Six nations competed in the women's tournament with home team Australia winning the gold medal over the United States.

Water polo is now popular in many countries around the world, notably in Europe (particularly in Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Spain), Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States.

According to the WADA, a positive in-competition test results in disqualification of the player and a suspension that varies based on the number of offences.

Hungary is the most successful country in the men's Olympic water polo tournament, with nine gold, three silver and four bronze.

[17] Four players (Manuel Estiarte, Salvador Gómez, Jesús Rollán and Jordi Sans) were all members of the Spain men's national water polo team (1988–2000).

Dezső Gyarmati is the first and only athlete (man or woman) to win five Olympic medals in water polo (three gold, one silver and one bronze).

[22] Filip Filipović, Duško Pijetlović and Andrija Prlainović, all representing Serbia, won four consecutive Olympic medals between 2008 and 2021.

[52] The most recent player to scoring 25 or more goals in a tournament was Alessandro Calcaterra, with Italy men's national team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

[79] Gianni De Magistris is the top scorer for the Italy men's Olympic water polo team, with 59 goals (1968–1984).

Four years later in London, he blocked 87 shots, setting the record for the most saves by a water polo goalkeeper in a single Olympic tournament.

At the 2012 Summer Games, Josip Pavić saved 85 shots, including nine in the gold medal match, helping the Croatia team win the Olympics.

[89][90] Dénes Kemény of Hungary is another coach who led men's national water polo team(s) to win three Olympic gold medals.

[91] Dezső Gyarmati coached the Hungary men's national team to three consecutive Olympic medals, a silver in 1972, a gold in 1976, and a bronze in 1980.

As a head coach, he led the Soviet Union men's national water polo team to win an Olympic gold medal in 1972.

Twenty years later, he coached the United States men's national team to a silver in 2008, becoming the first and only non-European to achieve this feat.

At the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, he coached Serbia men's national team to the Olympic title.

The United States is the most successful country in the women's Olympic water polo tournament, with three gold, two silver and one bronze.

Heather Petri and Brenda Villa, both representing the United States, are the only two female athletes to win four Olympic medals in water polo.

They were both members of the United States women's national water polo team that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012, 2016 and 2021.

Giulia Gorlero of Italy holds the record for the most saves by a female water polo goalkeeper in a single Olympic tournament, blocking 65 shots in the 2016 edition.

At the 2016 Summer Games, Ashleigh Johnson saved 51 shots, including nine in the gold medal match, helping the American team win the Olympics.

[141][142] Adam Krikorian coached the United States women's national team to three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012, 2016 and 2024.

[143][142] Miki Oca guided United States women's national team to three Olympic medals between 2012 and 2024, including one gold.

[144] Greg McFadden led Australia women's national team to win two consecutive Olympic bronze medals in 2008 and 2012.

With the Hungary men's national water polo team, István Görgényi won a silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

[148][149] Spanish water polo player Miki Oca won a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Legend Some sportspeople were chosen to carry the national flag of their country at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

Charles Smith, representing Great Britain, was the first water polo player to be a flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.

[49] Six-time Olympian Manuel Estiarte of Spain was the flag bearer during the opening ceremony at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

[179] Asumi Tsuzaki of Japan took the Officials' Oath at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo,[180] becoming the first female water polo referee to be given the honour.