980, 2020) | 2 (1996, 2024) | 1928 | 2024 |
| 2 | Italy | 11 | 3 (1948, 1960$^*$, 1992) | 2 (1976, 2012) | 3 (1952, 1996, 2016) | 3 (1956, 1964, 1968) | 1948 | 2016 |
| 3 | United States | 10 | | 3 (1984$^*$, 1988, 2008) | 4 (1924, 1932$^*$, 1972, 2024) | 3 (1920, 1952, 1992) | 1920 | 2024 |
| 4 | Yugoslavia$^†$ | 8 | 3 (1968, 1984, 1988) | 4 (1952, 1956, 1964, 1980) | | 1 (1960) | 1952 | 1988 |
| 5 | Soviet Union$^†$ | 7 | 2 (1972, 1980$^*$) | 2 (1960, 1968) | 3 (1956, 1964, 1988) | | 1956 | 1988 |
| 6 | Belgium | 7 | | 4 (1900, 1908, 1920$^*$, 1924) | 2 (1912, 1936) | 1 (1948) | 1900 | 1948 |
| 7 | Spain | 6 | 1 (1996) | 1 (1992$^*$) | | 4 (1980, 1984, 2000, 2020) | 1980 | 2020 |
| 8 | Great Britain | 5 | 4 (1900, 1908$^*$, 1912, 1920) | | | 1 (1928) | 1900 | 1928 |
| 9 | France | 5 | 1 (1924$^*$) | | 3 (1900$^*$×2, 1928) | 1 (1936) | 1900 | 1936 |
| 10 | Serbia | 5 | 3 (2016, 2020, 2024) | | 2 (2008, 2012) | | 2008 | 2024 |
| 11 | Croatia | 4 | 1 (2012) | 3 (1996, 2016, 2024) | | | 1996 | 2024 |
| 12 | Sweden | 4 | | 1 (1912$^*$) | 2 (1908, 1920) | 1 (1924) | 1908 | 1924 |
| 13 | Germany | 3 | 1 (1928) | 2 (1932, 1936$^*$) | | | 1928 | 1936 |
| 14 | Netherlands | 3 | | | 2 (1948, 1976) | 1 (1908) | 1908 | 1976 |
| 15 | West Germany$^†$ | 3 | | | 1 (1984) | 2 (1972$^*$, 1988) | 1972 | 1988 |
| 16 | Montenegro | 3 | | | | 3 (2008, 2012, 2016) | 2008 | 2016 |
| 17 | Russia | 2 | | 1 (2000) | 1 (2004) | | 2000 | 2004 |
| 18 | Greece | 2 | | 1 (2020) | | 1 (2004$^*$) | 2004 | 2020 |
| 19 | Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ | 1 | | 1 (2004) | | | 2004 | 2004 |
| 20 | Yugoslavia$^†$ | 1 | | | 1 (2000) | | 2000 | 2000 |
| 20 | Unified Team$^†$ | 1 | | | 1 (1992) | | 1992 | 1992 |
| 22 | Austria | 1 | | | | 1 (1912) | 1912 | 1912 |
| 22 | Japan | 1 | | | | 1 (1932) | 1932 | 1932 |
| 22 | Romania | 1 | | | | 1 (1976) | 1976 | 1976 |
| Rk | Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |

#### Medal table

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 11 August 2024.
Hungary is the most successful country in the men's Olympic water polo tournament, with nine gold, three silver and four bronze.

##### Legend

* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
| Rank | Men's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Hungary (HUN) | 9 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
| 2 | Yugoslavia (YUG)$^†$ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | Italy (ITA) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | Serbia (SRB) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Great Britain (GBR) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Soviet Union (URS)$^†$ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 | United States (USA) | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 8 | Croatia (CRO) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | Germany (GER) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Spain (ESP) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | France (FRA) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | Mixed team (ZZX)$^†$ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | Belgium (BEL) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 14 | Sweden (SWE) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 15 | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 15 | Serbia and Montenegro (SCG)$^†$ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 17 | Greece (GRE) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Netherlands (NED) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 19 | Unified Team (EUN)$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | West Germany (FRG)$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (20 entries) | Totals (20 entries) | 29 | 29 | 30 | 88 |

#### Champions (results, squads)

Champions (results)
The following table shows results of Olympic champions in men's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 8 August 2021.
Legend
* 6 – Winning 6 matches during the tournament
* 4 – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament
* 2 – Losing 2 matches during the tournament
* 100.0% – Winning all matches during the tournament
* Team – Olympic winning streak (winning three or more Olympic titles in a row)
* Team – Host team
* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
Abbreviation
* MP – Matches played
* W – Won
* D – Drawn
* L – Lost
* GF – Goals for
* GA – Goals against
* GD – Goal difference
* GF/MP – Goals for per match
* GA/MP – Goals against per match
* GD/MP – Goal difference per match
Results of champions by tournament :
| # | Men's tournament | Champions | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
| 1 | Paris 1900 | Great Britain (1st title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 29 | 3 | 26 | 9.667 | 1.000 | 8.667 |
| 2 | St. Louis 1904 | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport |
| 3 | London 1908 | Great Britain (2nd title) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9.000 | 2.000 | 7.000 |
| 4 | Stockholm 1912 | Great Britain (3rd title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 21 | 8 | 13 | 7.000 | 2.667 | 4.333 |
| 5 | Antwerp 1920 | Great Britain (4th title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 19 | 4 | 15 | 6.333 | 1.333 | 5.000 |
| 6 | Paris 1924 | France (1st title) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 16 | 6 | 10 | 4.000 | 1.500 | 2.500 |
| 7 | Amsterdam 1928 | Germany (1st title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 18 | 10 | 8 | 6.000 | 3.333 | 2.667 |
| 8 | Los Angeles 1932 | Hungary (1st title) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 30 | 2 | 28 | 10.000 | 0.667 | 9.333 |
| 9 | Berlin 1936 | Hungary (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 44 | 4 | 40 | 6.286 | 0.571 | 5.714 |
| 10 | London 1948 | Italy (1st title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 35 | 14 | 21 | 5.000 | 2.000 | 3.000 |
| 11 | Helsinki 1952 | Hungary (3rd title) | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75.0% | 53 | 16 | 37 | 6.625 | 2.000 | 4.625 |
| 12 | Melbourne 1956 | Hungary (4th title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 26 | 4 | 22 | 4.333 | 0.667 | 3.667 |
| 13 | Rome 1960 | Italy (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 31 | 12 | 19 | 4.429 | 1.714 | 2.714 |
| 14 | Tokyo 1964 | Hungary (5th title) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.3% | 34 | 13 | 21 | 5.667 | 2.167 | 3.500 |
| 15 | Mexico City 1968 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (1st title) | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 77.8% | 86 | 35 | 51 | 9.556 | 3.889 | 5.667 |
| 16 | Munich 1972 | Soviet Union$^†$ (1st title) | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 75.0% | 48 | 24 | 24 | 6.000 | 3.000 | 3.000 |
| 17 | Montreal 1976 | Hungary (6th title) | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87.5% | 45 | 32 | 13 | 5.625 | 4.000 | 1.625 |
| 18 | Moscow 1980 | Soviet Union$^†$ (2nd title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 58 | 31 | 27 | 7.250 | 3.875 | 3.375 |
| 19 | Los Angeles 1984 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (2nd title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 72 | 44 | 28 | 10.286 | 6.286 | 4.000 |
| 20 | Seoul 1988 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (3rd title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 83 | 55 | 28 | 11.857 | 7.857 | 4.000 |
| 21 | Barcelona 1992 | Italy (3rd title) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71.4% | 59 | 50 | 9 | 8.429 | 7.143 | 1.286 |
| 22 | Atlanta 1996 | Spain (1st title) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 75.0% | 58 | 48 | 10 | 7.250 | 6.000 | 1.250 |
| 23 | Sydney 2000 | Hungary (7th title) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 75.0% | 78 | 57 | 21 | 9.750 | 7.125 | 2.625 |
| 24 | Athens 2004 | Hungary (8th title) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 59 | 39 | 20 | 8.429 | 5.571 | 2.857 |
| 25 | Beijing 2008 | Hungary (9th title) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 85.7% | 85 | 55 | 30 | 12.143 | 7.857 | 4.286 |
| 26 | London 2012 | Croatia (1st title) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 73 | 42 | 31 | 9.125 | 5.250 | 3.875 |
| 27 | Rio 2016 | Serbia (1st title) | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 62.5% | 80 | 66 | 14 | 10.000 | 8.250 | 1.750 |
| 28 | Tokyo 2020 | Serbia (2nd title) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 75.0% | 103 | 71 | 32 | 12.875 | 8.875 | 4.000 |
| 29 | Paris 2024 | Serbia (3rd title) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 62.5% | 93 | 91 | 2 | 11.625 | 11.375 | 0.250 |
| # | Men's tournament | Total | 177 | 148 | 16 | 12 | 84.2% | 1445 | 838 | 607 | 7.638 | 4.734 | 3.429 |
| # | Men's tournament | Champions | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996 (men's tournaments);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 207), 2008 (p. 202), 2012 (p. 471), 2016 (p. 131), 2020 (p. 150);
* Olympedia: 1900–2020 (men's tournaments);
* Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).
Champions (squads) The following table shows number of players and average age, height and weight of Olympic champions in men's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 30 August 2021.
Legend
* Team – Olympic winning streak
* Team – Winning all matches during the tournament
* Team – Host team
* Team$^†$ – Defunct team
Winning squads by tournament :
| # | Men's tournament | Champions | Players | Returning Olympians | Returning Olympians | Average | Average | Average |
| # | Men's tournament | Champions | Number | Number | % | Age | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Paris 1900 | Great Britain (1st title) | 7 | 0 | 0.0% | | | |
| 2 | St. Louis 1904 | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport | Water polo was a demonstration sport |
| 3 | London 1908 | Great Britain (2nd title) | 7 | 0 | 0.0% | 26 years, 111 days | | |
| 4 | Stockholm 1912 | Great Britain (3rd title) | 7 | 4 | 57.1% | 29 years, 16 days | | |
| 5 | Antwerp 1920 | Great Britain (4th title) | 7 | 3 | 42.9% | 33 years, 279 days | | |
| 6 | Paris 1924 | France (1st title) | 7 | 3 | 42.9% | 26 years, 303 days | | |
| 7 | Amsterdam 1928 | Germany (1st title) | 8 | 0 | 0.0% | 24 years, 329 days | | |
| 8 | Los Angeles 1932 | Hungary (1st title) | 10 | 7 | 70.0% | 27 years, 291 days | | |
| 9 | Berlin 1936 | Hungary (2nd title) | 11 | 5 | 45.5% | 26 years, 66 days | | |
| 10 | London 1948 | Italy (1st title) | 9 | 0 | 0.0% | 30 years, 203 days | | |
| 11 | Helsinki 1952 | Hungary (3rd title) | 13 | 6 | 46.2% | 26 years, 337 days | | |
| 12 | Melbourne 1956 | Hungary (4th title) | 12 | 7 | 58.3% | 26 years, 148 days | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 80 kg (176 lb) |
| 13 | Rome 1960 | Italy (2nd title) | 12 | 3 | 25.0% | 22 years, 363 days | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) |
| 14 | Tokyo 1964 | Hungary (5th title) | 12 | 10 | 83.3% | 28 years, 208 days | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) |
| 15 | Mexico City 1968 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (1st title) | 11 | 5 | 45.5% | 26 years, 151 days | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) |
| 16 | Munich 1972 | Soviet Union$^†$ (1st title) | 11 | 5 | 45.5% | 26 years, 351 days | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) |
| 17 | Montreal 1976 | Hungary (6th title) | 11 | 6 | 54.5% | 25 years, 333 days | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) |
| 18 | Moscow 1980 | Soviet Union$^†$ (2nd title) | 11 | 4 | 36.4% | 25 years, 117 days | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) |
| 19 | Los Angeles 1984 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (2nd title) | 13 | 3 | 23.1% | 23 years, 362 days | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) |
| 20 | Seoul 1988 | Yugoslavia$^†$ (3rd title) | 13 | 6 | 46.2% | 23 years, 341 days | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) |
| 21 | Barcelona 1992 | Italy (3rd title) | 13 | 7 | 53.8% | 26 years, 224 days | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) |
| 22 | Atlanta 1996 | Spain (1st title) | 13 | 9 | 69.2% | 26 years, 279 days | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) |
| 23 | Sydney 2000 | Hungary (7th title) | 13 | 5 | 38.5% | 25 years, 254 days | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) |
| 24 | Athens 2004 | Hungary (8th title) | 13 | 10 | 76.9% | 27 years, 344 days | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) |
| 25 | Beijing 2008 | Hungary (9th title) | 13 | 9 | 69.2% | 29 years, 248 days | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| 26 | London 2012 | Croatia (1st title) | 13 | 8 | 61.5% | 29 years, 85 days | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | 102 kg (225 lb) |
| 27 | Rio 2016 | Serbia (1st title) | 13 | 9 | 69.2% | 28 years, 205 days | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) |
| 28 | Tokyo 2020 | Serbia (2nd title) | 13 | 10 | 76.9% | 31 years, 250 days | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 95 kg (209 lb) |
| # | Men's tournament | Champions | Number | Number | % | Age | Height | Weight |
| # | Men's tournament | Champions | Players | Returning Olympians | Returning Olympians | Average | Average | Average |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1996 (men's tournaments);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 208), 2008 (p. 203), 2012 (p. 472), 2016 (p. 132), 2020 (p. 151);
* Olympedia: 1900–2020 (men's tournaments);
* Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).

#### Team records
### Player statistics

| Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | (C) | Captain |
| Pos | Playing position | FP | Field player | GK | Goalkeeper |
| L/R | Handedness | L | Left-handed | R | Right-handed |
| p. | page | pp. | pages | | |

#### Multiple appearances (five-time Olympians)

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. Last updated: 26 July 2021.
Seventeen athletes competed in water polo at five or more Olympic Games between 1900 and 2020 inclusive. Paul Radmilovic, representing Great Britain, is the first water polo player to compete at five Olympics (1908–1928).
Four players (Manuel Estiarte, Salvador Gómez, Jesús Rollán and Jordi Sans) were all members of the Spain men's national water polo team (1988–2000). Manuel Estiarte is the first and only water polo player (man or woman) to compete at six Olympics (1980–2000). Jesús Rollán is the first water polo goalkeeper of either gender to compete at five Olympics (1984–2004).
Tony Azevedo of the United States is the first non-European water polo player to compete at five Olympic Games (2000–2016).
Italian goalkeeper Stefano Tempesti competed at five Olympics between 2000 and 2016.
Legend and abbreviation
* – Hosts
* Apps – Appearances
Male athletes who competed in water polo at five or more Olympics :
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | Water polo tournaments | 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 |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 6 | Manuel Estiarte | 1961 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Spain | FP | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 20 years (18/38) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | Paul Radmilovic | 1886 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Great Britain | FP | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | | 20 years (22/42) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 5 | Dezső Gyarmati | 1927 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | Hungary | FP | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 5 | Gianni De Magistris | 1950 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Italy | FP | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | | 16 years (17/33) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | Jordi Sans | 1965 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Spain | FP | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | | 16 years (18/35) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | George Mavrotas | 1967 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Greece | FP | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | | 16 years (17/33) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Salvador Gómez | 1968 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | Spain | FP | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | | 16 years (20/36) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | Jesús Rollán | 1968 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Spain | GK | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | | 16 years (20/36) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | Tibor Benedek | 1972 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Hungary | FP | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 5 | Igor Hinić | 1975 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | Croatia | FP | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 16 years (20/36) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | Tamás Kásás | 1976 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | Hungary | FP | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 5 | Georgios Afroudakis | 1976 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | Greece | FP | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 16 years (19/35) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Stefano Tempesti | 1979 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | Italy | GK | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | 16 years (21/37) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | Tony Azevedo | 1981 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | United States | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | 16 years (18/34) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | Jesse Smith | 1983 | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | United States | FP | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 17 years (21/38) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | Xavier García | 1984 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Spain | FP | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | | | 17 years (20/37) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | Xavier García | 1984 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Croatia | FP | | | | 2016 | 2020 | | 17 years (20/37) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | Pietro Figlioli | 1984 | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | Australia | FP | 2004 | 2008 | | | | | 17 years (20/37) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | Pietro Figlioli | 1984 | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | Italy | FP | | | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 17 years (20/37) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | Water polo tournaments | 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 |

#### 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. Last updated: 11 August 2024.
Eleven male athletes won four or more Olympic medals in water polo. Among them, seven were members of the Hungary men's national water polo team. Dezső Gyarmati is the first and only athlete (man or woman) to win five Olympic medals in water polo (three gold, one silver and one bronze).
Filip Filipović, Duško Pijetlović and Andrija Prlainović, all representing Serbia, won four consecutive Olympic medals between 2008 and 2021.
Legend
* – Hosts
Male athletes who won four or more Olympic medals in water polo :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's 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 |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Dezső Gyarmati | 1927 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | Hungary | FP | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2 | György Kárpáti | 1935 | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | Hungary | FP | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | | 12 years (17/29) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | Dušan Mandić | 1994 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | Serbia | FP | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | | 12 years (18/30) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | László Jeney | 1923 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | Hungary | GK | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | | 12 years (25/37) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 5 | Mihály Mayer | 1933 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Hungary | FP | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | | 12 years (22/34) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 5 | Filip Filipović | 1987 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | Serbia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 13 years (21/34) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 5 | Duško Pijetlović | 1985 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | Serbia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 13 years (23/36) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 5 | Andrija Prlainović | 1987 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Serbia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 13 years (21/34) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 9 | András Bodnár | 1942 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Hungary | FP | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | | 12 years (18/30) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 9 | Endre Molnár | 1945 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Hungary | GK | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | | 12 years (23/35) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 9 | István Szívós Jr. | 1948 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | Hungary | FP | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | | 12 years (20/32) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 12 | Joseph Pletincx | 1888 | | Belgium | FP | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | | 16 years (20/36) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's 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 |
Sources:
* Sports Reference: Athlete Medal Leaders (1900–2016);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (p. 27), 2004 (p. 89), 2008 (p. 79), 2012 (p. 370), 2016 (p. 6), 2020 (p. 11).

#### Multiple gold medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), year of receiving the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 31 March 2021.
Ten athletes won three or more Olympic gold medals in water polo. Six players (Tibor Benedek, Péter Biros, Tamás Kásás, Gergely Kiss, Tamás Molnár and Zoltán Szécsi) were all members of the Hungary men's national water polo team that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
There are thirty-one male athletes who won two Olympic gold medals in water polo.
Legend
* – Hosts
Male athletes who won three or more Olympic gold medals in water polo :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's 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 |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Dezső Gyarmati | 1927 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | Hungary | FP | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2 | György Kárpáti | 1935 | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | Hungary | FP | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | | 12 years (17/29) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | Dušan Mandić | 1994 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | Serbia | FP | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | | 12 years (18/30) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Paul Radmilovic | 1886 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Great Britain | FP | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 20 years (22/42) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Charles Smith | 1879 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | Great Britain | GK | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | | 16 years (29/45) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Tibor Benedek | 1972 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Hungary | FP | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Péter Biros | 1976 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | Hungary | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (24/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Tamás Kásás | 1976 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | Hungary | FP | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Gergely Kiss | 1977 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Hungary | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (22/34) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Tamás Molnár | 1975 | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | Hungary | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | | | 8 years (25/33) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Zoltán Szécsi | 1977 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Hungary | GK | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (22/34) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Nikola Jakšić | 1997 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | Serbia | FP | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | | | 8 years (19/27) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Sava Ranđelović | 1993 | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | Serbia | FP | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | | | 8 years (23/31) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Men's 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 |

#### Top goalscorers (one match, one tournament, all-time)

Top goalscorers (one match)
Top goalscorers (one tournament)
The following table is pre-sorted by number of goals (in descending order), edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 1 April 2021.
Five male players have scored 25 or more goals in an Olympic water polo tournament.
Spaniard Manuel Estiarte is the first and only water polo player to achieve this feat twice. At the 1984 Summer Olympics, Estiarte netted 34 goals, setting the record for the most goals scored by a water polo player in a single Olympic tournament. Four years later, he scored 27 goals in Seoul.
The most recent player to scoring 25 or more goals in a tournament was Alessandro Calcaterra, with Italy men's national team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Legend
* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with his team
Male players with 25 or more goals in an Olympic tournament :
| Rk | Year | Player | Birth | Age | Height | L/R | Goals | Matches played | Goals per match | Men's team | Finish | Ref |
| 1 | 1984 | Manuel Estiarte | 1961 | 22 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | 34 | 7 | 4.857 | Spain | 4th of 12 teams | |
| 2 | 1968 | Nico van der Voet | 1944 | 24 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | | 33 | 9 | 3.667 | Netherlands | 7th of 15 teams | |
| 3 | 1968 | Eraldo Pizzo | 1938 | 30 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | 29 | 9 | 3.222 | Italy | 4th of 15 teams | |
| 4 | 1988 | Manuel Estiarte (2) | 1961 | 26 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | 27 | 7 | 3.857 | Spain | 6th of 12 teams | |
| 4 | 2008 | Alessandro Calcaterra | 1975 | 33 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | 27 | 8 | 3.375 | Italy | 9th of 12 teams | |
| 6 | 1968 | Rubén Junco | 1950 | 18 | 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in) | | 26 | 8 | 3.250 | Cuba | 8th of 15 teams | |
| Rk | Year | Player | Birth | Age | Height | L/R | Goals | Matches played | Goals per match | Men's team | Finish | Ref |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1972, 1976 (p. 497), 1980 (p. 510), 1984 (p. 534), 1988–1996;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 184), 2008 (p. 179), 2012 (p. 466), 2016 (p. 100);
* Olympedia: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments);
* Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).
The following table is pre-sorted by edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 1 April 2021.
Hans Schneider of Germany scored 22 goals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which stood as an Olympic water polo record for one Games until 1968, when the Dutch player Nico van der Voet netted 33 goals in Mexico City.
At 18 years old, Manuel Estiarte of Spain made his Olympic debut at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where he was the youngest-ever male top goalscorer with 21 goals. He was also the top goalscorer at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, with 34 and 27 goals, respectively. He was the joint top goalscorer at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with 22 goals.
Hungarian left-handed player Tibor Benedek was the joint top goalscorer at the 1992 Games with 22 goals, and the top goalscorer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with 19 goals.
Aleksandar Šapić, representing FR Yugoslavia, was the top goalscorer at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with 18 goals. Four years later, he netted 18 goals for Serbia and Montenegro, becoming the top goalscorer at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
31-year-old István Szívós Sr. scored 16 goals for Hungary at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, which stood as an age record for the oldest top goalscorer in a single Olympic water polo tournament until 2008, when 33-year-old Alessandro Calcaterra of Italy netted 27 goals in Beijing.
Left-hander Filip Filipović of Serbia was the joint top goalscorer at the 2016 Olympics, with 19 goals. He netted two goals in the gold medal match, helping the Serbian team win the Olympics.
Legend
* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with his team
Male players with the most goals in each Olympic tournament :
| Year | Player | Birth | Age | Height | L/R | Goals | Matches played | Goals per match | Men's team | Finish | Ref |
| 1900 | John Jarvis$^‡$ | 1872 | 28 | | | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | Great Britain | 1st of 7 teams | |
| 1908 | Fernand Feyaerts | 1880 | 27–28 | | | 8 | 3 | 2.667 | Belgium | 2nd of 4 teams | |
| 1912 | Robert Andersson | 1886 | 25 | | | 9 | 4 | 2.250 | Sweden | 2nd of 6 teams | |
| 1920 | Erik Andersson | 1896 | 24 | | | 10 | 4 | 2.500 | Sweden | 3rd of 12 teams | |
| 1924 | Pierre Dewin | 1894 | 29–30 | | | 14 | 5 | 2.800 | Belgium | 2nd of 13 teams | |
| 1928 | Ferenc Keserű | 1903 | 24 | 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) | | 10 | 4 | 2.500 | Hungary | 2nd of 14 teams | |
| 1932 | Philip Daubenspeck | 1905 | 26 | | | 14 | 4 | 3.500 | United States | 3rd of 5 teams | |
| 1936 | Hans Schneider | 1909 | 26 | | | 22 | 7 | 3.143 | Germany | 2nd of 16 teams | |
| 1948 | Aldo Ghira$^‡$ | 1920 | 28 | | | 18 | 7 | 2.571 | Italy | 1st of 18 teams | |
| 1952 | Ruud van Feggelen | 1924 | 28 | | | 16 | 8 | 2.000 | Netherlands | 5th of 21 teams | |
| 1952 | István Szívós Sr.$^‡$ | 1920 | 31 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Right | 16 | 8 | 2.000 | Hungary | 1st of 21 teams | |
| 1956 | Petre Mshvenieradze | 1929 | 27 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | | 11 | 7 | 1.571 | Soviet Union | 3rd of 10 teams | |
| 1960 | Fred Tisue | 1938 | 21 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | | 12 | 7 | 1.714 | United States | 7th of 16 teams | |
| 1960 | Aurel Zahan | 1938 | 22 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | | 12 | 7 | 1.714 | Romania | 5th of 16 teams | |
| 1964 | Nico van der Voet | 1944 | 20 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | | 10 | 7 | 1.429 | Netherlands | 8ht of 13 teams | |
| 1968 | Nico van der Voet (2) | 1944 | 24 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | | 33 | 9 | 3.667 | Netherlands | 7th of 15 teams | |
| 1972 | Carlos Sánchez | 1952 | 20 | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | | 18 | 9 | 2.000 | Cuba | 9th of 16 teams | |
| 1976 | Tamás Faragó$^‡$ | 1952 | 23 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | Right | 22 | 8 | 2.750 | Hungary | 1st of 12 teams | |
| 1980 | Manuel Estiarte | 1961 | 18 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | 21 | 8 | 2.625 | Spain | 4th of 12 teams | |
| 1984 | Manuel Estiarte (2) | 1961 | 22 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | 34 | 7 | 4.857 | Spain | 4th of 12 teams | |
| 1988 | Manuel Estiarte (3) | 1961 | 26 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | 27 | 7 | 3.857 | Spain | 6th of 12 teams | |
| 1992 | Tibor Benedek | 1972 | 20 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Left | 22 | 7 | 3.143 | Hungary | 6th of 12 teams | |
| 1992 | Manuel Estiarte (4) | 1961 | 30 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | 22 | 7 | 3.143 | Spain | 2nd of 12 teams | |
| 1996 | Tibor Benedek (2) | 1972 | 24 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Left | 19 | 8 | 2.375 | Hungary | 4th of 12 teams | |
| 2000 | Aleksandar Šapić | 1978 | 22 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | 18 | 8 | 2.250 | Yugoslavia | 3rd of 12 teams | |
| 2004 | Aleksandar Šapić (2) | 1978 | 26 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | 18 | 8 | 2.250 | Serbia and Montenegro | 2nd of 12 teams | |
| 2008 | Alessandro Calcaterra | 1975 | 33 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | 27 | 8 | 3.375 | Italy | 9th of 12 teams | |
| 2012 | Andrija Prlainović | 1987 | 25 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | 22 | 8 | 2.750 | Serbia | 3rd of 12 teams | |
| 2016 | Filip Filipović$^‡$ | 1987 | 29 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | Left | 19 | 8 | 2.375 | Serbia | 1st of 12 teams | |
| 2016 | Guillermo Molina | 1984 | 32 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | Right | 19 | 8 | 2.375 | Spain | 7th of 12 teams | |
| Year | Player | Birth | Age | Height | L/R | Goals | Matches played | Goals per match | Men's team | Finish | Ref |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1972, 1976 (p. 497), 1980 (p. 510), 1984 (p. 534), 1988–1996;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 184), 2008 (p. 179), 2012 (p. 466), 2016 (p. 100);
* Olympedia: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments);
* Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).
Top goalscorers (all-time)
The following table is pre-sorted by number of total goals (in descending order), number of total Olympic matches played (in ascending order), date of the last Olympic match played (in ascending order), date of the first Olympic match played (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 1 April 2021.
Six-time Olympian Manuel Estiarte holds the record for the most goals scored by a water polo player in Olympic history, with 127 goals, far more than any other player. At his first three Olympics (1980–1988), Estiarte netted 82 goals.
Hungarian left-hander Tibor Benedek scored 65 goals at five Olympics (1992–2008), and his teammate Tamás Kásás netted 56 goals between 1996 and 2012.
Aleksandar Šapić, representing FR Yugoslavia in 1996 and 2000, Serbia and Montenegro in 2004, and Serbia in 2008, scored 64 goals in 32 matches.
Tony Azevedo of the United States holds the record for the most goals scored by a non-European water polo player in Olympic history, with 61 goals at five Olympics (2000–2016).
Gianni De Magistris is the top scorer for the Italy men's Olympic water polo team, with 59 goals (1968–1984). His compatriot Eraldo Pizzo netted 53 goals at four Olympics between 1960 and 1972.
Charles Turner, representing Australia between 1976 and 1984, scored 50 goals in 23 matches.
Legend
* – Hosts
All-time male players with 50 or more goals at the Olympics :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | L/R | Men's team | Total goals | Total matches played | Goals per match | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | L/R | Men's team | Total goals | Total matches played | Goals per match | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Manuel Estiarte | 1961 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | Spain | 127 | 45 | 2.822 | 1980 (21) | 1984 (34) | 1988 (27) | 1992 (22) | 1996 (13) | 2000 (10) | 20 years (18/38) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | Tibor Benedek | 1972 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Left | Hungary | 65 | 37 | 1.757 | 1992 (22) | 1996 (19) | 2000 (9) | 2004 (5) | 2008 (10) | | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | Aleksandar Šapić | 1978 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | Yugoslavia | 64 | 32 | 2.000 | 1996 (8) | 2000 (18) | | | | | 12 years (18/30) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 3 | Aleksandar Šapić | 1978 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | Serbia and Montenegro | 64 | 32 | 2.000 | | | 2004 (18) | | | | 12 years (18/30) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 3 | Aleksandar Šapić | 1978 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | Serbia | 64 | 32 | 2.000 | | | | 2008 (20) | | | 12 years (18/30) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Tony Azevedo | 1981 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Right | United States | 61 | 35 | 1.743 | 2000 (13) | 2004 (15) | 2008 (17) | 2012 (11) | 2016 (5) | | 16 years (18/34) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | Gianni De Magistris | 1950 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Right | Italy | 59 | 40 | 1.475 | 1968 (6) | 1972 (11) | 1976 (11) | 1980 (20) | 1984 (11) | | 16 years (17/33) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 6 | Tamás Kásás | 1976 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | Right | Hungary | 56 | 38 | 1.474 | 1996 (13) | 2000 (12) | 2004 (14) | 2008 (8) | 2012 (9) | | 16 years (20/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | Eraldo Pizzo | 1938 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | Right | Italy | 53 | 29 | 1.828 | 1960 (7) | 1964 (5) | 1968 (29) | 1972 (12) | | | 12 years (22/34) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 | Charles Turner | 1952 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | Right | Australia | 50 | 23 | 2.174 | 1976 (15) | 1980 (17) | 1984 (18) | | | | 8 years (23/31) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900–1972, 1976 (p. 497), 1980 (p. 510), 1984 (p. 534), 1988–1996;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 184), 2008 (p. 179), 2012 (p. 466), 2016 (p. 100);
* Olympedia: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments);
* Sports Reference: 1900–2016 (men's tournaments).

#### Top goalkeepers (one match, one tournament, all-time)

Top goalkeepers (one match)
Top goalkeepers (one tournament)
The following table is pre-sorted by number of saves (in descending order), edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the goalkeeper (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 1 April 2021.
Since 1996, six male goalkeepers have saved 75 or more shots in an Olympic water polo tournament.
Stefano Tempesti of Italy is the first water polo goalkeeper to achieve this feat twice. At the 2008 Olympics, Tempesti saved 83 shots. Four years later in London, he blocked 87 shots, setting the record for the most saves by a water polo goalkeeper in a single Olympic tournament.
Slobodan Soro is the second goalkeeper to achieve this feat twice. At the 2012 London Olympics, Soro saved 75 shots for Serbia. In Rio de Janeiro, he saved 81 shots for Brazil.
At the 2012 Summer Games, Josip Pavić saved 85 shots, including nine in the gold medal match, helping the Croatia team win the Olympics. He is the most efficient one among these six goalkeepers.
Legend and abbreviation
* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with his team
* MP – Matches played
* Eff % – Save efficiency (Saves / Shots)
* 70.2% – Highest save efficiency
Male goalkeepers with 75 or more saves in an Olympic tournament (statistics since 1996) :
| Rk | Year | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Height | Saves | Shots | Eff % | MP | Saves per match | Men's team | Finish | Ref |
| 1 | 2012 | Stefano Tempesti | 1979 | 33 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | 87 | 147 | 59.2% | 8 | 10.875 | Italy | 2nd of 12 teams | |
| 2 | 2012 | Josip Pavić$^‡$ | 1982 | 30 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 85 | 121 | 70.2% | 8 | 10.625 | Croatia | 1st of 12 teams | |
| 3 | 2008 | Stefano Tempesti (2) | 1979 | 29 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | 83 | 169 | 49.1% | 8 | 10.375 | Italy | 9th of 12 teams | |
| 4 | 1996 | Arie van de Bunt | 1969 | 27 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 81 | 154 | 52.6% | 8 | 10.125 | Netherlands | 10th of 12 teams | |
| 4 | 2016 | Slobodan Soro | 1978 | 37 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 81 | 152 | 53.3% | 8 | 10.125 | Brazil | 8th of 12 teams | |
| 6 | 1996 | Christopher Duplanty | 1965 | 30 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 77 | 132 | 58.3% | 8 | 9.625 | United States | 7th of 12 teams | |
| 6 | 1996 | Siniša Školneković | 1968 | 28 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 77 | 135 | 57.0% | 8 | 9.625 | Croatia | 2nd of 12 teams | |
| 8 | 2012 | Slobodan Soro (2) | 1978 | 33 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 75 | 135 | 55.6% | 8 | 9.375 | Serbia | 3rd of 12 teams | |
| Rk | Year | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Height | Saves | Shots | Eff % | MP | Saves per match | Men's team | Finish | Ref |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1996 (pp. 56–73);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 180), 2008 (p. 175), 2012 (p. 462), 2016 (p. 102).
The following table is pre-sorted by edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the goalkeeper (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 1 April 2021.
At the 2004 Summer Games, Nikolay Maksimov saved 62 shots, including seven in the bronze medal match, helping Russia win the match.
Stefano Tempesti of Italy blocked 83 shots at the 2008 Olympics. In the 2012 edition, he saved 87 shots, helping the Italian team win the Olympic silver medal.
Slobodan Soro, representing Brazil, saved 81 shots at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Legend and abbreviation
* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with his team
* MP – Matches played
* Eff % – Save efficiency (Saves / Shots)
Male goalkeepers with the most saves in each Olympic tournament (statistics since 1996) :
| Year | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Height | Saves | Shots | Eff % | MP | Saves per match | Men's team | Finish |
| 1996 | Arie van de Bunt | 1969 | 27 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 81 | 154 | 52.6% | 8 | 10.125 | Netherlands | 10th of 12 teams |
| 2000 | Dan Hackett | 1970 | 30 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 70 | 135 | 51.9% | 8 | 8.750 | United States | 6th of 12 teams |
| 2004 | Nikolay Maksimov | 1972 | 31 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 62 | 104 | 59.6% | 8 | 7.750 | Russia | 3rd of 12 teams |
| 2008 | Stefano Tempesti | 1979 | 29 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | 83 | 169 | 49.1% | 8 | 10.375 | Italy | 9th of 12 teams |
| 2012 | Stefano Tempesti (2) | 1979 | 33 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | 87 | 147 | 59.2% | 8 | 10.875 | Italy | 2nd of 12 teams |
| 2016 | Slobodan Soro | 1978 | 37 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 81 | 152 | 53.3% | 8 | 10.125 | Brazil | 8th of 12 teams |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1996 (pp. 56–73);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 45–92), 2004 (p. 180), 2008 (p. 175), 2012 (p. 462), 2016 (p. 102).
Top goalkeepers (all-time)

### Coach statistics

| Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | p. | page | pp. | pages |

#### Most successful coaches

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 winning the last Olympic medal (in ascending order), year of winning the first Olympic medal (in ascending order), name of the coach (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 31 March 2021.
There are four coaches who led men's national water polo teams to win three or more Olympic medals.
Ratko Rudić is the most successful water polo coach in Olympic history. As a head coach, he led three men's national water polo teams to win four Olympic gold medals and one Olympic bronze medal. He guided Yugoslavia men's national team to two consecutive gold medals in 1984 and 1988, Italy men's national team to a gold medal in 1992 and a bronze medal in 1996, and Croatia men's national team to a gold medal in 2012, making him the first and only coach to lead three different men's national water polo teams to the Olympic titles.
Dénes Kemény of Hungary is another coach who led men's national water polo team(s) to win three Olympic gold medals. Under his leadership, the Hungary men's national team won three gold in a row between 2000 and 2008, becoming the second water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak.
Dezső Gyarmati coached the Hungary men's national team to three consecutive Olympic medals, a silver in 1972, a gold in 1976, and a bronze in 1980.
Boris Popov led the Soviet Union men's national team to win an Olympic gold medal in 1980 and a bronze medal in 1988. Four years later, he coached the Unified Team to another bronze medal.
Legend
* – Hosts
Head coaches who led men's national teams to win three or more Olympic medals :
| Rk | Head coach | Nationality | Birth | Age | Men's team | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Period | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Head coach | Nationality | Birth | Age | Men's team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Period | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Ratko Rudić | Yugoslavia | 1948 | 36–40 | Yugoslavia | 1984 (1st) | 1988 (1st) | | | | | | | | 32 years | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 1 | Ratko Rudić | Croatia | 1948 | 44–52 | Italy | | | 1992 (1st) | 1996 (3rd) | 2000 (5th) | | | | | 32 years | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 1 | Ratko Rudić | Croatia | 1948 | 56 | United States | | | | | | 2004 (7th) | | | | 32 years | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 1 | Ratko Rudić | Croatia | 1948 | 60–64 | Croatia | | | | | | | 2008 (6th) | 2012 (1st) | | 32 years | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 1 | Ratko Rudić | Croatia | 1948 | 68 | Brazil | | | | | | | | | 2016 (8th) | 32 years | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 2 | Dénes Kemény | Hungary | 1954 | 46–58 | Hungary | 2000 (1st) | 2004 (1st) | 2008 (1st) | 2012 (5th) | | | | | | 12 years | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | Dezső Gyarmati | Hungary | 1927 | 44–52 | Hungary | 1972 (2nd) | 1976 (1st) | 1980 (3rd) | | | | | | | 8 years | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | [22] [92] |
| 4 | Boris Popov | Soviet Union | 1941 | 39, 47 | Soviet Union | 1980 (1st) | | 1988 (3rd) | | | | | | | 12 years | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | [95] [93] |
| 4 | Boris Popov | Russia | 1941 | 51 | Unified Team | | | | 1992 (3rd) | | | | | | 12 years | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | [95] [93] |

#### Medals as coach and player

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 winning the last Olympic medal (in ascending order), year of winning the first Olympic medal (in ascending order), name of the person (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 May 2021.
Twelve water polo players won Olympic medals and then guided men's national water polo teams to the Olympic podium as head coaches.
Dezső Gyarmati of Hungary won five Olympic medals in a row between 1948 and 1964. He coached the Hungary men's national team to three consecutive Olympic medals, including a gold in 1976, making him the only man to win Olympic gold in water polo as player and head coach in the last 100 years.
Ivo Trumbić won the silver medal in 1964 and Yugoslavia's first Olympic gold medal in water polo in 1968. He moved to the Netherlands in 1973, hired as the head coach of the Netherlands men's national team. At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, he led the Dutch team to win a bronze medal.
Vladimir Semyonov, representing the Soviet Union, won three Olympic medals in a row between 1960 and 1968. As a head coach, he led the Soviet Union men's national water polo team to win an Olympic gold medal in 1972.
Soviet Boris Popov won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. He guided the Soviet Union men's national team to two Olympic medals in 1980 and 1988, and the Unified Team to a bronze medal in 1992.
Aleksandr Kabanov of the Soviet Union won a gold at the Munich Olympics in 1972, coached by Vladimir Semyonov. Eight years later, he won the second gold medal at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, coached by Boris Popov. As a head coach, he led Russia men's national team to win two consecutive medals in 2000 and 2004.
Ratko Rudić won a silver medal for Yugoslavia at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. Upon retirement as an athlete, he immediately entered the coaching ranks. During his career, Rudić guided three different men's national teams to five Olympic medals, more than any other coaches.
Terry Schroeder of the United States won two consecutive silver medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Twenty years later, he coached the United States men's national team to a silver in 2008, becoming the first and only non-European to achieve this feat.
Italian Alessandro Campagna won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, coached by Ratko Rudić. As a head coach, he led Italy men's national team to win two medals in 2012 and 2016.
Dejan Savić won three consecutive Olympic medals between 2000 and 2008. At the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, he coached Serbia men's national team to the Olympic title.
Legend
* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Rk | Person | Birth | Height | Player | Player | Player | Player | Head coach | Head coach | Head coach | Total medals | Total medals | Total medals | Total medals | Ref |
| Rk | Person | Birth | Height | Age | Men's team | Pos | Medal | Age | Men's team | Medal | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Dezső Gyarmati | 1927 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 20–36 | Hungary | FP | 1948 , 1952 , 1956 , 1960 , 1964 | 44–52 | Hungary | 1972 , 1976 , 1980 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | [22] [92] |
| 2 | Ratko Rudić | 1948 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 32 | Yugoslavia | FP | 1980 | 36–40 | Yugoslavia | 1984 , 1988 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 2 | Ratko Rudić | 1948 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 32 | Yugoslavia | FP | 1980 | 44–48 | Italy | 1992 , 1996 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 2 | Ratko Rudić | 1948 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 32 | Yugoslavia | FP | 1980 | 64 | Croatia | 2012 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | [94] [89] [90] |
| 3 | Dejan Savić | 1975 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 25 | Yugoslavia | FP | 2000 | 41–46 | Serbia | 2016 , 2020 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 3 | Dejan Savić | 1975 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 29 | Serbia and Montenegro | FP | 2004 | 41–46 | Serbia | 2016 , 2020 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 3 | Dejan Savić | 1975 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 33 | Serbia | FP | 2008 | 41–46 | Serbia | 2016 , 2020 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 4 | Aleksandr Kabanov | 1948 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 24, 32 | Soviet Union | FP | 1972 , 1980$^*$ | 52–56 | Russia | 2000 , 2004 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | [99] [100] |
| 5 | Vladimir Semyonov | 1938 | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | 22–30 | Soviet Union | FP | 1960 , 1964 , 1968 | 34 | Soviet Union | 1972 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 6 | Boris Popov | 1941 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 23 | Soviet Union | FP | 1964 | 39, 47 | Soviet Union | 1980$^*$ , 1988 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | [95] [93] |
| 6 | Boris Popov | 1941 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 23 | Soviet Union | FP | 1964 | 51 | Unified Team | 1992 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | [95] [93] |
| 7 | Dezső Lemhényi | 1917 | | 30–34 | Hungary | FP | 1948 , 1952 | 42 | Hungary | 1960 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | [106] [107] |
| 7 | Ivo Trumbić | 1935 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | 29–33 | Yugoslavia | FP | 1964 , 1968 | 41 | Netherlands | 1976 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | [96] [97] |
| 7 | Alessandro Campagna | 1963 | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | 29 | Italy | FP | 1992 | 49–53 | Italy | 2012 , 2016 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | [103] [104] |
| 10 | Terry Schroeder | 1958 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 25–29 | United States | FP | 1984$^*$ , 1988 | 49 | United States | 2008 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | [101] [102] |
| 11 | Gianni Lonzi | 1938 | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | 22 | Italy | FP | 1960$^*$ | 37 | Italy | 1976 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | [108] [109] |
| 12 | Mario Majoni | 1910 | | 38 | Italy | FP | 1948$^*$ | 42 | Italy | 1952 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | [110] [111] |
| Rk | Person | Birth | Height | Age | Men's team | Pos | Medal | Age | Men's team | Medal | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Rk | Person | Birth | Height | Player | Player | Player | Player | Head coach | Head coach | Head coach | Total medals | Total medals | Total medals | Total medals | | Ref |

## Women's tournament
### Results summary

| Year | Hosts | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Gold medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game | Bronze medal game | Number of teams |
| Year | Hosts | Gold | Score | Silver | Bronze | Score | 4th place | Number of teams |
| 2000 | Sydney | Australia | 4–3 | United States | Russia | 4–3 | Netherlands | 6 |
| 2004 | Athens | Italy | 10–9 (aet) | Greece | United States | 6–5 | Australia | 8 |
| 2008 | Beijing | Netherlands | 9–8 | United States | Australia | 9–9 (aet) (3–2) (ps) | Hungary | 8 |
| 2012 | London | United States | 8–5 | Spain | Australia | 13–11 (aet) | Hungary | 8 |
| 2016 | Rio | United States | 12–5 | Italy | Russia | 12–12 (7–6) (ps) | Hungary | 8 |
| 2020 | Tokyo | United States | 14–5 | Spain | Hungary | 11–9 | ROC | 10 |
| 2024 | Paris | Spain | 11–9 | Australia | Netherlands | 11–10 | United States | 10 |
Sources:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000–2016 (women's tournaments);
* Olympedia: 2000–2016 (women's tournaments);
* Sports Reference: 2000–2016 (women's tournaments).

### Confederation statistics
#### Best performances by tournament

This is a summary of the best performances of each confederation in each tournament. Last updated: 7 August 2021.

##### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
| Confederation | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
| Africa – CANA | — | — | — | — | — | 10th | — |
| Americas – UANA | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 4th |
| Asia – AASF | 6th | 8th | 5th | 5th | 7th | 8th | 10th |
| Europe – LEN | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st |
| Oceania – OSA | 1st | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 6th | 5th | 2nd |
| Total teams | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 |

### Team statistics

| Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | p. | page | pp. | pages |

#### Comprehensive team results by tournament

Note: Results of Olympic qualification tournaments are not included.

##### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
* – Hosts

##### Abbreviation

* stats – Olympic water polo team statistics
Africa – CANA (1 team) :
| Women's team | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | Years |
| South Africa | | | | | | 10th | WD | 1 |
| Americas – UANA (3 teams) |||||||||
| Women's team | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | Years |
| Brazil | | | | | 8th | | | 1 |
| Canada (stats) | 5th | 7th | | | | 7th | 8th | 4 |
| United States (stats) | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 4th | 7 |
| Asia – AASF (3 teams) |||||||||
| Women's team | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | Years |
| China (stats) | | | 5th | 5th | 7th | 8th | 10th | 5 |
| Japan | | | | | | 9th | | 1 |
| Kazakhstan | 6th | 8th | | | | | | 2 |
| Europe – LEN (9 teams) |||||||||
| Women's team | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | Years |
| France | | | | | | | 9th | 1 |
| Great Britain | | | | 8th | | | | 1 |
| Greece (stats) | | 2nd | 8th | | | | 7th | 3 |
| Hungary (stats) | | 6th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 3rd | 5th | 6 |
| Italy (stats) | | 1st | 6th | 7th | 2nd | | 6th | 5 |
| Netherlands (stats) | 4th | | 1st | | | 6th | 3rd | 4 |
| ROC (stats) | | | | | | 4th | | 1 |
| Russia (stats) | 3rd | 5th | 7th | 6th | 3rd | | | 5 |
| Spain (stats) | | | | 2nd | 5th | 2nd | 1st | 4 |
| Oceania – OSA (1 team) |||||||||
| Women's team | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 | Years |
| Australia (stats) | 1st | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 6th | 5th | 2nd | 7 |
| Total teams | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | |

#### Finishes in the top four

The following table is pre-sorted by total finishes in the top four (in descending order), number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021.

##### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Rk | Women's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
| 1 | United States | 6 | 3 (2012, 2016, 2020) | 2 (2000, 2008) | 1 (2004) | 1 (2024) | 2000 | 2024 |
| 2 | Australia | 5 | 1 (2000$^*$) | 1 (2024) | 3 (2008, 2012) | 1 (2004) | 2000 | 2024 |
| 3 | Hungary | 4 | | | 1 (2020) | 3 (2008, 2012, 2016) | 2008 | 2020 |
| 4 | Spain | 3 | 1 (2024) | 2 (2012, 2020) | | | 2012 | 2024 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 3 | 1 (2008) | | 1 (2024) | 1 (2000) | 2000 | 2024 |
| 6 | Italy | 2 | 1 (2004) | 1 (2016) | | | 2004 | 2016 |
| 7 | Russia | 2 | | | 2 (2000, 2016) | | 2000 | 2016 |
| 8 | Greece | 1 | | 1 (2004$^*$) | | | 2004 | 2004 |
| 9 | ROC | 1 | | | | 1 (2020) | 2020 | 2020 |
| Rk | Women's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |

#### Medal table

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
The United States is the most successful country in the women's Olympic water polo tournament, with three gold, two silver and one bronze.
| Rank | Women's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States (USA) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Spain (ESP) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Australia (AUS) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Italy (ITA) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Netherlands (NED) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Greece (GRE) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | Hungary (HUN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (8 entries) | Totals (8 entries) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |

#### Champions (results, squads)

Champions (results) The following table shows results of Olympic champions in women's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 7 August 2021.

##### Legend

* 6 – Winning 6 matches during the tournament
* 4 – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament
* 2 – Losing 2 matches during the tournament
* 100.0% – Winning all matches during the tournament
* Team – Olympic winning streak (winning three or more Olympic titles in a row)
* Team – Host team

##### Abbreviation

* MP – Matches played
* W – Won
* D – Drawn
* L – Lost
* GF – Goals for
* GA – Goals against
* GD – Goals difference
* GF/MP – Goals for per match
* GA/MP – Goals against per match
* GD/MP – Goals difference per match
Results of champions by tournament :
| # | Women's tournament | Champions | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
| 1 | Sydney 2000 | Australia (1st title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 46 | 29 | 17 | 6.571 | 4.143 | 2.429 |
| 2 | Athens 2004 | Italy (1st title) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83.3% | 44 | 33 | 11 | 7.333 | 5.500 | 1.833 |
| 3 | Beijing 2008 | Netherlands (1st title) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 66.7% | 57 | 53 | 4 | 9.500 | 8.833 | 0.667 |
| 4 | London 2012 | United States (1st title) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.3% | 58 | 48 | 10 | 9.667 | 8.000 | 1.667 |
| 5 | Rio 2016 | United States (2nd title) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 73 | 32 | 41 | 12.167 | 5.333 | 6.833 |
| 6 | Tokyo 2020 | United States (3rd title) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.7% | 109 | 47 | 62 | 15.571 | 6.714 | 8.857 |
| 7 | Paris 2024 | Spain (1st title) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 94 | 67 | 27 | 13.428 | 9.571 | 3.857 |
| # | Women's tournament | Total | 45 | 39 | 1 | 5 | 86.6% | 481 | 309 | 172 | 10.688 | 6.866 | 3.822 |
| # | Women's tournament | Champions | MP | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | GD | GF/MP | GA/MP | GD/MP |
Sources:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (p. 96), 2004 (p. 72), 2008 (p. 71), 2012 (p. 368), 2016 (p. 218), 2020 (p. 273);
* Olympedia: 2000–2020 (women's tournaments).
Champions (squads) The following table shows number of players and average age, height and weight of Olympic champions in women's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 7 August 2021.

##### Legend

* Team – Olympic winning streak
* Team – Winning all matches during the tournament
* Team – Host team
Winning squads by tournament :
| # | Women's tournament | Champions | Players | Returning Olympians | Returning Olympians | Average | Average | Average |
| # | Women's tournament | Champions | Number | Number | % | Age | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Sydney 2000 | Australia (1st title) | 13 | 0 | 0.0% | 26 years, 215 days | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 71 kg (157 lb) |
| 2 | Athens 2004 | Italy (1st title) | 13 | 0 | 0.0% | 28 years, 301 days | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 67 kg (148 lb) |
| 3 | Beijing 2008 | Netherlands (1st title) | 13 | 2 | 15.4% | 25 years, 248 days | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | 70 kg (154 lb) |
| 4 | London 2012 | United States (1st title) | 13 | 8 | 61.5% | 26 years, 96 days | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) |
| 5 | Rio 2016 | United States (2nd title) | 13 | 4 | 30.8% | 23 years, 200 days | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) |
| 6 | Tokyo 2020 | United States (3rd title) | 13 | 8 | 61.5% | 26 years, 33 days | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | |
| 6 | Paris 2024 | Spain (1st title) | 13 | 8 | 61.5% |
| # | Women's tournament | Champions | Number | Number | % | Age | Height | Weight |
| # | Women's tournament | Champions | Players | Returning Olympians | Returning Olympians | Average | Average | Average |
Sources:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (p. 96), 2004 (p. 73), 2008 (p. 72), 2012 (p. 369), 2016 (p. 219), 2020 (p. 274);
* Olympedia: 2000–2020 (women's tournaments).

#### Team records
### Player statistics

| Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | (C) | Captain |
| Pos | Playing position | FP | Field player | GK | Goalkeeper |
| L/R | Handedness | L | Left-handed | R | Right-handed |
| p. | page | pp. | pages | | |

#### Multiple appearances (four-time Olympians)

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. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Eight female athletes competed in water polo at four or more Olympic Games between 2000 and 2020 inclusive.

##### Legend

* – Hosts
* Apps – Appearances
Female athletes who competed in water polo at four or more Olympics :
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Women's 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 |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 4 | Heather Petri | 1978 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | United States | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (22/34) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Sofia Konukh | 1980 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Russia | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (20/32) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Brenda Villa | 1980 | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | United States | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (20/32) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Tania Di Mario | 1979 | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | Italy | FP | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | 12 years (25/37) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 4 | Bronwen Knox | 1986 | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | Australia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | 13 years (22/35) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Nadezhda Glyzina | 1988 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Russia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | | 13 years (20/33) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Nadezhda Glyzina | 1988 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ROC | FP | | | | 2020 | | 13 years (20/33) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Evgenia Soboleva | 1988 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Russia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | | 13 years (19/32) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Evgenia Soboleva | 1988 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ROC | FP | | | | 2020 | | 13 years (19/32) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Ekaterina Prokofyeva | 1991 | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | Russia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | | 13 years (17/30) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Ekaterina Prokofyeva | 1991 | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ROC | FP | | | | 2020 | | 13 years (17/30) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Height | Women's 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 |

#### 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. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Heather Petri and Brenda Villa, both representing the United States, are the only two female athletes to win four Olympic medals in water polo.

##### Legend

* – Hosts
Female athletes who won four or more Olympic medals in water polo :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's 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 |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Heather Petri | 1978 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | United States | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (22/34) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 1 | Brenda Villa | 1980 | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | United States | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | 12 years (20/32) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
Sources:
* Sports Reference: Athlete Medal Leaders (1900–2016);
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (p. 28), 2004 (p. 2), 2008 (p. 2), 2012 (p. 285), 2016 (p. 135), 2020 (p. 156).

#### Multiple gold medalists

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), year of receiving the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Two female athletes won three or more Olympic gold medals in water polo. They were both members of the United States women's national water polo team that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012, 2016 and 2021.

##### Legend

* – Hosts
Female athletes who won three or more Olympic gold medals in water polo :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's 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 |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Women's team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Melissa Seidemann | 1990 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | United States | FP | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | | 9 years (22/31) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1 | Maggie Steffens | 1993 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | United States | FP | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | | 9 years (19/28) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |

#### Top goalscorers (one match, one tournament, all-time)

Top goalscorers (one match)
Top goalscorers (one tournament)
The following table is pre-sorted by number of goals (in descending order), edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 August 2021.
Seven female players have scored 18 or more goals in an Olympic water polo tournament.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Dutch left-hander Simone van de Kraats scored 28 goals, setting the record for the most goals scored by a female water polo player in a single Olympic tournament.
Maggie Steffens of the United States is the first and only female water polo player to achieve this feat twice. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Steffens netted 21 goals. Nine years later, she scored 18 goals in Tokyo.

##### Legend

* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with her team
Female players with 18 or more goals in an Olympic tournament :
| Rk | Year | Player | Birth | Age | Height | L/R | Goals | Matches played | Goals per match | Women's team | Finish | Ref |
| 1 | 2020 | Simone van de Kraats | 2000 | 20 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Left | 28 | 7 | 4.000 | Netherlands | 6th of 10 teams | |
| 2 | 2012 | Maggie Steffens$^‡$ | 1993 | 19 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Right | 21 | 6 | 3.500 | United States | 1st of 8 teams | |
| 3 | 2012 | Ma Huanhuan | 1990 | 22 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | 19 | 6 | 3.167 | China | 5th of 8 teams | |
| 4 | 2012 | Tania Di Mario | 1979 | 33 | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | Right | 18 | 6 | 3.000 | Italy | 7th of 8 teams | |
| 4 | 2020 | Maddie Musselman$^‡$ | 1998 | 23 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Right | 18 | 7 | 2.571 | United States | 1st of 10 teams | |
| 4 | 2020 | Beatriz Ortiz | 1995 | 26 | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | Right | 18 | 7 | 2.571 | Spain | 2nd of 10 teams | |
| 4 | 2020 | Maggie Steffens$^‡$ (2) | 1993 | 28 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Right | 18 | 7 | 2.571 | United States | 1st of 10 teams | |
| Rk | Year | Player | Birth | Age | Height | L/R | Goals | Matches played | Goals per match | Women's team | Finish | Ref |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 96–101), 2004 (p. 53), 2008 (p. 54), 2012 (p. 345), 2016 (p. 193), 2020 (p. 234).
The following table is pre-sorted by edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 August 2021.
At 19 years old, Maggie Steffens of the United States made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Olympics, where she was the youngest-ever female top goalscorer with 21 goals. She was also the top goalscorer at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with 17 goals.
Dutch left-handed player Daniëlle de Bruijn was the joint top goalscorer at the 2000 Olympics, with 11 goals. Eight years later she netted 17 goals, including seven goals in the gold medal match, becoming the top goalscorer at the 2008 Olympics.

##### Legend

* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with her team
Female players with the most goals in each Olympic tournament :
| Year | Player | Birth | Age | Height | L/R | Goals | Matches played | Goals per match | Women's team | Finish |
| 2000 | Daniëlle de Bruijn | 1978 | 22 | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | Left | 11 | 7 | 1.571 | Netherlands | 4th of 6 teams |
| 2000 | Bridgette Gusterson$^‡$ | 1973 | 27 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Right | 11 | 7 | 1.571 | Australia | 1st of 6 teams |
| 2000 | Sofia Konukh | 1980 | 20 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Right | 11 | 7 | 1.571 | Russia | 3rd of 6 teams |
| 2004 | Tania Di Mario$^‡$ | 1979 | 25 | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | Right | 14 | 6 | 2.333 | Italy | 1st of 8 teams |
| 2008 | Daniëlle de Bruijn$^‡$ (2) | 1978 | 30 | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | Left | 17 | 6 | 2.833 | Netherlands | 1st of 8 teams |
| 2012 | Maggie Steffens$^‡$ | 1993 | 19 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Right | 21 | 6 | 3.500 | United States | 1st of 8 teams |
| 2016 | Maggie Steffens$^‡$ (2) | 1993 | 23 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Right | 17 | 6 | 2.833 | United States | 1st of 8 teams |
| 2020 | Simone van de Kraats | 2000 | 20 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | Left | 28 | 7 | 4.000 | Netherlands | 6th of 10 teams |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 96–101), 2004 (p. 53), 2008 (p. 54), 2012 (p. 345), 2016 (p. 193), 2020 (p. 234).
Top goalscorers (all-time)
The following table is pre-sorted by number of total goals (in descending order), number of total Olympic matches played (in ascending order), date of the last Olympic match played (in ascending order), date of the first Olympic match played (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021.
Three-time Olympian Maggie Steffens of the United States holds the record for the most goals scored by a female water polo player in Olympic history, with 56 goals.
Italian Tania Di Mario netted 47 goals at four Olympics (2004–2016).
Ma Huanhuan, representing China, holds the record for the most goals scored by an Asian female water polo player in Olympic history, with 37 goals at three Olympics (2008–2016).
Kate Gynther of Australia netted 30 goals in 32 matches between 2004 and 2012.

##### Legend

* – Hosts
All-time female players with 30 or more goals at the Olympics :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | L/R | Women's team | Total goals | Total matches played | Goals per match | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Tournaments (goals) | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | L/R | Women's team | Total goals | Total matches played | Goals per match | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Maggie Steffens | 1993 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Right | United States | 56 | 19 | 2.947 | 2012 (21) | 2016 (17) | 2020 (18) | | 9 years (19/28) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2 | Tania Di Mario | 1979 | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | Right | Italy | 47 | 23 | 2.043 | 2004 (14) | 2008 (10) | 2012 (18) | 2016 (5) | 12 years (25/37) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 3 | Ma Huanhuan | 1990 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Right | China | 37 | 17 | 2.176 | 2008 (7) | 2012 (19) | 2016 (11) | | 8 years (18/26) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Sofia Konukh | 1980 | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | Right | Russia | 31 | 22 | 1.409 | 2000 (11) | 2004 (9) | 2008 (7) | 2012 (4) | 12 years (20/32) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 5 | Brenda Villa | 1980 | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | Right | United States | 31 | 23 | 1.348 | 2000 (9) | 2004 (7) | 2008 (9) | 2012 (6) | 12 years (20/32) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 6 | Kate Gynther | 1982 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Right | Australia | 30 | 17 | 1.765 | 2004 (7) | 2008 (13) | 2012 (10) | | 8 years (22/30) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 96–101), 2004 (p. 53), 2008 (p. 54), 2012 (p. 345), 2016 (p. 193).

#### Top goalkeepers (one match, one tournament, all-time)

Top goalkeepers (one match)
Top goalkeepers (one tournament)
The following table is pre-sorted by number of saves (in descending order), edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the goalkeeper (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 1 April 2021.
Six female goalkeepers have saved 50 or more shots in an Olympic water polo tournament.
Giulia Gorlero of Italy holds the record for the most saves by a female water polo goalkeeper in a single Olympic tournament, blocking 65 shots in the 2016 edition.
At the 2016 Summer Games, Ashleigh Johnson saved 51 shots, including nine in the gold medal match, helping the American team win the Olympics. She is the most efficient one among these six goalkeepers.

##### Legend and abbreviation

* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with her team
* MP – Matches played
* Eff % – Save efficiency (Saves / Shots)
* 64.6% – Highest save efficiency
Female goalkeepers with 50 or more saves in an Olympic tournament :
| Rk | Year | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Height | Saves | Shots | Eff % | MP | Saves per match | Women's team | Finish |
| 1 | 2016 | Giulia Gorlero | 1990 | 25 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 65 | 106 | 61.3% | 6 | 10.833 | Italy | 2nd of 8 teams |
| 2 | 2012 | Elena Gigli | 1985 | 27 | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 56 | 105 | 53.3% | 6 | 9.333 | Italy | 7th of 8 teams |
| 3 | 2016 | Yang Jun | 1988 | 28 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 55 | 118 | 46.6% | 6 | 9.167 | China | 7th of 8 teams |
| 4 | 2012 | Rosemary Morris | 1986 | 26 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 54 | 113 | 47.8% | 6 | 9.000 | Great Britain | 8th of 8 teams |
| 5 | 2012 | Elizabeth Armstrong$^‡$ | 1983 | 29 | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 53 | 101 | 52.5% | 6 | 8.833 | United States | 1st of 8 teams |
| 6 | 2016 | Ashleigh Johnson$^‡$ | 1994 | 21 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 51 | 79 | 64.6% | 6 | 8.500 | United States | 1st of 8 teams |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 96–101), 2004 (p. 49), 2008 (p. 50), 2012 (p. 341), 2016 (p. 195).
The following table is pre-sorted by edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), number of matches played (in ascending order), name of the goalkeeper (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 1 April 2021.
At the 2004 Summer Games, Jacqueline Frank saved 41 shots, including seven in the bronze medal match, helping the United States win the match.
Giulia Gorlero of Italy blocked 65 shots at the 2016 Olympics, helping the Italian team win the Olympic silver medal.

##### Legend and abbreviation

* Team – Host team
* Player$^‡$ – Player who won the tournament with her team
* MP – Matches played
* Eff % – Save efficiency (Saves / Shots)
Female goalkeepers with the most saves in each Olympic tournament :
| Year | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Height | Saves | Shots | Eff % | MP | Saves per match | Women's team | Finish |
| 2000 | Karla Plugge | 1968 | 31 | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 45 | 81 | 55.6% | 7 | 6.429 | Netherlands | 4th of 6 teams |
| 2004 | Jacqueline Frank | 1980 | 24 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 41 | 68 | 60.3% | 5 | 8.200 | United States | 3rd of 8 teams |
| 2008 | Elizabeth Armstrong | 1983 | 25 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 49 | 92 | 53.3% | 5 | 9.800 | United States | 2nd of 8 teams |
| 2012 | Elena Gigli | 1985 | 27 | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 56 | 105 | 53.3% | 6 | 9.333 | Italy | 7th of 8 teams |
| 2016 | Giulia Gorlero | 1990 | 25 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 65 | 106 | 61.3% | 6 | 10.833 | Italy | 2nd of 8 teams |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2000 (pp. 96–101), 2004 (p. 49), 2008 (p. 50), 2012 (p. 341), 2016 (p. 195).
Top goalkeepers (all-time)

### Coach statistics

| Rk | Rank | Ref | Reference | p. | page | pp. | pages |

#### Most successful coaches

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 winning the last Olympic medal (in ascending order), year of winning the first Olympic medal (in ascending order), name of the coach (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 31 March 2021.
There are three coaches who led women's national water polo teams to win two or more Olympic medals.
Guy Baker guided the United States women's national team to three Olympic medals in a row between 2000 and 2008.
Adam Krikorian coached the United States women's national team to three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012, 2016 and 2024.
Miki Oca guided United States women's national team to three Olympic medals between 2012 and 2024, including one gold.
Greg McFadden led Australia women's national team to win two consecutive Olympic bronze medals in 2008 and 2012.

##### Legend

* – Hosts
Head coaches who led women's national teams to win two or more Olympic medals :
| Rk | Head coach | Nationality | Birth | Age | Women's team | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Tournaments (finish) | Period | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Head coach | Nationality | Birth | Age | Women's team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Period | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Adam Krikorian | United States | 1974 | 38–42 | United States | 2012 (1st) | 2016 (1st) | 2020 (1st) | | 12 years | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | [143] [142] |
| 2 | Miki Oca | Spain | 1970 | 42–54 | Spain | 2012 (2nd) | | 2020 (2nd) | 2024 (1st) | | 12 years | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | Guy Baker | United States | | | United States | 2000 (2nd) | 2004 (3rd) | 2008 (2nd) | | 8 years | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | [141] [142] |
| 4 | Greg McFadden | Australia | 1964 | 43–51 | Australia | 2008 (3rd) | 2012 (3rd) | 2016 (6th) | | 8 years | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | [147] [145] |

#### Medals as coach and player

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 winning the last Olympic medal (in ascending order), year of winning the first Olympic medal (in ascending order), name of the person (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 31 March 2021.
As of 2016, two water polo players won Olympic medals and then guided women's national water polo teams to the Olympic podium as head coaches.
With the Hungary men's national water polo team, István Görgényi won a silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He was appointed head coach of the Australia women's national team in 1998. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he led the team to win the inaugural women's water polo gold medal.
Spanish water polo player Miki Oca won a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Four years later, he won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. As a head coach, he guided Spain women's national water polo team to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and silver medals at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020.

##### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Rk | Person | Birth | Height | Player | Player | Player | Player | Head coach | Head coach | Head coach | Total medals | Total medals | Total medals | Total medals | Ref |
| Rk | Person | Birth | Height | Age | Men's team | Pos | Medal | Age | Women's team | Medal | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Miki Oca | 1970 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | 22–26 | Spain | FP | 1992$^*$ , 1996 | 42 | Spain | 2024 2012, 2020 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2 | István Görgényi | 1946 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | 25 | Hungary | FP | 1972 | 53 | Australia | 2000$^*$ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | [148] [149] |

## Overall medal table

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), number of Olympic bronze medals (in descending order), name of the NOC (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 31 December 2021.
Italy is the only country to win both the men's and women's water polo tournaments at the Summer Olympics. Italy men's national team won gold medals at the 1948, 1960 and 1992 Olympics, while the women's team was Olympic champions in 2004.

### Legend

* NOC$^◊$ – NOC that won medals in both the men's and women's tournaments
* NOC$^†$ – Defunct NOC
| Rank | NOC | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Hungary$^◊$ | 9 | 3 | 5 | 17 |
| 2 | United States$^◊$ | 4 | 6 | 5 | 15 |
| 3 | Italy$^◊$ | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 4 | Yugoslavia$^†$ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 5 | Serbia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | Great Britain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Spain$^◊$ | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | Soviet Union$^†$ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 9 | Croatia | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | Germany | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Netherlands$^◊$ | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 12 | Australia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | France | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 14 | Mixed team$^†$ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 15 | Belgium | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 16 | Greece$^◊$ | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | Russia$^◊$ | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 18 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 19 | Serbia and Montenegro$^†$ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 20 | Unified Team$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | West Germany$^†$ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (21 entries) | Totals (21 entries) | 36 | 35 | 36 | 107 |

### Winning two medals in one edition of the Games

As of the 2024 Summer Olympics, four NOCs won two medals in one edition of the Games.
Legend
* – Hosts
| Year | Nation | Men's tournament | Women's tournament |
| 2000 | Russia | silver | bronze |
| 2004 | No NOC won both editions of the Year. | No NOC won both editions of the Year. | No NOC won both editions of the Year. |
| 2008 | United States | silver | silver |
| 2012 | No NOC won both editions of the Year. | No NOC won both editions of the Year. | No NOC won both editions of the Year. |
| 2016 | Italy | bronze | silver |
| 2020 | Hungary | bronze | bronze |
| 2024 | No NOC won both editions of the Year. | No NOC won both editions of the Year. | No NOC won both editions of the Year. |

## 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, thirty water polo people from six continents were given the honour. Among them, three flag bearers won the tournament with his/her team.
Charles Smith, representing Great Britain, was the first water polo player to be a flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.
Six-time Olympian Manuel Estiarte of Spain was the flag bearer during the opening ceremony at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
After winning gold in the women's tournament, Carmela Allucci, the captain of the Italian women's water polo team, carried the national flag of Italy at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics, becoming the first female water polo player to be given the honour.
Legend
* 2008 O – Opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics
* 2012 C – Closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics
* – Hosts
* Flag bearer – Female flag bearer
* Flag bearer$^‡$ – Flag bearer who won the tournament with his/her 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 | 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 | 6 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | 1912 O | Great Britain | Charles Smith$^‡$ | 1879 | 33 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | Great Britain | GK | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | | | 16 years (29/45) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2 | 1920 O | Belgium | Victor Boin | 1886 | 34 | | Belgium | FP | 1908 | 1912 | | | | | 4 years (22/26) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 3 | 1924 O | Great Britain | Arthur Hunt | 1886 | 37 | | Great Britain | FP | 1924 | | | | | | 0 years (37/37) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 1928 O | France | Jean Thorailler | 1888 | 40 | | France | GK | 1912 | 1920 | | | | | 8 years (24/32) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 1948 O | Australia | Les McKay | 1917 | 31 | | Australia | FP | 1948 | | | | | | 0 years (31/31) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | 1948 O | Yugoslavia | Božo Grkinić | 1913 | 34 | | Yugoslavia | FP | 1948 | | | | | | 0 years (34/34) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | 1952 O | Egypt | Ahmed Fouad Nessim | 1924 | 27 | | Egypt | GK | 1948 | 1952 | | | | | 4 years (23/27) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | 1956 O | Singapore | Lionel Chee | 1931 | 25 | | Singapore | FP | 1956 | | | | | | 0 years (25/25) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | 1956 O | Yugoslavia | Zdravko-Ćiro Kovačić | 1925 | 31 | | Yugoslavia | GK | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | | | | 8 years (23/31) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 10 | 1968 O | Brazil | João Gonçalves | 1934 | 33 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Brazil | FP | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | | | | 8 years (25/33) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | 1968 O | Netherlands | Fred van Dorp | 1938 | 30 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Netherlands | FP | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | | | | 8 years (21/30) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | 1968 C | Netherlands | Fred van Dorp | 1938 | 30 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Netherlands | FP | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | | | | 8 years (21/30) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | 1972 O | Yugoslavia | Mirko Sandić | 1942 | 30 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Yugoslavia | FP | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | | | 12 years (18/30) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | 1976 C | Netherlands | Evert Kroon | 1946 | 29 | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | Netherlands | GK | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | | | | 8 years (22/29) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 14 | 1980 O | Hungary | István Szívós Sr. | 1920 | 59 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Hungary | FP | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | | | | 8 years (27/36) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 15 | 1984 O | Netherlands | Ton Buunk | 1952 | 31 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | Netherlands | FP | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | | | 12 years (19/31) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 16 | 1988 C | United States | Terry Schroeder | 1958 | 29 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | United States | FP | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | | | | 8 years (25/33) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 17 | 1996 O | Croatia | Perica Bukić | 1966 | 30 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Yugoslavia | FP | 1984 | 1988 | | | | | 12 years (18/30) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 17 | 1996 O | Croatia | Perica Bukić | 1966 | 30 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Croatia | FP | | | | 1996 | | | 12 years (18/30) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 18 | 1996 O | FR Yugoslavia | Igor Milanović | 1965 | 30 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | Yugoslavia | FP | 1984 | 1988 | | | | | 12 years (18/30) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 18 | 1996 O | FR Yugoslavia | Igor Milanović | 1965 | 30 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | Yugoslavia | FP | | | | 1996 | | | 12 years (18/30) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 19 | 2000 O | Spain | Manuel Estiarte | 1961 | 38 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | Spain | FP | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 20 years (18/38) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 20 | 2004 O | Croatia | Dubravko Šimenc | 1966 | 37 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | Yugoslavia | FP | 1988 | | | | | | 16 years (21/37) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 20 | 2004 O | Croatia | Dubravko Šimenc | 1966 | 37 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | Croatia | FP | | | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | | 16 years (21/37) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 21 | 2004 C | Italy | Carmela Allucci$^‡$ | 1970 | 34 | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | Italy | FP | 2004 | | | | | | 0 years (34/34) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 22 | 2008 O | Montenegro | Veljko Uskoković | 1971 | 37 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Yugoslavia | FP | 1996 | 2000 | | | | | 12 years (25/37) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 22 | 2008 O | Montenegro | Veljko Uskoković | 1971 | 37 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Montenegro | FP | | | | 2008 | | | 12 years (25/37) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 22 | 2008 C | Montenegro | Veljko Uskoković | 1971 | 37 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Yugoslavia | FP | 1996 | 2000 | | | | | 12 years (25/37) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 22 | 2008 C | Montenegro | Veljko Uskoković | 1971 | 37 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Montenegro | FP | | | | 2008 | | | 12 years (25/37) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 23 | 2012 O | Hungary | Péter Biros | 1976 | 36 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | Hungary | FP | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | | | 12 years (24/36) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 24 | 2016 O | Croatia | Josip Pavić | 1982 | 34 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | Croatia | GK | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | | | 8 years (26/34) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 25 | 2016 C | Montenegro | Predrag Jokić | 1983 | 33 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Serbia and Montenegro | FP | 2004 | | | | | | 12 years (21/33) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 25 | 2016 C | Montenegro | Predrag Jokić | 1983 | 33 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Montenegro | FP | | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | | | 12 years (21/33) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 26 | 2020 O | Serbia | Filip Filipović$^‡$ | 1987 | 34 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | Serbia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | | 13 years (21/34) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 27 | 2020 O | Montenegro | Draško Brguljan | 1984 | 36 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | Montenegro | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | | 13 years (23/36) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | 2020 C | Greece | Ioannis Fountoulis | 1988 | 33 | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | Greece | FP | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | | | 9 years (24/33) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 29 | 2020 C | Croatia | Andro Bušlje | 1986 | 35 | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) | Croatia | FP | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | | | 13 years (22/35) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 30 | 2020 C | Montenegro | Dušan Matković | 1999 | 22 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | Montenegro | FP | 2020 | | | | | | 0 years (22/22) | 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, four water polo people were given the honour.
As an athlete, Victor Boin of Belgium took the first ever Olympic Oath at the 1920 Games in Antwerp.
Eugeni Asensio, a Spanish water polo referee, took the Officials' Oath at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
As a water polo referee, Australian Peter Kerr took the Officials' Oath at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Asumi Tsuzaki of Japan took the Officials' Oath at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, becoming the first female water polo referee to be given the honour.
Legend
* – Hosts
* Oath taker – Female oath taker
* Oath taker$^‡$ – Oath taker who won the tournament with his/her team
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 |
| 1 | 1920 | Athletes' Oath | Belgium | Victor Boin | 1886 | 34 | 1908 | 1912 | As player |
| 2 | 1992 | Officials' Oath | Spain | Eugeni Asensio | | | 1992 | | As referee (official) |
| 3 | 2000 | Officials' Oath | Australia | Peter Kerr | | | 1996 | 2000 | As referee (official) |
| 4 | 2020 | Officials' Oath | Japan | Asumi Tsuzaki | 1989 | 32 | 2020 | | As referee (official) |