# Great Britain men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics

This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Great Britain men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
The Great Britain 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 |
| Great Britain | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | | 8 | 13 | 12 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | 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 |
| Great Britain | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1900 | 2012$^*$ | Champions | Europe – LEN |

### Best finishes

Last updated: 5 May 2021.

#### Legend

* Year$^*$ – As host team
| Men's team | Best finish | Apps | Confederation |
| Great Britain | Champions (1900, 1908$^*$, 1912, 1920) | 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 |
| Great Britain | 5 | 4 (1900, 1908$^*$, 1912, 1920) | | | 1 (1928) | 1900 | 1928 |

### Medal table

Last updated: 5 May 2021.
| Men's team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Great Britain (GBR) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 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 six-time Olympians: 0
* Number of five-time Olympians: 1
* 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 |
| 5 | Paul Radmilovic | 1886 | FP | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 22/42 | 1967 | | |
| 4 | Charles Smith | 1879 | GK | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | | 29/45 | 1981 | Flag bearer for Great Britain (1912) | |

### 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: 2
* Last updated: 1 May 2021.

#### Legend

* – Hosts
Male athletes who won three or more Olympic medals in water polo :
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Pos | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| Rk | Player | Birth | Height | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | Paul Radmilovic | 1886 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | FP | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 20 years (22/42) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1 | Charles Smith | 1879 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | GK | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | | 16 years (29/45) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |

### Top goalscorers

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

### 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 | | William Henry | 1859 | 41 | 1974 | The only goalkeeper in the squad | |
| 1908 | | Charles Smith | 1879 | 29 | 1981 | The only goalkeeper in the squad | |
| 1912 | | Charles Smith (2) | 1879 | 33 | 1981 | Flag bearer for Great Britain The only goalkeeper in the squad | |
| 1920 | | Charles Smith (3) | 1879 | 41 | 1981 | The only goalkeeper in the squad | |
| 1924 | | Charles Smith (4) | 1879 | 45 | 1981 | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1924 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1928 | | Leslie Ablett | 1904 | 24 | | | |
| 1928 | | William Quick | 1902 | 26 | | | |
| 1936 | | Leslie Ablett (2) | 1904 | 32 | | | |
| 1936 | | Alfred North | 1908 | 20 | | | |
| 1948 | | Ian Johnson | 1930 | 17–18 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1948 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1952 | | Ian Johnson (2) | 1930 | 21–22 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1952 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| 1956 | | Arthur Grady | 1922 | 34 | | Starting goalkeeper | |
| 1956 | | (Unknown) | | | | | |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Year | Cap No. | Goalkeeper | Birth | Age | Saves | Shots | Eff % | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 2012 | 1 | Edward Scott | 1988 | 24 | 18 | 52 | 34.6% | | | |
| 2012 | 13 | Matthew Holland | 1989 | 23 | 29 | 72 | 40.3% | | | |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2012 (pp. 476–477).

### 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): 1
* Last updated: 15 May 2021.

#### Legend and abbreviation

* – Hosts
* Eff % – Efficiency (Sprints won / Sprints contested)
Male players with 5 or more sprints won at the Olympics (statistics since 2000) :
| Rk | Sprinter | Birth | Total sprints won | Total sprints contested | Eff % | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Water polo tournaments (sprints won / contested) | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| Rk | Sprinter | Birth | Total sprints won | Total sprints contested | Eff % | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Age of first/last | ISHOF member | Note | Ref |
| 1 | Sean King | 1989 | 5 | 9 | 55.6% | 2012 (5/9) | | | | | 23/23 | | | |
Source:
* Official Results Books (PDF): 2012 (pp. 476–477).

## Olympic champions
### 1900 Summer Olympics

* Edition of men's tournament: 1st
* Host city: Paris, France
* Number of participating teams: 7 teams from 4 countries, including 4 from France
* Competition format: Single-elimination tournament
* Champion: Osborne Swimming Club ( Great Britain, 1st title)
| Match | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Goals for | Goals against | Goal diff. |
| Match 1/3 | Round one | 11 August 1900 | Tritons Lillois ( France) | Won | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Match 2/3 | Semi-finals | 12 August 1900 | Pupilles de Neptune de Lille #2 ( France) | Won | 10 | 1 | 9 |
| Match 3/3 | Gold medal match | 12 August 1900 | Brussels Swimming and Water Polo Club ( Belgium) | Won | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| Total | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | 29 | 3 | 26 |
Sources:
* Olympedia: 1900 (men's tournament);
* Sports Reference: 1900 (men's tournament).
* Head coach:
Roster :
| # | Player | Pos | Date of birth | Age of winning gold | Oly debut | ISHOF member |
| P1 | Thomas Coe (C) | FP | 3 November 1873 | 26 years, 282 days | Yes | |
| P2 | Robert Crawshaw | FP | 6 March 1869 | 31 years, 159 days | Yes | |
| P3 | William Henry | GK | 28 June 1859 | 41 years, 45 days | Yes | 1974 |
| P4 | John Jarvis | FP | 24 February 1872 | 28 years, 169 days | Yes | 1968 |
| P5 | Peter Kemp | FP | 1878 | 21 years, 224 days – 22 years, 223 days | Yes | |
| P6 | Victor Lindberg | FP | 26 July 1875 | 25 years, 17 days | Yes | |
| P7 | Frederick Stapleton | FP | 11 March 1877 | 23 years, 154 days | Yes | |
| Average | Average | Average | 15 March 1872 – 6 May 1872 | 28 years, 98 days – 28 years, 150 days | | |
Sources:
* Olympedia: 1900 (men's tournament);
* Sports Reference: 1900 (men's tournament);
* ISHOF.

### 1908 Summer Olympics

* Edition of men's tournament: 3rd
* Host city: London, United Kingdom
* Number of participating teams: 4
* Competition format: Single-elimination tournament
* Champion: Great Britain (2nd title)
| Match | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Goals for | Goals against | Goal diff. |
| Match 1/3 | Round one | 15 July 1908 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Match 2/3 | Semi-finals | 20 July 1908 | Austria | Austria withdrew before the tournament started. | Austria withdrew before the tournament started. | Austria withdrew before the tournament started. | Austria withdrew before the tournament started. |
| Match 3/3 | Gold medal match | 22 July 1908 | Belgium | Won | 9 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | Matches played: 1 • Wins: 1 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 1 • Wins: 1 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 1 • Wins: 1 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 1 • Wins: 1 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | 9 | 2 | 7 |
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1908 (pp. 360, 361).
* Head coach:
Roster :
| # | Player | Pos | Height | Weight | Date of birth | Age of winning gold | Oly debut | ISHOF member |
| P1 | George Cornet | FP | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 15 July 1877 | 31 years, 7 days | Yes | |
| P2 | Charles Forsyth | FP | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | 10 January 1885 | 23 years, 194 days | Yes | |
| P3 | George Nevinson | FP | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | | 3 October 1882 | 25 years, 293 days | Yes | |
| P4 | Paul Radmilovic | FP | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | 5 March 1886 | 22 years, 139 days | Yes | 1967 |
| P5 | Charles Smith (C) | GK | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 105 kg (231 lb) | 26 January 1879 | 29 years, 178 days | Yes | 1981 |
| P6 | Thomas Thould | FP | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | 11 January 1886 | 22 years, 193 days | Yes | |
| P7 | George Wilkinson | FP | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 80 kg (176 lb) | 3 March 1879 | 29 years, 141 days | Yes | 1980 |
| Average | Average | Average | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | | 2 April 1882 | 26 years, 111 days | | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1908 (pp. 360, 361);
* Olympedia: 1908 (men's tournament);
* Sports Reference: 1908 (men's tournament);
* ISHOF.

### 1912 Summer Olympics

* Edition of men's tournament: 4th
* Host city: Stockholm, Sweden
* Number of participating teams: 6
* Competition format: Single-elimination tournament
* Champion: Great Britain (3rd title)
| Match | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Goals for | Goals against | Goal diff. |
| Match 1/3 | Round one | 7 July 1912 | Belgium | Won | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Match 2/3 | Semi-finals | 11 July 1912 | Sweden | Won | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Match 3/3 | Gold medal match | 13 July 1912 | Austria | Won | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | 21 | 8 | 13 |
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1912 (pp. 1022, 1024, 1033).
* Head coach:
Roster :
| # | Player | Pos | Height | Weight | Date of birth | Age of winning gold | Oly debut | ISHOF member |
| P1 | Isaac Bentham | FP | | | 27 October 1886 | 25 years, 263 days | Yes | |
| P2 | Charles Bugbee | FP | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | | 29 August 1887 | 24 years, 322 days | Yes | |
| P3 | George Cornet | FP | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 15 July 1877 | 35 years, 1 day | No | |
| P4 | Arthur Hill | FP | | | 9 January 1888 | 24 years, 189 days | Yes | |
| P5 | Paul Radmilovic | FP | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | 5 March 1886 | 26 years, 133 days | No | 1967 |
| P6 | Charles Smith | GK | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 105 kg (231 lb) | 26 January 1879 | 33 years, 172 days | No | 1981 |
| P7 | George Wilkinson (C) | FP | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 80 kg (176 lb) | 3 March 1879 | 33 years, 135 days | No | 1980 |
| Average | Average | Average | | | 30 June 1883 | 29 years, 16 days | | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1912 (pp. 1022, 1024, 1033);
* Olympedia: 1912 (men's tournament);
* Sports Reference: 1912 (men's tournament);
* ISHOF.

### 1920 Summer Olympics

* Edition of men's tournament: 5th
* Host city: Antwerp, Belgium
* Number of participating teams: 12
* Competition format: Single-elimination tournament; Bergvall system for second- and third-place
* Champion: Great Britain (4th title)
| Match | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Goals for | Goals against | Goal diff. |
| Match 1/3 | Round one | 24 August 1920 | Spain | Won | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Match 2/3 | Semi-finals | 26 August 1920 | United States | Won | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| Match 3/3 | Gold medal match | 27 August 1920 | Belgium | Won | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | Matches played: 3 • Wins: 3 • Ties: 0 • Defeats: 0 • Win %: 100% | 19 | 4 | 15 |
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1920 (p. 130).
* Head coach:
Roster :
| # | Player | Pos | Height | Weight | Date of birth | Age of winning gold | Oly debut | ISHOF member |
| P1 | Charles Bugbee | FP | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | | 29 August 1887 | 33 years, 0 days | No | |
| P2 | William Dean | FP | | | 6 February 1887 | 33 years, 205 days | Yes | |
| P3 | Christopher Jones | FP | | | 23 June 1884 | 36 years, 67 days | Yes | |
| P4 | William Peacock | FP | | | 6 December 1891 | 28 years, 267 days | Yes | |
| P5 | Noel Purcell | FP | | | 15 November 1891 | 28 years, 288 days | Yes | |
| P6 | Paul Radmilovic (C) | FP | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | 5 March 1886 | 34 years, 177 days | No | 1967 |
| P7 | Charles Smith | GK | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 105 kg (231 lb) | 26 January 1879 | 41 years, 216 days | No | 1981 |
| Average | Average | Average | | | 24 November 1886 | 33 years, 279 days | | |
Sources:
* Official Reports (PDF): 1920 (p. 130);
* Olympedia: 1920 (men's tournament);
* Sports Reference: 1920 (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, two male water polo players were given the honour to carry the flag for Great Britain.
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.

#### Legend

* 2008 O – Opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics
* 2012 C – Closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics
* – Hosts
* Flag bearer$^‡$ – Flag bearer who won the tournament with his team
Water polo people who were flag bearers at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games :
| # | Year | Country | Flag bearer | Birth | Age | Height | Team | Pos | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Water polo tournaments | Period (age of first/last) | Medals | Medals | Medals | Medals | Ref |
| # | Year | Country | Flag bearer | Birth | Age | Height | Team | Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Period (age of first/last) | G | S | B | T | Ref |
| 1 | 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 | 1924 O | Great Britain | Arthur Hunt | 1886 | 37 | | Great Britain | FP | 1924 | | | | | 0 years (37/37) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |