22/08/2025
Since Paris 1900, men’s Water Polo has held the distinction of being the first Olympic team sport. Its tradition has continued across every era, with the FINA World Championships adding a global stage since their inaugural edition in Belgrade, 1973.
Across more than a century of competition, only twenty athletes have reached the highest mark of Olympic longevity.
Manuel Estiarte (ESP) stands apart as the only player to appear in six Olympic Games. Close behind him, nineteen others have competed five times, representing different countries and generations of the sport.
Among them, Hungary’s Dezső Gyarmati is unique: the only water polo player to win five Olympic medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). Together, they remain lasting examples of endurance, excellence, and commitment in Olympic Water Polo.
6-Time Olympians
Manuel Estiarte (ESP)
Clubs: CN Manresa, CN Barcelona, RN Savona (ITA), CN Pescara (ITA), CN Atlètic-Barceloneta.
Olympics: 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992🥈, 1996🥇, 2000.
5-Time Olympians
Paul Radmilovic (GBR)
Club: Weston-super-Mare SC.
Olympics: 1908🥇, 1912🥇, 1920🥇, 1924, 1928.
Dezső Gyarmati (HUN)
Clubs: Ferencvárosi TC, Újpesti TE.
Olympics: 1948🥈, 1952🥇, 1956🥇, 1960🥉 , 1964🥇.
Gianni De Magistris (ITA)
Club: RN Florentia.
Olympics: 1968, 1972, 1976🥈, 1980, 1984.
Jordi Sans (ESP)
Clubs: CN Barcelona, CN Atlètic-Barceloneta.
Olympics: 1984, 1988, 1992🥈, 1996🥇, 2000.
Georgios Mavrotas (GRE)
Club: Vouliagmeni NC.
Olympics: 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000.
Salvador Gómez (ESP)
Clubs: CN Barcelona, CN Atlètic-Barceloneta.
Olympics: 1988, 1992🥈, 1996🥇, 2000, 2004.
Jesús Rollán (ESP)
Clubs: CN Catalunya, CN Atlètic-Barceloneta, RN Florentia (ITA), Pro Recco (ITA).
Olympics: 1988, 1992🥈, 1996🥇, 2000, 2004.
Tibor Benedek (HUN)
Clubs: Újpesti TE, Pro Recco (ITA), Domino-Honvéd, AS Roma Pallanuoto (ITA).
Olympics: 1992, 1996, 2000🥇, 2004🥇, 2008🥇.
Tamás Kásás (HUN)
Clubs: Vasas SC, Posillipo (ITA), Pro Recco (ITA).
Olympics: 1996, 2000🥇, 2004🥇, 2008🥇, 2012.
Igor Hinić (CRO)
Clubs: VK Primorje, Brescia (ITA), Como (ITA).
Olympics: 1996🥉, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012🥇.
Giorgos Afroudakis (GRE)
Clubs: Vouliagmeni NC, Olympiacos CFP, Panionios GSS.
Olympics: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012.
Stefano Tempesti (ITA)
Clubs: RN Florentia, CN Ortigia, Pro Recco.
Olympics: 2000, 2004, 2008🥉, 2012🥈, 2016.
Tony Azevedo (USA)
College: Stanford University.
Clubs: Bissolati Cremona (ITA), Jug Dubrovnik (CRO), Primorac (MNE), Fluminense (BRA), Sesi-SP (BRA).
Olympics: 2000, 2004, 2008🥈, 2012, 2016.
Pietro Figlioli (ITA/AUS)
Clubs: RN Camogli, RN Savona, Pro Recco, CN Posillipo, AN Brescia, Australia Sharks.
Olympics: 2004 (AUS), 2008 (AUS), 2012🥈 (ITA), 2016 (ITA), 2020 (ITA).
Jesse Smith (USA)
College: Pepperdine University.
Clubs: Panionios (GRE), Ethnikos (GRE), Savona (ITA), Olympiacos (GRE).
Olympics: 2004, 2008🥈, 2012, 2016, 2020.
Xavier García (ESP/CRO)
Clubs: CN Barcelona, VK Jug Dubrovnik (CRO), Olympiacos (GRE).
Olympics: 2004 (ESP), 2008 (ESP), 2012🥉 (CRO), 2016 (CRO), 2020 (CRO).
Maro Joković (CRO)
Clubs: VK Jug, Pro Recco (ITA), Olympiacos (GRE), AN Brescia (ITA).
Olympics: 2008, 2012🥇, 2016🥈, 2020, 2024🥈.
Felipe Perrone (ESP/BRA)
Clubs: CN Barcelona, CN Atlètic-Barceloneta, RN Savona (ITA), Pro Recco (ITA), Jug Dubrovnik (CRO), Fluminense (BRA).
Olympics: 2008 (ESP), 2012 (ESP), 2016 (BRA), 2020 (ESP), 2024 (ESP).
Dénes Varga (HUN)
Clubs: Ferencváros, Vasas SC, Primorje Rijeka (CRO).
Olympics: 2008🥇, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
