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

This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the France men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
The France men's national water polo team has participated in 11 of 27 official men's water polo tournaments.

## Abbreviations

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

## Team statistics
### Comprehensive results by tournament

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

#### Legend

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

### Number of appearances

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Men's team | Apps | Record streak | Active streak | Debut | Most recent | Best finish | Confederation |
| France | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1900$^*$ | 2016 | Champions | Europe – LEN |

### Best finishes

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Men's team | Best finish | Apps | Confederation |
| France | Champions (1924$^*$) | 11 | Europe – LEN |

### Finishes in the top four

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Men's team | Total | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | First | Last |
| France | 5 | 1 (1924$^*$) | | 3 (1900$^*$×2, 1928) | 1 (1936) | 1900 | 1936 |

### Medal table

Last updated: 5 May 2021.
| Men's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| France (FRA) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |

## Player statistics
### Multiple appearances

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic appearances (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), date of birth (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
* Number of five-time Olympians: 0
* Number of four-time Olympians: 1
* Last updated: 27 July 2021.

#### Legend

* – Hosts
Male athletes who competed in water polo at four or more Olympics :
| Apps | Player | Birth | Pos | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Apps | Player | Birth | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 4 | Henri Padou | 1898 | FP | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | | 1936 | 22/38 | 1970 | | |

### Multiple medalists

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

### Top goalscorers

The following table is pre-sorted by number of total goals (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
* Number of goalscorers (50+ goals): 0
* Number of goalscorers (40–49 goals): 0
* Number of goalscorers (30–39 goals): 1
* Last updated: 1 April 2021.
Male players with 30 or more goals at the Olympics :
| Rk | Player | Birth | L/R | Total goals | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Water polo tournaments (goals) | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | L/R | Total goals | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 1 | Pierre Garsau | 1961 | | 33 | 1988 (20) | 1992 (13) | | | | 26/30 | | | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1900, 1912–1928, 1936–1948, 1960, 1988–1992;
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2016 (pp. 114–115).

### Goalkeepers

The following table is pre-sorted by edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), cap number or name of the goalkeeper (in ascending order), respectively.
Last updated: 1 April 2021.

#### Legend and abbreviation

* – Hosts
* Eff % – Save efficiency (Saves / Shots)
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 1900 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1912 | | Jean Thorailler | 1888 | 24 | | The only goalkeeper in the squad | |
| 1920 | | Jean Thorailler (2) | 1888 | 32 | | The only goalkeeper in the squad | |
| 1924 | | Paul Dujardin | 1894 | 30 | | The only goalkeeper in the squad | |
| 1928 | | Paul Dujardin (2) | 1894 | 34 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1928 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1936 | | Georges Delporte | 1912 | 24 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1936 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1948 | | François Débonnet | 1931 | 16–17 | | | |
| 1948 | | René Massol | 1927 | 21 | | | |
| 1960 | | Gérard Faetibolt | 1932 | 28 | | | |
| 1960 | | Roland Moellé | 1940 | 20 | | | |
| 1988 | 1 | Arnaud Bouet | 1960 | 28 | | | |
| 1988 | 13 | Christian Volpi | 1965 | 23 | | | |
| 1992 | 1 | Jean-Marie Olivon | 1967 | 25 | | | |
| 1992 | 12 | Christophe Gautier | 1966 | 26 | | | |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Saves | Shots | Eff % | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 2016 | 1 | Rémi Garsau | 1984 | 32 | 46 | 88 | 52.3% | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 2016 | 13 | Jonathan Moriamé | 1984 | 32 | 0 | 0 | — | | | |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2016 (pp. 114–115).

### Top sprinters

The following table is pre-sorted by number of total sprints won (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), name of the sprinter (in ascending order), respectively.
* Number of sprinters (30+ sprints won, since 2000): 0
* Number of sprinters (20–29 sprints won, since 2000): 0
* Number of sprinters (10–19 sprints won, since 2000): 0
* Number of sprinters (5–9 sprints won, since 2000): 0
* Last updated: 15 May 2021.
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2016 (pp. 114–115).

## Olympic champions
### 1924 Summer Olympics

* Edition of men's tournament: 6th
* Host city: Paris, France
* Number of participating teams: 13
* Competition format: Single-elimination tournament; Bergvall system for second- and third-place
* Champion: France (1st title)
| Match | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Goals for | Goals against | Goal diff. |
| Match 1/4 | Round one | 13 July 1924 | United States | Won | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Match 2/4 | Quarter-finals | 15 July 1924 | Netherlands | Won | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Match 3/4 | Semi-finals | 16 July 1924 | Sweden | Won | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Match 4/4 | Gold medal match | 17 July 1924 | Belgium | Won | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | Matches played: 4 • Wins: 4 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 4 • Wins: 4 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 4 • Wins: 4 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 4 • Wins: 4 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | 16 | 6 | 10 |
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1924 (pp. 488, 490, 492).
* Head coach:
Roster :
| # | Player | Pos | Date of birth | Age of winning gold | Oly debut | ISHOF member |
| P1 | Albert Deborgies | FP | 6 July 1902 | 22 years, 14 days | Yes | |
| P2 | Noël Delberghe | FP | 25 December 1897 | 26 years, 208 days | Yes | |
| P3 | Robert Desmettre | FP | 5 August 1901 | 22 years, 350 days | Yes | |
| P4 | Paul Dujardin | GK | 10 May 1894 | 30 years, 71 days | Yes | |
| P5 | Albert Mayaud | FP | 31 March 1899 | 25 years, 111 days | No | |
| P6 | Henri Padou | FP | 15 May 1898 | 26 years, 66 days | No | 1970 |
| P7 | Georges Rigal (C) | FP | 6 January 1890 | 34 years, 196 days | No | |
| Average | Average | Average | 21 September 1897 | 26 years, 303 days | | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1924 (pp. 488, 490, 492);
* Olympedia: 1924 (men's tournament);
* Sports Reference: 1924 (men's tournament);
* ISHOF.

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

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

#### Legend

* 2008 O – Opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics
* 2012 C – Closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics
* – Hosts
* Flag bearer$^‡$ – Flag bearer who won the tournament with his team
Water polo people who were flag bearers at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games :
| # | Year | Country | Flag bearer | Birth | Age | Height | Team | Pos | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| # | Year | Country | Flag bearer | Birth | Age | Height | Team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 4 | 1928 O | France | Jean Thorailler | 1888 | 40 | | France | GK | 1912 | 1920 | | | | 8 years (24/32) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |