Water polo at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Yugoslavia won gold; United States silver; Soviet Union bronze.
Water polo at the 1988 Summer Olympics was part of the swimming sport, alongside swimming and diving, as all three were governed by the same federation, FINA. The competition consisted of a single event: the men's team tournament.
- Event
- Men's team competition
- Number of teams
- 12
- Gold medalist
- Yugoslavia
- Silver medalist
- United States
- Bronze medalist
- Soviet Union
- Fourth place
- West Germany
Quick Facts
- Event
- Water polo
- Games
- 1988 Summer
- Venue
- Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool
- Dates
- 21 September – 1 October 1988
- Competitors
- 156
- Nations
- 12
- Gold
- YUG · 1988 Summer
- Silver
- USA · 1988 Summer
- Bronze
- URS · 1988 Summer
- Prev
- 1984
- Next
- 1992
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the preliminary round, twelve teams were divided into two groups. The top two from each group advanced to the semi-finals, while the remaining teams played classification matches for places 5 through 12. Group A featured Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, West Germany, Italy, Australia, and South Korea. Group B included United States, Hungary, Spain, Greece, China, and France. In the semifinals, Yugoslavia beat the Soviet Union, and the United States beat West Germany. The final saw Yugoslavia defeat the United States 9-7 for gold, while the Soviet Union claimed bronze by beating West Germany 14-13.
Reader's Guide
The 1988 water polo tournament followed a standard format: two groups of six, with the top two advancing to knockout semi-finals. Yugoslavia defeated West Germany 14-10 in the semi-finals, while the United States beat the Soviet Union 8-7. In the final, Yugoslavia won 9-7 over the United States. The bronze medal match saw the Soviet Union edge West Germany 14-13. Classification matches determined the remaining positions, with Italy and Hungary tying 9-9 in Group D, and France beating China 11-4 in Group E. The tournament highlighted the dominance of European teams, with Yugoslavia claiming gold and the Soviet Union taking bronze.
Did You Know?
- The water polo competition was part of the swimming sport, not a separate sport.
- Yugoslavia won the gold medal by defeating the United States 9-7 in the final.
- The Soviet Union won the bronze medal by beating West Germany 14-13.
- Twelve teams competed in the men's tournament.
- In the semifinals, Yugoslavia defeated the Soviet Union and the United States defeated West Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the men's water polo gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics?
Yugoslavia claimed the top spot in the 1988 Olympic water polo tournament, edging out the United States for silver and the Soviet Union for bronze.
How many teams competed in water polo at the 1988 Summer Olympics?
Twelve national teams took part in the single men's team event held in Seoul.
Was there a women's water polo event at the 1988 Olympics?
No. The 1988 Games featured only the men's team tournament; women's water polo would not appear on the Olympic program until 2000.
Which countries finished in the top four of the 1988 Olympic water polo standings?
Yugoslavia took gold, the United States earned silver, the Soviet Union secured bronze, and West Germany placed fourth.
Which federation governed the water polo competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics?
FINA, the international body that also oversees swimming and diving, administered the water polo event as part of its broader aquatics portfolio.
More in Water polo at the Summer Olympics 1-24
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