Water polo is an aquatic sport played in swimming pools and classified as an invasion sport. Players aim to penetrate the opponent’s space in order to score goals. Today you’ll learn more about this sport, as well as the biggest names in water polo today.
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Read on to find out who the biggest names in water polo today are!
Biggest names in Water Polo today: historical context
Just like soccer, the world’s most popular sport, water polo has its origins in England.
There are various theories about the creation and development of the sport over the years, but it can be said that water polo is a mixture of various sports, especially soccer, swimming and rugby.
Historical records indicate that the sport emerged at the end of the 18th century, created with the intention of entertaining the public during breaks in long-distance swimming competitions.
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Another line of historians argues that water polo emerged as an embryonic variant of rugby in the early 1800s, first in lakes and rivers in England, and later in indoor pools.
At the time, the London Swimming Club compiled the first rules in a code to regulate the practice of the sport in swimming pools, while the local press was already making the first records about water polo. In 1876, the first official match was played in England.
In the same year, a robust game inspired by soccer was developed in Scotland, similar to the water polo practiced today.
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With the sport becoming popular in England and Scotland, the first international match was held in 1880 between the two countries’ national teams.
In 1885, the London Swimming Association unified the existing regulations and officially recognized water polo.
In 1888, water polo was introduced to the United States, where it became very popular.
As it became more widespread in the United States and Great Britain, water polo was included in the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris.
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Along with soccer, water polo was the first team sport to be included in the official program of the Olympic Games.
In Brazil, the practice of water polo began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The first records of the sport were in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito Santo and Santa Catarina.
The first recorded match was in Rio de Janeiro, on Santa Luzia beach, in 1908.
The first international duel on Brazilian soil took place in Guanabara Bay in 1919, in a dispute between Brazil and Argentina.
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Biggest names in Water Polo today: rules
Water polo is played in a pool 30 meters long and 20 meters wide, with a minimum depth of 1.8 meters.
Each team consists of seven players: a goalkeeper and six field players. The aim of the game is to score goals by throwing the ball into the opponent’s goal.
Main rules
- Game length: a game is divided into four periods of eight minutes each.
- Ball possession: each team has 30 seconds to attempt an attack before losing possession.
- Fouls: there are ordinary fouls and serious fouls, which can result in temporary exclusions of 20 seconds.
- Goalkeeper: the goalkeeper is the only player who can use both hands to touch the ball and is restricted to his area of 5 meters.
- Substitutions: substitutions are unlimited and can take place at any time during the game.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in water polo today are!
Biggest names in Water Polo today (Men – World)
Filip Filipović (Serbia)
Olympic medalist and recognized as one of the best players in the world, known for his skill and vision.
Márton Vámos (Hungary)
Outstanding goalscorer with a strong presence in both the national team and European clubs.
Denes Varga (Hungary)
Another outstanding Hungarian player, known for his versatility and leadership.
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Biggest names in Water Polo today (Women – World)
Maggie Steffens (USA)
Considered one of the best players of all time, captain of the American national team and multiple Olympic medalist.
Ashleigh Johnson (EUA)
American team’s star goalkeeper, instrumental in winning recent titles.
Rosario Martella (Italy)
Influential in the Italian national team, excelling in international competitions.
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Biggest names in Water Polo today (Men – Brazil)
Felipe Perrone
A naturalized Spanish Brazilian, he is one of the most influential players on the international scene.
Adrian Delgado
An important player in the Brazilian national team, known for his leadership and attacking skills.
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Biggest names in Water Polo today (Female – Brazil)
Izabella Chiappini
One of Brazil’s leading players, with extensive experience in international competitions.
Mirella Coutinho
A promising young woman with a bright future ahead of her, already excelling in regional and international championships.
Which countries have the best chance of winning medals at Paris 2024?
On the international stage, the main contenders for medals in water polo at Paris 2024 include:
- Serbia: traditional powerhouse in men’s water polo, with an experienced and talented team.
- Hungary: always competitive in both men’s and women’s competitions, with a strong tradition in the sport.
- USA: The US women’s team is particularly dominant, having won multiple gold medals in recent editions of the Olympic Games.
- Italy: another traditional power in water polo, with strong men’s and women’s teams.
These countries have invested significantly in developing talent and preparing their teams, positioning themselves as favorites for the next Olympics.
Did you like meeting the biggest names in water polo today and finding out more about the sport? Then read on:
