National team appearances in the women's Olympic water polo tournament

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This article presents the national team appearances in the women's Olympic water polo tournament since the inaugural official edition in 2000. As of 2016, Thirteen women's national water polo teams from five continents have competed at the Summer Olympics. Four teams have won all five tournaments. The inaugural winners in 2000 were Australia; the current champions are United States. The most successful team is currently United States women's team, who has won the Olympic title on two occasions.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Abbreviations

Apps	Appearances	Rk	Rank	Ref	Reference
p.	page	pp.	pages

Team statistics

Comprehensive team results by tournament

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Participating teams}}

Debut of teams

Last updated: 7 January 2024.

Legend

Team^* – Host team

#	Year^[1]	Debuting teams					Number	Cumulative total
#	Year^[1]	Africa	Americas	Asia	Europe	Oceania	Number	Cumulative total
1	2000	–	Canada, United States	Kazakhstan	Netherlands, Russia	Australia^*	6	6
2	2004	–	–	–	Greece^*, Hungary, Italy	–	3	9
3	2008	–	–	China^*	–	–	1	10
4	2012	–	–	–	Great Britain^*, Spain	–	2	12
5	2016	–	Brazil^*	–	–	–	1	13
6	2020	South Africa	–	Japan^*	–	–	2	15
7	2024	–	–	–	France^*	–	1	16
Total		1	3	3	8	1	16	16

Number of appearances by team

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Number of appearances by team}}

Results of host teams

Last updated: 7 August 2021.

Legend and abbreviation

Year^* – As host team
Finish^‡ – It is the best performance of the team
Apps – Appearances

#	Year^[1]	Host team	Finish	Best finish	Apps	Confederation
1	2000	Australia	1st^‡ of 6 teams	Champions (2000^*)	5	Oceania – OSA
2	2004	Greece	2nd^‡ of 8 teams	Runners-up (2004^*)	2	Europe – LEN
3	2008	China	5th^‡ of 8 teams	Fifth place (2008^*, 2012)	3	Asia – AASF
4	2012	Great Britain	8th^‡ of 8 teams	Eighth place (2012^*)	1	Europe – LEN
5	2016	Brazil	8th^‡ of 8 teams	Eighth place (2016^*)	1	Americas – UANA
6	2020	Japan	9th^‡ of 10 teams	Ninth place (2020^*)	1	Asia – AASF

Results of defending champions and runners-up

Last updated: 7 August 2021.

Legend

Team^* – Host team

#	Year^[1]	Defending champions	Finish	Defending runners-up	Finish
1	2000
2	2004	Australia	4th of 8 teams	United States	3rd of 8 teams
3	2008	Italy	6th of 8 teams	Greece	8th of 8 teams
4	2012	Netherlands	did not qualify	United States	1st of 8 teams
5	2016	United States	1st of 8 teams	Spain	5th of 8 teams
6	2020	United States	1st of 10 teams	Italy	did not qualify

Best finishes by team

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Best finishes by team}}

Finishes in the top four

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Finishes in top four}}

Medal table

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Medal table}}

Longest active appearance droughts

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic tournaments missed (in descending order), year of the last appearance (in ascending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021. Notes:

Does not include teams that have not yet made their first appearance at the Olympics or teams that no longer exist.

Legend

Year^* – As host team

**Longest active appearance droughts**
Rk	Women's team^[1]	Last appearance	Olympics missed	Best finish	Confederation
1	Kazakhstan	2004	4	Sixth place	Asia – AASF
2	Greece	2008	3	Runners-up	Europe – LEN
3	Great Britain	2012^*	2	Eighth place	Europe – LEN
4	Brazil	2016^*	1	Eighth place	Americas – UANA
4	Italy	2016	1	Champions	Europe – LEN
6	Australia	2020	0	Champions	Oceania – OSA
	Canada	2020	0	Fifth place	Americas – UANA
	China	2020	0	Fifth place	Asia – AASF
	Hungary	2020	0	Fourth place	Europe – LEN
	Japan	2020^*	0	Ninth place	Asia – AASF
	Netherlands	2020	0	Champions	Europe – LEN
	Russia	2020	0	Third place	Europe – LEN
	South Africa	2020	0	Tenth place	Africa – CANA
	Spain	2020	0	Runners-up	Europe – LEN
	United States	2020	0	Champions	Americas – UANA
Rk	Women's team	Last appearance	Olympics missed	Best finish	Confederation

Longest appearance droughts overall

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic tournaments missed (in descending order), year of the previous appearance (in ascending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 7 August 2021. Notes:

Only includes droughts begun after a team's first appearance and until the team ceased to exist.
With the exception of 1916, 1940 and 1944, does not include droughts when the Olympic tournament was not held due to World War I and II.

Legend

Year^* – As host team
Team^† – Defunct team

**Longest appearance droughts overall**
Rk	Women's team^[1]	Prev. appearance	Next appearance	Olympics missed	Best finish	Confederation
1	Kazakhstan	2004	active	4	Sixth place	Asia – AASF
2	Canada	2004	2020	3	Fifth place	Americas – UANA
2	Greece	2008	active	3	Runners-up	Europe – LEN
4	Netherlands	2008	2020	2	Champions	Europe – LEN
4	Great Britain	2012^*	active	2	Eighth place	Europe – LEN
6	Brazil	2016^*	active	1	Eighth place	Americas – UANA
6	Italy	2016	active	1	Champions	Europe – LEN
8	Australia	2020	active	0	Champions	Oceania – OSA
	China	2020	active	0	Fifth place	Asia – AASF
	Hungary	2020	active	0	Fourth place	Europe – LEN
	Japan	2020^*	active	0	Ninth place	Asia – AASF
	Russia	2020	active	0	Third place	Europe – LEN
	South Africa	2020	active	0	Tenth place	Africa – CANA
	Spain	2020	active	0	Runners-up	Europe – LEN
	United States	2020	active	0	Champions	Americas – UANA
Rk	Women's team	Prev. appearance	Next appearance	Olympics missed	Best finish	Confederation

Team records

<section begin=TeamRecords />Teams having equal quantities in the tables below are ordered by the tournament the quantity was attained in (the teams that attained the quantity first are listed first). If the quantity was attained by more than one team in the same tournament, these teams are ordered alphabetically. Last updated: 7 August 2021.

Legend

Year^* – As host team

Appearances

Most appearances: 6, Australia, United States (have participated in every tournament).
Most appearances, never winning a title: 5, Russia (has participated in every tournament).
Most appearances, never finishing in the top two: 5, Russia (has participated in every tournament).
Most appearances, never winning a medal: 4, China (2008^*, 2012, 2016, 2020).
Most appearances, never finishing in the top four: 4, China (2008^*, 2012, 2016, 2020).
Fewest appearances: 1, Great Britain (2012^*), Brazil (2016^*), Japan (2020^*), ROC (2020), South Africa (2020).
Fewest appearances, winning a title: 3, Netherlands (2008).
Fewest appearances, finishing in the top two: 2, Greece (2004^*).
Fewest appearances, winning a medal: 2, Greece (2004^*).
Fewest appearances, finishing in the top four: 2, Greece (2004^*).

Top four

Most titles won: 3, United States (2012, 2016, 2020).
Most second-place finishes: 2, United States (2000, 2008), Spain (2012, 2020).
Most third-place finishes: 2, Australia (2008, 2012), Russia (2000, 2016).
Most fourth-place finishes: 3, Hungary (2008, 2012, 2016).
Most finishes in the top two: 5, United States (2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020).
Most finishes in the top two, never winning a title: 2, Spain (2012, 2020).
Most finishes in the top three: 6, United States (has been medaled in every tournament).
Most finishes in the top three, never winning a title: 2, Russia (2000, 2016), Spain (2012, 2020).
Most finishes in the top three, never finishing in the top two: 2, Russia (2000, 2016).
Most finishes in the top four: 6, United States (has finished in the top four in every tournament).
Most finishes in the top four, never winning a title: 4, Hungary (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020).
Most finishes in the top four, never finishing in the top two: 4, Hungary (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020).
Most finishes in the top four, never winning a medal: 1, ROC (2020).
Fewest finishes in the top two, winning a title: 1, Australia (2000^*), Netherlands (2008).
Fewest finishes in the top three, winning a title: 1, Netherlands (2008).
Fewest finishes in the top three, finishing in the top two: 1, Greece (2004^*), Netherlands (2008).
Fewest finishes in the top four, winning a title: 2, Netherlands (2000, 2008), Italy (2004, 2016).
Fewest finishes in the top four, finishing in the top two: 1, Greece (2004^*).
Fewest finishes in the top four, winning a medal: 1, Greece (2004^*).

Consecutive

Most consecutive titles won: 3, United States (2012–2016–2020).
Most consecutive second-place finishes: None.
Most consecutive third-place finishes: 2, Australia (2008–2012).
Most consecutive fourth-place finishes: 3, Hungary (2008–2012–2016).
Most consecutive finishes in the top two: 4, United States (2008–2012–2016–2020).
Most consecutive finishes in the top three: 6, United States (has been medaled in every tournament).
Most consecutive finishes in the top four: 6, United States (has finished in the top four in every tournament).
Most consecutive appearances: 6, Australia, United States (have participated in every tournament).
Biggest improvement in position in consecutive tournaments: Did not participate/qualify, then won the title, Italy (2000–2004), Netherlands (2004–2008).

Gaps

Longest gap between successive titles: None.
Longest gap between successive second-place finishes: 9 years, Spain (2012, 2020).
Longest gap between successive third-place finishes: 16 years, Russia (2000, 2016).
Longest gap between successive fourth-place finishes: None.
Longest gap between successive appearances in the top two: 12 years, Italy (2004–2016).
Longest gap between successive appearances in the top three: 16 years, Russia (2000–2016).
Longest gap between successive appearances in the top four: 16 years, Russia (2000–2016).
Longest gap between successive appearances: 17 years, Canada (2004–2020).

Debuting teams

Best finish by a debuting team: Champions, Australia (2000^*), Italy (2004).
Worst finish by a debuting team: 10th position (last position), South Africa (2020).

Host teams

Best finish by host team: Champions: Australia (2000^*).
Worst finish by host team: 9th position, Japan (2020^*).
Best finish by last host team: 4th position, Australia (2004).
Worst finish by last host team: Did not participate/qualify, Great Britain (2016), Brazil (2020).
Worst finish by last host team that participates in the tournament: 8th position (last position), Greece (2008).
Had its best performance as hosts: Champions, Australia (2000^*).
Runners-up, Greece (2004^*).
5th position, China (2008^*).
8th position, Great Britain (2012^*), Brazil (2016^*).
9th position, Japan (2020^*).
Had its worst performance as hosts: 8th position, Great Britain (2012^*), Brazil (2016^*).
9th position, Japan (2020^*).

Defending champions

Best finish by defending champions: Champions, United States (2016, 2020).
Worst finish by defending champions: Did not participate/qualify, Netherlands (2012).
Worst finish by defending champions that participates in the next tournament: 6th position, Italy (2008).

Defending runners-up

Best finish by defending runners-up: Champions, United States (2012).
Worst finish by defending runners-up: Did not participate/qualify, Italy (2020).
Worst finish by defending runners-up that participates in the next tournament: 8th position (last position), Greece (2008).

Population

Most populous country, participant: China (2020), 1,411,099,000 (source)
Least populous country, participant: Hungary (2020), 9,750,000 (source)
Most populous country, hosts: China (2008^*), 1,324,655,000 (source)
Least populous country, hosts: Greece (2004^*), 10,955,000 (source)
Most populous country, champions: United States (2020), 331,449,000 (source)
Least populous country, champions: Netherlands (2008), 16,446,000 (source)
Most populous country, runners-up: United States (2008), 304,375,000 (source)
Least populous country, runners-up: Greece (2004^*), 10,955,000 (source)
Most populous country, third place: United States (2004), 293,046,000 (source)
Least populous country, third place: Hungary (2020), 9,750,000 (source)
Most populous country, fourth place: Australia (2004), 19,895,000 (source)
Least populous country, fourth place: Hungary (2016), 9,830,485 (source)<section end=TeamRecords />

Confederation statistics

Number of teams by confederation

This is a summary of the total number of participating teams by confederation in each tournament. Last updated: 7 August 2021.

Legend

– Forthcoming tournament

Confederation	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024
Africa – CANA	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Americas – UANA	2	2	1	1	2	2	2
Asia – AASF	1	1	1	1	1	2	1
Europe – LEN	2	4	5	5	4	4	6
Oceania – OSA	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total teams	6	8	8	8	8	10	10

Best performances by tournament

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Best performances of confederations (by tournament)}}

All-time best performances

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Best performances of confederations (all-time)}}

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. p. 56. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
↑ "Water polo women - Olympic Water Polo". olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
↑ "Water Polo — Water Polo, Women". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 15 January 2021.

Sources

{{#section:List of women's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics|Sources}}

External links

Olympic water polo – Official website

[HistoFINA_PDF-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. p. 56. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.

[Women's_water_polo_IOC-2] "Water polo women - Olympic Water Polo". olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 15 January 2021.

[Women's_water_polo_OP-3] "Water Polo — Water Polo, Women". olympedia.org. Olympedia. Retrieved 15 January 2021.

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Olympic water polo records and statistics
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