Water Polo
History
The British passion for football ended up leading to the invention of another completely different water sport, played in a pool and with players using their hands: water polo. Before becoming an Olympic sport, the first official match of “water football”, as it was known in the beginning, took place in 1876 - only six years after it coming about as a result of a game developed to be played by guests in a hotel.
It developed at a quickening pace. In 1880, its first international competition had already been held. A drastic change was implemented in 1888: the goal posts were created. Before that, points were scored when the ball went over the goal line. In fact, this detail helps to solve the mystery behind the sport’s name. In traditional polo, points were also scored after the ball crossed the goal line.
Despite only becoming an official sport in 1911, water polo was part of the Olympic programme at the second edition of the Games in 1900, in Paris. For many years, the sport was dominated by physical force and the ferocious behaviour of its players. But little by little, technique started overcoming sheer force. Some rules helped in the process, such as increasing the depth of pools and teams only being able to keep ball possession for 35 seconds.
Currently, water polo is governed by the International Swimming Federation (FINA). The sport’s first World Championship was held in 1973 and won by Hungary, which has been the most successful nation in the sport. However, in the last edition of the Games, the Hungarians only managed to finish in fifth in the men's event and in fourth in the ladies' event. Croatia scooped up the gold in the men's and the United States took the gold home in the women's event.
Curiosities
The dream team of the waters
In water polo pools, no national side is more respected and feared than Hungary. With 15 Olympic medals to their name, when all sports are taken into consideration, the Hungarians are only beaten by one team: The American basketball team. The United States have won 14 gold medals in basketball. The Hungarian water polo team come in second, with nine Olympic titles.
Indeed, Hungary arrived in London for the 2012 Games with the possibility of matching a feat that only the British have managed to achieve: winning four straight Olympic titles. After winning the gold medal at the Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008) Games, the Hungarians had the chance of matching the feat achieved by the British water polo team, who won the first four editions of the Olympics, in which the sport was included. However, the dream turned into disappointment as they finished fifth. It was only the sixth time, after taking part in 21 Olympics that Hungary did not finish on the podium in men's water polo.
Keep it in the family
As a result of its success, Hungary is home to some of the biggest water polo players in the history of the game. In fact, one of them, Dezsö Gyarmati is considered by many the best of all times. As a player, Gyarmati took part In five editions of the Games, between 1948 and 1964. During this time, he helped Hungary win three gold medals, a silver and a bronze. To put the icing on the cake, he was Hungary's manager in their gold winning campaign at the 1976 Games in Montreal.
The Gyarmati family followed in his footsteps. In 1952, he got married to Éva Székely, 200m backstroke Olympic champion in Helsinki 1952. They had a child named Andrea Gyarmati, who also dedicated her life to swimming. At the Munich Games in 1972, Andrea added another two medals to the family’s collection: winning the silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 100m butterfly, event for which she held the world record. To make the story even more successful, Andrea married Mihály Hesz, who also won two Olympic medals - a gold and a silver - in canoeing.
