List of Olympic champions in men's water polo

This is a list of Olympic champions in men's water polo since the inaugural official edition in 1900.

Abbreviations

[edit]
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

History

[edit]

Men's water polo tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1900. Men's water polo was among the first team sports introduced at the modern Olympic Games in 1900.[1] Seven European teams from four countries, including four from the host nation France, took part in the competition. The British team was the inaugural champion.[2] At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a water polo tournament was contested, three club teams of seven players each entered.[3] A German team tried to enter, but its entry was refused because the players did not play for the same club.[4] The event took place in a pond in Forest Park, the location of both the Olympics and the World's Fair.[5] Previously, the International Olympic Committee and International Swimming Federation (FINA) considered the water polo event at the 1904 Olympics as a demonstration sport.[3] However, in July 2021, after accepting the recommendation of Olympic historian Bill Mallon, the IOC recognized water polo along with several others as an official sport of the 1904 Olympic program.[6] Water polo was not played at the 1906 Olympics.[1]

As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, men's water polo teams from ten European countries won all 27 official tournaments.[3]

From 1908 to 1920, the Great Britain men's national water polo team won three consecutive gold medals at the Olympics, becoming the first team to have an Olympic winning streak in water polo.

Hungary is the most successful country in the men's Olympic water polo tournament, with nine Olympic gold medals. The team won three gold medals in a row between 2000 and 2008, becoming the second water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak.

Italy and Yugoslavia have both won three Olympic titles in men's water polo tournament.

The Serbia men's national team is the reigning Olympic champion.

Legend

  •  D  – Debut
  •  C  – Champions
  •  C  – Olympic winning streak (winning three or more Olympic titles in a row)
  •     – Hosts
  • Team – Defunct team

Team statistics

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Serbia men's national water polo team celebrated after the gold medal match of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The following table shows results of Olympic champions in men's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 8 August 2021.

Legend

  •  6  – Winning 6 matches during the tournament
  •  4  – Drawing 4 matches during the tournament
  •  2  – Losing 2 matches during the tournament
  •  100.0%  – Winning all matches during the tournament
  •  Team  – Olympic winning streak (winning three or more Olympic titles in a row)
  •  Team  – Host team
  • Team – Defunct team

Abbreviation

  • MP – Matches played
  • W – Won
  • D – Drawn
  • L – Lost
  • GF – Goals for
  • GA – Goals against
  • GD – Goal difference
  • GF/MP – Goals for per match
  • GA/MP – Goals against per match
  • GD/MP – Goal difference per match

Sources:

From 1900 to 1928, single-elimination tournaments were used to determine Olympic champions in men's water polo. The following table shows men's teams that won all matches during the Olympic tournament since 1932.

The following tables show records of goals for per match.

The following tables show records of goals against per match.

The following tables show records of goal difference per match.

Squads

[edit]

The following table shows number of players and average age, height and weight of Olympic champions in men's water polo by tournament. Last updated: 30 August 2021.

Legend

  •  Team  – Olympic winning streak
  •  Team  – Winning all matches during the tournament
  •  Team  – Host team
  • Team – Defunct team
Winning squads by tournament
# Men's tournament Champions Players Returning Olympians Average
Number Number % Age Height Weight
1 Paris 1900  Great Britain (1st title) 7 0 0.0%
2 St. Louis 1904 Water polo was a demonstration sport
3 London 1908  Great Britain (2nd title) 7 0 0.0% 26 years, 111 days
4 Stockholm 1912  Great Britain (3rd title) 7 4 57.1% 29 years, 16 days
5 Antwerp 1920  Great Britain (4th title) 7 3 42.9% 33 years, 279 days
6 Paris 1924  France (1st title) 7 3 42.9% 26 years, 303 days
7 Amsterdam 1928  Germany (1st title) 8 0 0.0% 24 years, 329 days
8 Los Angeles 1932  Hungary (1st title) 10 7 70.0% 27 years, 291 days
9 Berlin 1936  Hungary (2nd title) 11 5 45.5% 26 years, 66 days
10 London 1948  Italy (1st title) 9 0 0.0% 30 years, 203 days
11 Helsinki 1952  Hungary (3rd title) 13 6 46.2% 26 years, 337 days
12 Melbourne 1956  Hungary (4th title) 12 7 58.3% 26 years, 148 days 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[d] 80 kg (176 lb)[e]
13 Rome 1960  Italy (2nd title) 12 3 25.0% 22 years, 363 days 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 81 kg (179 lb)
14 Tokyo 1964  Hungary (5th title) 12 10 83.3% 28 years, 208 days 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 82 kg (181 lb)
15 Mexico City 1968  Yugoslavia (1st title) 11 5 45.5% 26 years, 151 days 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 94 kg (207 lb)
16 Munich 1972  Soviet Union (1st title) 11 5 45.5% 26 years, 351 days 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 87 kg (192 lb)
17 Montreal 1976  Hungary (6th title) 11 6 54.5% 25 years, 333 days 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 88 kg (194 lb)
18 Moscow 1980  Soviet Union (2nd title) 11 4 36.4% 25 years, 117 days 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 87 kg (192 lb)
19 Los Angeles 1984  Yugoslavia (2nd title) 13 3 23.1% 23 years, 362 days 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 92 kg (203 lb)
20 Seoul 1988  Yugoslavia (3rd title) 13 6 46.2% 23 years, 341 days 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 94 kg (207 lb)
21 Barcelona 1992  Italy (3rd title) 13 7 53.8% 26 years, 224 days 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[f] 81 kg (179 lb)[g]
22 Atlanta 1996  Spain (1st title) 13 9 69.2% 26 years, 279 days 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 81 kg (179 lb)
23 Sydney 2000  Hungary (7th title) 13 5 38.5% 25 years, 254 days 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
24 Athens 2004  Hungary (8th title) 13 10 76.9% 27 years, 344 days 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 96 kg (212 lb)
25 Beijing 2008  Hungary (9th title) 13 9 69.2% 29 years, 248 days 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 100 kg (220 lb)
26 London 2012  Croatia (1st title) 13 8 61.5% 29 years, 85 days 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
27 Rio 2016  Serbia (1st title) 13 9 69.2% 28 years, 205 days 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 96 kg (212 lb)
28 Tokyo 2020  Serbia (2nd title) 13 10 76.9% 31 years, 250 days 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 95 kg (209 lb)
# Men's tournament Champions Number Number % Age Height Weight
Players Returning Olympians Average

Sources:

The following tables show records of the number of returning Olympians.

Records – number of returning Olympians
(in descending order)
Rk Year Champions Players Returning Olympians
Number Number %
1 1964  Hungary (5th title) 12 10 83.3%
2 2004  Hungary (8th title) 13 10 76.9%
2020  Serbia (2nd title) 13 10 76.9%
4 1932  Hungary (1st title) 10 7 70.0%
5 1996  Spain (1st title) 13 9 69.2%
2008  Hungary (9th title) 13 9 69.2%
2016  Serbia (1st title) 13 9 69.2%
Records – number of returning Olympians
(in ascending order)
Rk Year Champions Players Returning Olympians
Number Number %
1 1948  Italy (1st title) 9 0 0.0%
2 1928  Germany (1st title) 8 0 0.0%
3 1900  Great Britain (1st title) 7 0 0.0%
1908  Great Britain (2nd title) 7 0 0.0%
5 1984  Yugoslavia (2nd title) 13 3 23.1%

The following tables show records of average age.

The following tables show records of average height.

The following tables show records of average weight.

Olympic and world champions (teams)

[edit]

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic titles (in descending order), number of world titles (in descending order), name of the team (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 26 February 2024.

As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, there are seven men's national water polo teams that won gold medals at the Summer Olympics and the World Aquatics Championships.

Legend

  • Year* – As host team
  • Team – Defunct team

Player statistics

[edit]

Age records

[edit]
38-year-old Samir Barać was the captain of Croatia at the 2012 Olympics.

The following tables show the oldest and youngest male Olympic champions in water polo. Last updated: 12 September 2021.

Legend

  •  Team  – Host team

Multiple gold medalists

[edit]

The following tables are pre-sorted by year of receiving the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021.

Ten male athletes won three Olympic gold medals in water polo.

Legend

  • Year* – As host team

Forty-one male athletes won two Olympic gold medals in water polo.

Legend

  • Year* – As host team

Olympic and world champions (players)

[edit]

The following tables are pre-sorted by number of Olympic titles (in descending order), number of world titles (in descending order), year of receiving the last gold medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 11 August 2023.

As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, there are ninety-six male athletes who won gold medals in water polo at the Summer Olympics and the World Aquatics Championships.

Legend

  • Year* – As host team
Male water polo players who won three Olympic titles and one or more world titles
# Player Birth Height Pos Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
1 Tibor Benedek 1972 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) FP 28–32–36  Hungary 2000–2004–2008 31  Hungary 2003 4 2016
Péter Biros 1976 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 24–28–32 27 2016
Tamás Kásás 1976 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) FP 24–28–32 27 2016
Gergely Kiss 1977 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 23–26–30 25 2016
Tamás Molnár 1975 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 25–29–33 27 2016
Zoltán Szécsi 1977 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) GK 22–26–30 25 2016
Male water polo players who won two Olympic titles and two or more world titles
# Player Birth Height Pos Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
7 Aleksandr Kabanov 1948 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) FP 24, 32  Soviet Union 1972, 1980* 27, 34  Soviet Union 1975, 1982 4 2001
8 Perica Bukić 1966 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 18–22  Yugoslavia 1984–1988 20–24  Yugoslavia 1986–1991 4 2008
Igor Milanović 1965 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) FP 18–22 20–25 2006
10 Norbert Madaras 1979 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) FP 24–28  Hungary 2004–2008 23, 33  Hungary 2003, 2013 4
11 Milan Aleksić 1986 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 30–35  Serbia 2016–2020 23, 29  Serbia 2009, 2015 4
Filip Filipović 1987 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) FP 29–34 22, 28
Stefan Mitrović 1988 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) FP 28–33 21, 27
Duško Pijetlović 1985 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 31–36 24, 30
Gojko Pijetlović 1983 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) GK 33–38 25, 32
Andrija Prlainović 1987 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) FP 29–34 22, 28
# Player Birth Height Pos Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships
Male water polo players who won two Olympic titles and a world title
# Player Birth Height Pos Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
17 Aleksei Barkalov 1946 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) FP 26, 34  Soviet Union 1972, 1980* 29  Soviet Union 1975 3 1993
18 Dragan Andrić 1962 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 22–26  Yugoslavia 1984–1988 24  Yugoslavia 1986 3
Veselin Đuho 1960 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) FP 24–28 26
Deni Lušić 1962 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) FP 22–26 24
Tomislav Paškvalin 1961 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) FP 22–27 24
22 Rajmund Fodor 1976 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) FP 24–28  Hungary 2000–2004 27  Hungary 2003 3
Barnabás Steinmetz 1975 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) FP 24–28 27
Attila Vári 1976 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) FP 24–28 27
25 István Gergely 1976 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) GK 28–32  Hungary 2004–2008 26  Hungary 2003 3
Tamás Varga 1975 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) FP 29–33 28
27 Nikola Jakšić 1997 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 19–24  Serbia 2016–2020 18  Serbia 2015 3
Dušan Mandić 1994 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) FP 22–27 21
Branislav Mitrović 1985 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) GK 31–36 30
Sava Ranđelović 1993 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 23–28 22
# Player Birth Height Pos Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships
Male water polo players who won an Olympic title and two or more world titles
# Player Birth Height Pos Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
31 Slobodan Nikić 1983 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 33  Serbia 2016 22  Serbia and Montenegro 2005 4
26, 32  Serbia 2009, 2015
32 Dubravko Šimenc 1966 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) FP 21  Yugoslavia 1988 19–24  Yugoslavia 1986–1991 3
Mirko Vičević 1968 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 20 18–22 2022
34 Daniel Ballart 1973 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) FP 23  Spain 1996 24–28  Spain 1998–2001 3
Salvador Gómez 1968 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 28 29–33
Iván Moro 1974 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) FP 21 23–26
Sergi Pedrerol 1969 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) FP 26 28–31
Jesús Rollán 1968 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) GK 28 29–33 2012
Carles Sanz 1975 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) FP 21 22–26
40 Živko Gocić 1982 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 33  Serbia 2016 26, 32  Serbia 2009, 2015 3
41 Andro Bušlje 1986 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) FP 26  Croatia 2012 21, 31  Croatia 2007, 2017 3
Maro Joković 1987 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) FP 24 19, 29
43 Dénes Varga 1987 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 21  Hungary 2008 26, 36  Hungary 2013, 2023 3
# Player Birth Height Pos Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships
Male water polo players who won an Olympic title and a world title (part 1/3)
# Player Birth Height Pos Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
44 András Bodnár 1942 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) FP 22  Hungary 1964 31  Hungary 1973 2 2017
45 Aleksandr Dolgushin 1946 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) FP 26  Soviet Union 1972 29  Soviet Union 1975 2 2010
Aleksandr Dreval 1944 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) FP 28 31
Nikolay Melnikov 1948 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) FP 24 27
48 Gábor Csapó 1950 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 25  Hungary 1976 22  Hungary 1973 2
Tibor Cservenyák 1948 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) FP 27 25
Tamás Faragó 1952 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 23 21 1993
Ferenc Konrád 1945 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) FP 31 28
Endre Molnár 1945 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) GK 31 28
László Sárosi 1946 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) FP 29 26
István Szívós Jr. 1948 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) FP 28 25 1996
55 Vladimir Ivanovich Akimov 1953 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) FP 27  Soviet Union 1980* 29  Soviet Union 1982 2
Mikhail Ivanov 1958 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) FP 22 24
Sergey Kotenko 1956 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) FP 23 25
Giorgi Mshvenieradze 1960 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) FP 19 21
Erkin Shagaev 1959 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) FP 21 23
Yevgeny Sharonov 1958 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) GK 21 23 2003
# Player Birth Height Pos Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships
Male water polo players who won an Olympic title and a world title (part 2/3)
# Player Birth Height Pos Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
61 Milorad Krivokapić 1956 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) GK 28  Yugoslavia 1984 30  Yugoslavia 1986 2
Zoran Petrović 1960 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) FP 23 26
Andrija Popović 1959 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) GK 24 26
Goran Sukno 1959 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) FP 25 27
65 Mislav Bezmalinović 1967 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 21  Yugoslavia 1988 23  Yugoslavia 1991 2
Renco Posinković 1964 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) GK 24 27
Goran Rađenović 1966 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 21 24
Aleksandar Šoštar 1964 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) GK 24 26 2011
69 Francesco Attolico 1963 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 29  Italy 1992 31  Italy 1994* 2
Gianni Averaimo 1964 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) GK 27 30
Alessandro Bovo 1969 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) FP 23 25
Sandro Campagna 1963 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) FP 29 31 2019
Marco D'Altrui 1964 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) FP 28 30 2010
Massimiliano Ferretti 1966 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 26 28
Mario Fiorillo 1962 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) FP 29 31
Ferdinando Gandolfi 1967 FP 25 27
Amedeo Pomilio 1967 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) FP 25 27
Francesco Porzio 1966 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) FP 26 28
Pino Porzio 1967 FP 25 27
Carlo Silipo 1971 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 20 23
# Player Birth Height Pos Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships
Male water polo players who won an Olympic title and a world title (part 3/3)
# Player Birth Height Pos Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
81 Manuel Estiarte 1961 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) FP 34  Spain 1996 36  Spain 1998 2 2007
Pedro García 1968 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 27 29
Jordi Sans 1965 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) FP 30 32
84 Ángel Andreo 1972 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) GK 23  Spain 1996 28  Spain 2001 2
85 Zsolt Varga 1972 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) FP 28  Hungary 2000 31  Hungary 2003 2
86 Samir Barać 1973 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) FP 38  Croatia 2012 33  Croatia 2007 2
Miho Bošković 1983 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) FP 29 24
Damir Burić 1980 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) FP 31 26
Igor Hinić 1975 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) FP 36 31
Josip Pavić 1982 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) GK 30 25
Frano Vićan 1976 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) GK 36 31
92 Norbert Hosnyánszky 1984 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) FP 24  Hungary 2008 29  Hungary 2013 2
Dániel Varga 1983 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) FP 24 29
94 Miloš Ćuk 1990 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) FP 25  Serbia 2016 24  Serbia 2015 2
95 Ivan Buljubašić 1987 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) FP 24  Croatia 2012 29  Croatia 2017 2
Sandro Sukno 1990 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) FP 22 27
# Player Birth Height Pos Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships

Olympic champion families

[edit]

The following tables are pre-sorted by year of receiving the Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021.

Legend

  • Year* – As host team

Coach statistics

[edit]

Most successful coaches

[edit]
Ratko Rudić coached three men's national teams to four Olympic gold medals.

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), year of winning the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the coach (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021.

There are four coaches who led men's national water polo teams to win two or more Olympic gold medals.

Ratko Rudić is the most successful water polo coach in Olympic history. As a head coach, he led three men's national water polo teams to win four Olympic gold medals. He guided Yugoslavia men's national team to two consecutive gold medals in 1984 and 1988, Italy men's national team to a gold medal in 1992, and Croatia men's national team to a gold medal in 2012, making him the first and only coach to lead three different men's national water polo teams to the Olympic titles.[31][32]

Dénes Kemény of Hungary is another coach who led men's national water polo team(s) to win three Olympic gold medals. Under his leadership, the Hungary men's national team won three gold in a row between 2000 and 2008, becoming the second water polo team to have an Olympic winning streak.[33]

Béla Rajki coached the Hungary men's national team to two consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1952 and 1956.[34]

Dejan Savić led Serbia men's national team to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2016 and 2021.[35]

Legend

  • Year* – As host team

Champions as coach and player

[edit]

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), year of winning the last Olympic gold medal (in ascending order), name of the person (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021.

Only one water polo player won an Olympic gold medal and then guided a men's national water polo team to the Olympic title as a head coach.

Dezső Gyarmati of Hungary won three Olympic gold medals in 1952–1956 and 1964. He coached the Hungary men's national team to a gold in 1976.[37][38]

Legend

  • Year* – As host team
Rk Person Birth Height Player Head coach Total
titles
Ref
Age Men's team Pos Olympic title Age Men's team Olympic title
1 Dezső Gyarmati 1927 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 24–27, 36  Hungary FP 1952–1956, 1964 48  Hungary 1976 4 [37][38]

Olympic and world champions (coaches)

[edit]

The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic titles (in descending order), number of world titles (in descending order), year of winning the last gold medal (in ascending order), year of winning the first gold medal (in ascending order), name of the coach (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 12 September 2021.

As of the 2020 Summer Olympics, there are six head coaches who led men's national teams to win gold medals in water polo at the Summer Olympics and the World Aquatics Championships.

Legend

  • Year* – As host team
Head coaches who led men's national teams to win gold medals in water polo
at the Summer Olympics and the World Aquatics Championships
# Coach Nationality Birth Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships Total
titles
ISHOF
member
Ref
Age Men's team Title Age Men's team Title
1 Ratko Rudić  Yugoslavia 1948 36–40  Yugoslavia 1984–1988 38  Yugoslavia 1986 7 2007 [36]
[31]
[32]
 Croatia 44  Italy 1992 46  Italy 1994*
64  Croatia 2012 58  Croatia 2007
2 Dénes Kemény  Hungary 1954 46–54  Hungary 2000–2004–2008 49  Hungary 2003 4 2011 [33]
3 Dejan Savić  Serbia 1975 41–46  Serbia 2016–2020 40  Serbia 2015 3 [35]
4 Juan Jané  Spain 1953 43  Spain 1996 44–48  Spain 1998–2001 3 [39]
5 Dezső Gyarmati  Hungary 1927 48  Hungary 1976 45  Hungary 1973 2 1976 [37][38]
Boris Popov  Soviet Union 1941 39  Soviet Union 1980* 41  Soviet Union 1982 2 2019 [40][41]

Champions by tournament

[edit]

2020 (Serbia, 2nd title)

[edit]