United States men's Olympic water polo team results explained

This article contains lists of results of the United States men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics. The lists are updated as of March 30, 2020.

Basics

Men's water polo tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1900. The United States has participated in 22 of 27 tournaments. The United States team is the only non-European squad to win medals in the men's Olympic water polo tournament.

Best results:

• 1st place (Gold medal):
  • 1904 St. Louis (demonstration event)
• 2nd place (Silver medal):
  • 1904 St. Louis (demonstration event)
  • 1984 Los Angeles
  • 1988 Seoul
  • 2008 Beijing
• 3rd place (Bronze medal):
  • 1904 St. Louis (demonstration event)
  • 1924 Paris
  • 1932 Los Angeles
  • 1972 Munich

Latest medal:

• Silver medal (2nd place): 2008 Beijing

Results

1900 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 4
• Host city: Paris
• Final Ranking: Did not participate

1904 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 1 (Demonstration event)
• Host city: St. Louis
• Final Ranking (Demonstration event):
  • New York Athletic Club (NYAC): 1st place (Gold medal)
  • Chicago Athletic Association (CAA): 2nd place (Silver medal)
  • Missouri Athletic Club (MAC): 3rd place (Bronze medal)

Match #	Round	Date	Result	Notes
Match 1/2	Semi-Finals	Sep 5, 1904	NYAC 5–0 CAA	Demonstration event
Match 2/2	Final Round	Sep 6, 1904	NYAC 6–0 MAC

1908 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 4
• Host city: London
• Final Ranking: Did not participate

1912 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 6
• Host city: Stockholm
• Final Ranking: Did not participate

1920 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Antwerp
• Final Ranking: 4th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/5	Quarter-Finals	Aug 24, 1920		Won	7	0	7
Match 2/5	Semi-Finals	Aug 26, 1920		Lost	2	7	-5
Match 3/5	Second-Place Tournament	Aug 28, 1920		Won	5	0	5
Match 4/5	Second-Place Tournament	Aug 28, 1920		Lost	2	7	-5
Match 5/5	Third-Place Tournament	Aug 29, 1920		Lost	2	5	-3

1924 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 13
• Host city: Paris
• Final Ranking: 3rd place (Bronze medal)

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/5	Round One	Jul 13, 1924		Lost	1	3	-2
Match 2/5	Second-Place Tournament	Jul 18, 1924		Won	4	2	2
Match 3/5	Second-Place Tournament	Jul 19, 1924		Lost	1	2	-1
Match 4/5	Second-Place Tournament	Jul 20, 1924		Lost	1	2	-1
Match 5/5	Third-Place Tournament	Jul 20, 1924		Won	3	2	1

1928 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 14
• Host city: Amsterdam
• Final Ranking: 7th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/3	Quarter-Finals	Aug 6, 1928		Lost	0	5	-5
Match 2/3	Third-Place Tournament	Aug 8, 1928		Won	10	0	10
Match 3/3	Third-Place Tournament	Aug 11, 1928		Lost	1	2	-1

1932 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 5
• Host city: Los Angeles
• Final Ranking: 3rd place (Bronze medal)

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/4	Round-Robin	Aug 6, 1932		Won	6	1	5
Match 2/4	Round-Robin	Aug 7, 1932		Won	10	0	10
Match 3/4	Round-Robin	Aug 9, 1932		Ties	4	4	0
Match 4/4	Round-Robin	Aug 11, 1932		Lost	0	7	-7

1936 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 16
• Host city: Berlin
• Final Ranking: 9th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/3	Group A	Aug 8, 1936		Lost	2	3	-1
Match 2/3	Group A	Aug 9, 1936		Won	2	1	1
Match 3/3	Group A	Aug 10, 1936		Lost	3	4	-1

1948 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 18
• Host city: London
• Final Ranking: 11th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/3	Group A	Jul 30, 1948		Won	7	0	7
Match 2/3	Group A	Jul 31, 1948		Ties	4	4	0
Match 3/3	Group A	Aug 3, 1948		Lost	0	7	-7

1952 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 21
• Host city: Helsinki
• Final Ranking: 4th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/9	Qualifying Round	Jul 25, 1952		Lost	1	5	-4
Match 2/9	Qualifying Round	Jul 26, 1952		Won	6	3	3
Match 3/9	Group A	Jul 27, 1952		Won	8	3	5
Match 4/9	Group A	Jul 28, 1952		Lost	4	5	-1
Match 5/9	Group A	Jul 29, 1952		Won	4	1	3
Match 6/9	Group A	Jul 30, 1952		Won	4	2	2
Match 7/9	Group A	Jul 31, 1952		Won	6	4	2
Match 8/9	Final Round	Aug 1, 1952		Lost	2	4	-2
Match 9/9	Final Round	Aug 2, 1952		Lost	0	4	-4

1956 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 10
• Host city: Melbourne
• Final Ranking: 5th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/6	Group B	Nov 28, 1956		Won	5	3	2
Match 2/6	Group B	Nov 30, 1956		Lost	2	6	-4
Match 3/6	Final Round	Dec 1, 1956		Lost	1	5	-4
Match 4/6	Final Round	Dec 3, 1956		Won	4	3	1
Match 5/6	Final Round	Dec 4, 1956		Lost	2	3	-1
Match 6/6	Final Round	Dec 5, 1956		Lost	1	3	-2

1960 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 16
• Host city: Rome
• Final Ranking: 7th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/7	Group D	Aug 26, 1960		Lost	2	7	-5
Match 2/7	Group D	Aug 27, 1960		Won	10	4	6
Match 3/7	Group D	Aug 29, 1960		Won	5	2	3
Match 4/7	Semifinal Round	Aug 31, 1960		Lost	2	6	-4
Match 5/7	Semifinal Round	Sep 1, 1960		Won	7	6	1
Match 6/7	Classification Round 5-8	Sep 2, 1960		Lost	3	4	-1
Match 7/7	Classification Round 5-8	Sep 3, 1960		Lost	4	6	-2

1964 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 13
• Host city: Tokyo
• Final Ranking: 9th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/3	Group C	Oct 11, 1964		Lost	1	2	-1
Match 2/3	Group C	Oct 12, 1964		Won	7	1	6
Match 3/3	Group C	Oct 13, 1964		Lost	4	6	-2

1968 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 15
• Host city: Mexico City
• Final Ranking: 5th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/8	Group A	Oct 14, 1968		Won	10	5	5
Match 2/8	Group A	Oct 16, 1968		Won	10	7	3
Match 3/8	Group A	Oct 17, 1968		Ties	6	6	0
Match 4/8	Group A	Oct 19, 1968		Lost	1	5	-4
Match 5/8	Group A	Oct 21, 1968		Lost	3	8	-5
Match 6/8	Group A	Oct 22, 1968		Won	7	5	2
Match 7/8	Classification Round 5-8	Oct 24, 1968		Won	6	3	3
Match 8/8	Final Round	Oct 25, 1968		Won	6	4	2

1972 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 16
• Host city: Munich
• Final Ranking: 3rd place (Bronze medal)

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/9	Group A	Aug 27, 1972		Won	4	3	1
Match 2/9	Group A	Aug 28, 1972		Won	7	6	1
Match 3/9	Group A	Aug 29, 1972		Won	8	1	7
Match 4/9	Group A	Aug 30, 1972		Won	7	5	2
Match 5/9	Group A	Aug 31, 1972		Won	5	3	2
Match 6/9	Final Round	Sep 1, 1972		Ties	4	4	0
Match 7/9	Final Round	Sep 2, 1972		Lost	3	5	-2
Match 8/9	Final Round	Sep 3, 1972		Ties	6	6	0
Match 9/9	Final Round	Sep 4, 1972		Won	6	5	1

1976 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Montreal
• Final Ranking: Did not qualify

1980 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Moscow
• Final Ranking: Qualified but withdrew

1984 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Los Angeles
• Final Ranking: 2nd place (Silver medal)

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/7	Group B	Aug 1, 1984		Won	12	5	7
Match 2/7	Group B	Aug 2, 1984		Won	10	4	6
Match 3/7	Group B	Aug 3, 1984		Won	10	8	2
Match 4/7	Final Round	Aug 6, 1984		Won	8	7	1
Match 5/7	Final Round	Aug 7, 1984		Won	12	7	5
Match 6/7	Final Round	Aug 9, 1984		Won	8	7	1
Match 7/7	Final Round	Aug 10, 1984		Ties	5	5	0

1988 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Seoul
• Final Ranking: 2nd place (Silver medal)

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/7	Group B	Sep 21, 1988		Won	7	6	1
Match 2/7	Group B	Sep 22, 1988		Lost	7	9	-2
Match 3/7	Group B	Sep 23, 1988		Won	14	7	7
Match 4/7	Group B	Sep 26, 1988		Won	18	9	9
Match 5/7	Group B	Sep 27, 1988		Won	10	9	1
Match 6/7	Semi-Finals	Sep 30, 1988		Won	8	7	1
Match 7/7	Final Round	Oct 1, 1988		Lost	7	9	-2

1992 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Barcelona
• Final Ranking: 4th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/7	Group A	Aug 1, 1992		Won	8	4	4
Match 2/7	Group A	Aug 2, 1992		Won	9	3	6
Match 3/7	Group A	Aug 3, 1992		Won	11	7	4
Match 4/7	Group A	Aug 5, 1992		Lost	5	8	-3
Match 5/7	Group A	Aug 6, 1992		Won	7	2	5
Match 6/7	Semi-Finals	Aug 8, 1992		Lost	4	6	-2
Match 7/7	Final Round	Aug 9, 1992		Lost	4	8	-4

1996 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Atlanta
• Final Ranking: 7th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/8	Group B	Jul 20, 1996		Lost	7	10	-3
Match 2/8	Group B	Jul 21, 1996		Won	9	7	2
Match 3/8	Group B	Jul 22, 1996		Won	9	7	2
Match 4/8	Group B	Jul 23, 1996		Won	10	5	5
Match 5/8	Group B	Jul 24, 1996		Won	10	8	2
Match 6/8	Quarter-Finals	Jul 26, 1996		Lost	4	5	-1
Match 7/8	Classification Round 5-8	Jul 27, 1996		Lost	6	7	-1
Match 8/8	Final Round	Jul 28, 1996		Won	12	8	4

2000 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Sydney
• Final Ranking: 6th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/8	Group B	Sep 23, 2000		Lost	7	10	-3
Match 2/8	Group B	Sep 24, 2000		Lost	5	8	-3
Match 3/8	Group B	Sep 25, 2000		Won	12	8	4
Match 4/8	Group B	Sep 26, 2000		Lost	9	10	-1
Match 5/8	Group B	Sep 27, 2000		Won	9	3	6
Match 6/8	Quarter-Finals	Sep 29, 2000		Lost	10	11	-1
Match 7/8	Classification Round 5-8	Sep 30, 2000		Won	9	8	1
Match 8/8	Final Round	Oct 1, 2000		Lost	8	10	-2

2004 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Athens
• Final Ranking: 7th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/7	Group A	Aug 15, 2004		Won	7	6	1
Match 2/7	Group A	Aug 17, 2004		Won	9	6	3
Match 3/7	Group A	Aug 19, 2004		Lost	5	7	-2
Match 4/7	Group A	Aug 21, 2004		Lost	7	9	-2
Match 5/7	Group A	Aug 23, 2004		Lost	4	9	-5
Match 6/7	Classification Round 7-10	Aug 27, 2004		Won	6	5	1
Match 7/7	Final Round	Aug 29, 2004		Won	9	8	1

2008 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Beijing
• Final Ranking: 2nd place (Silver medal)

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/7	Group B	Aug 10, 2008		Won	8	4	4
Match 2/7	Group B	Aug 12, 2008		Won	12	11	1
Match 3/7	Group B	Aug 14, 2008		Lost	2	4	-2
Match 4/7	Group B	Aug 16, 2008		Won	7	5	2
Match 5/7	Group B	Aug 18, 2008		Won	8	7	1
Match 6/7	Semi-Finals	Aug 22, 2008		Won	10	5	5
Match 7/7	Final Round	Aug 24, 2008		Lost	10	14	-4

2012 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: London
• Final Ranking: 8th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/8	Group B	Jul 29, 2012		Won	8	7	1
Match 2/8	Group B	Jul 31, 2012		Won	10	8	2
Match 3/8	Group B	Aug 2, 2012		Won	13	7	6
Match 4/8	Group B	Aug 4, 2012		Lost	6	11	-5
Match 5/8	Group B	Aug 6, 2012		Lost	6	11	-5
Match 6/8	Quarter-Finals	Aug 8, 2012		Lost	2	8	-6
Match 7/8	Classification Round 5-8	Aug 10, 2012		Lost	7	8	-1
Match 8/8	Final Round	Aug 12, 2012		Lost	9	10	-1

2016 Summer Olympics

• Number of participating nations: 12
• Host city: Rio de Janeiro
• Final Ranking: 10th place

Match #	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Goals
					For	Against	Diff.
Match 1/5	Group B	Aug 6, 2016		Lost	5	7	-2
Match 2/5	Group B	Aug 8, 2016		Lost	9	10	-1
Match 3/5	Group B	Aug 10, 2016		Won	6	3	3
Match 4/5	Group B	Aug 12, 2016		Lost	5	8	-3
Match 5/5	Group B	Aug 14, 2016		Won	10	7	3

Statistics

By tournament

Historical progression of the best finish

Records

Victories, ties and defeats

• Biggest victory in an Olympic match
  • 10–0 vs., Aug 8, 1928
  • 10–0 vs., Aug 7, 1932
• Biggest home victory in an Olympic match
  • 10–0 vs., Aug 7, 1932
• Heaviest defeat in an Olympic match
  • 0–7 vs., Aug 11, 1932
  • 0–7 vs., Aug 3, 1948
• Heaviest home defeat in an Olympic match
  • 0–7 vs., Aug 11, 1932
• Most victories in an Olympic tournament
  • 6, 1972 Summer Olympics
  • 6, 1984 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive victories in an Olympic tournament
  • 6, Aug 1, 1984 vs. – Aug 9, 1984 vs.
• Most consecutive victories at the Olympic Games
  • 8, Oct 22, 1968 vs. – Aug 31, 1972 vs.
• Most matches without defeat in an Olympic tournament
  • 8, 1972 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive matches without defeat in an Olympic tournament
  • 7, Aug 1, 1984 vs. – Aug 10, 1984 vs.
• Most consecutive matches without defeat at the Olympic Games
  • 10, Sep 4, 1972 vs. – Sep 21, 1988 vs.
• Most defeats in an Olympic tournament
  • 5, 2000 Summer Olympics
  • 5, 2012 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive defeats in an Olympic tournament
  • 5, Aug 4, 2012 vs. – Aug 12, 2012 vs.
• Most consecutive defeats at the Olympic Games
  • 7, Aug 4, 2012 vs. – Aug 8, 2016 vs.
• Most matches without victory in an Olympic tournament
  • 5, 2000 Summer Olympics
  • 5, 2012 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive matches without victory in an Olympic tournament
  • 5, Aug 4, 2012 vs. – Aug 12, 2012 vs.
• Most consecutive matches without victory at the Olympic Games
  • 7, Aug 4, 2012 vs. – Aug 8, 2016 vs.
• Most ties in an Olympic tournament
  • 2, 1972 Summer Olympics
• Most matches without a tie in an Olympic tournament
  • 9, 1952 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive matches without a tie at the Olympic Games
  • 57, Sep 21, 1988 vs. – Aug 14, 2016 vs.

Goals for and against

• Most goals for in an Olympic match
  • 18–9 vs., Sep 26, 1988
• Least goals for in an Olympic match
  • 0–5 vs., Aug 6, 1928
  • 0–7 vs., Aug 11, 1932
  • 0–7 vs., Aug 3, 1948
  • 0–4 vs., Aug 2, 1952
• Most goals against in an Olympic match
  • 10–14 vs., Aug 24, 2008
• Least goals against in an Olympic match
  • 7–0 vs., Aug 24, 1920
  • 5–0 vs., Aug 28, 1920
  • 10–0 vs., Aug 8, 1928
  • 10–0 vs., Aug 7, 1932
  • 7–0 vs., Jul 30, 1948
• Most matches scoring in an Olympic tournament
  • 9, 1972 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive matches scoring in an Olympic tournament
  • 9, 1972 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive matches scoring at the Olympic Games
  • 97, Nov 28, 1956 vs. – Aug 14, 2016 vs.
• Most matches without scoring in an Olympic tournament
  • 1, 1928 Summer Olympics
  • 1, 1932 Summer Olympics
  • 1, 1948 Summer Olympics
  • 1, 1952 Summer Olympics
• Most matches conceding a goal in an Olympic tournament
  • 9, 1952 Summer Olympics
  • 9, 1972 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive matches conceding a goal in an Olympic tournament
  • 9, 1952 Summer Olympics
  • 9, 1972 Summer Olympics
• Most consecutive matches conceding a goal at the Olympic Games
  • 108, Jul 31, 1948 vs. – Aug 14, 2016 vs.

See also

• List of United States men's Olympic water polo team rosters
• United States men's Olympic water polo team statistics
  • United States men's Olympic water polo team statistics (appearances)
  • United States men's Olympic water polo team statistics (matches played)
  • United States men's Olympic water polo team statistics (scorers)
  • United States men's Olympic water polo team statistics (goalkeepers)
  • United States men's Olympic water polo team statistics (medalists)
• United States men's national water polo team

External links

• Official website