Unofficial 2012 Olympic Guides: USA Water Polo

By Kyle Richardson

This is your complete guide to Water Polo at the London Summer Olympics. Learn about water polo, who is on the American Olympic team and who to expect in the fight for the podium. This guide is your complete insider look at Water Polo in the 2012 London Olympics. Includes tips on how to become an Olympic Water Polo player!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kyle Richardson
• Release date: Jul 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476124124

Kyle Richardson

Kyle Richardson is an Olympic fanatic. During the 1996 Games he gave himself a bladder infection because he did not want to leave the couch. Overshare? Maybe. Or maybe it is just a preview of all of the amazing Olympic facts that you will find in his guide books. Be brave, buy a book, and find out for yourself.

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BRIEF HISTORY

Water polo was developed in England and the United States as two differing sports. The American version had players riding on floating barrels that resembled mock horses, swinging at the ball with mallet-like sticks. The English version of water polo was more like rugby played in the water. Ultimately, the less dangerous European style predominated, and today this is the version of the game practiced universally.

In 1880, rules were introduced in Scotland to shift the game's focus to skill over force. A bigger ball, similar to a soccer ball, was used, nets were introduced, and players could no longer tackle opponents who did not have possession of the ball. Even with these changes, water polo grew in immense popularity as spectators enjoyed watching the physical matches.

Water polo made its Olympic debut at the 1900 Paris Games where it was one of the first five team sports ever played in the Olympic Games. Water Polo was not included in the 1904 St. Louis Games but has been present at each of summer the Olympic Games since then. Women’s water polo made its first official debut at the 2000 Sydney Games.

OLYMPIC HISTORICAL MOMENT

The 1956 Melbourne Games were staged a month after the Hungarian Revolution began. As fate would have it Hungary and the Soviet Union water polo teams were pitted against each other at the semi-final match. The confrontation was the most bloody and violent water polo game in history, later deemed the Blood in the Water match. The Hungarians defeated the Soviets 4-0 before the game was called off in the final minute. This was to prevent angry Hungarians in the crowd from rioting after Hungarian player Ervin Zádor emerged from the pool with a bloody gash under his eye from being punched in the face by