Water Polo cbc.ca . Canada is sending a team to the inaugural women s event in Sydney, and they are strong contenders for the gold medal. Canada will battle five other countries for the top podium spot. The men s draw will feature 12 teams, but Canada s men s team will not be among them.
Water polo involves plenty of physical contact as players battle for possession of the ball.
One of the most demanding of team sports, water polo requires tremendous all-around athleticism. Players can end up swimming over three kilometres in a game, all without touching the sides or bottom of the pool. In addition to being strong swimmers, they must also be able to handle the rigours of the contact sport. Opponents constantly battle for the ball, resulting in frequent fouls and stoppages of play. Water polo resembles several other teams sports, with the obvious difference being it s played in water.