Water polo at the 1952 Summer Olympics

Water polo
at the Games of the XV Olympiad
VenuesHelsinki Swimming Stadium
Date25 July – 2 August 1952
Competitors191 from 21 nations
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s)  Hungary
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Yugoslavia
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Italy
← 1948
1956 →

Final results for the water polo tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics.[1][2]

Medal summary

Gold Silver Bronze
 Hungary[1]
Róbert Antal
Antal Bolvári
Dezső Fábián
Dezső Gyarmati
István Hasznos
László Jeney
György Kárpáti
Dezső Lemhényi
Kálmán Markovits
Miklós Martin
Károly Szittya
István Szivós
György Vizvári 		 Yugoslavia
Veljko Bakašun
Marko Brainović
Vladimir Ivković
Zdravko Ježić
Zdravko-Ćiro Kovačić
Ivo Kurtini
Lovro Radonjić
Ivo Štakula
Boško Vuksanović 		 Italy
Gildo Arena
Lucio Ceccarini
Renato De Sanzuane
Raffaello Gambino
Salvatore Gionta
Maurizio Mannelli
Geminio Ognio
Carlo Peretti
Enzo Polito
Cesare Rubini
Renato Traiola

Team squads

For the team rosters see: Water polo at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads.

Results

Eliminating rounds

In order to reduce the field from 21 teams to 16 for the round-robin pools, two eliminating rounds were used. The teams were drawn into 10 pairs, with one team (Argentina) drawing a bye through the eliminating rounds. The 10 winners of the first eliminating round advanced to the round robins, while the 10 losers were paired again for a second eliminating round. Again the winners advanced to the round robins; the 5 losers of this second eliminating round, however, were eliminated from competition.[3]

First eliminating round

25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Hungary  13–4  Mexico Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
J. Curren (USA)
Scoring by half: 6–2, 7–2
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Egypt  10–0  Portugal Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
E. J. Scott (GBR)
Scoring by half: 6–0, 4–0
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Germany  8–4  Romania Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Voogd (NED)
Scoring by half: 4–1, 4–3
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Belgium  6–5  South Africa Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
F. Roggione (ITA)
Scoring by half: 4–3, 2–2
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Yugoslavia  10–2  Australia Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
A. Weghofer (AUT)
Scoring by half: 4–1, 6–1
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Italy  16–1  India Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
V. Podjukivitsh (URS)
Scoring by half: 4–0, 12–1
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Spain  3–2  Brazil Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
H. Getz (RSA)
Scoring by half: 2–0, 1–2
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Great Britain  4–3  Austria Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
J. Bauwens (BEL)
Scoring by half: 3–2, 1–1
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Sweden  5–1  United States Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
T. Batalle (ESP)
Scoring by half: 2–1, 3–0
25 July 1952 OR p. 599 Netherlands  3–2  Soviet Union Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
S. Zukerman (SWE)
Scoring by half: 1–1, 2–1

Second eliminating round

26 July 1952 OR p. 599 Austria  6–0  Australia Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
W. Baade (DEN)
Scoring by half: 4–0, 2–0
26 July 1952 OR p. 599 Soviet Union  12–0  India Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
E. J. Scott (GBR)
Scoring by half: 5–0, 7–0
26 July 1952 OR p. 599 South Africa  4–0  Mexico Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
V. Polic (YUG)
Scoring by half: 2–0, 2–0
26 July 1952 OR p. 600 Brazil  6–2  Portugal Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
R. Honikman (RSA)
Scoring by half: 3–2, 3–0
26 July 1952 OR p. 600 United States  6–3  Romania Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
P. Barbieri (ITA)
Scoring by half: 2–1, 4–2

First round

The first round consisted of the remaining 16 teams divided into 4 pools of 4 teams each. Each pool played a round robin. For wins, 2 standings points were awarded; draws were worth 1 and losses 0. The top two teams in each pool advanced.[3]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Italy 3 3 0 0 17 8 +9 6 Semifinals
2  United States 3 2 0 1 16 9 +7 4
3  Great Britain 3 0 1 2 9 15 −6 1
4  Austria 3 0 1 2 5 15 −10 1
Source: Official Report, p. 597
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


26 July 1952 OR p. 600 Italy  4–3  Great Britain Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
A. Delahaye (BEL)
Scoring by half: 2–0, 2–3
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 Italy  8–1  Austria Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
J. Bauwens (BEL)
Scoring by half: 4–0, 4–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 United States  8–3  Great Britain Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
B. Rajki (HUN)
Scoring by half: 3–2, 5–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 603 Great Britain  3–3  Austria Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
V. Podjukivitsh (URS)
Scoring by half: 0–3, 3–0
27 July 1952 OR p. 603 Italy  5–4  United States Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
B. Rajki (HUN)
Scoring by half: 3–2, 2–2
29 July 1952 OR p. 603 United States  4–1  Austria Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
W. Baade (DEN)
Scoring by half: 2–1, 2–0

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Hungary 3 3 0 0 23 4 +19 6 Semifinals
2  Soviet Union 3 2 0 1 12 9 +3 4
3  Egypt 3 1 0 2 7 14 −7 2
4  Germany 3 0 0 3 5 20 −15 0
Source: Official Report, p. 597
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


26 July 1952 OR p. 600 Hungary  9–0  Egypt Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Rigal (FRA)
Scoring by half: 6–0, 3–0
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 Egypt  5–2  Germany Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
F. Roggione (ITA)
Scoring by half: 1–1, 4–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 Hungary  5–3  Soviet Union Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
S. Zuckerman (SWE)
Scoring by half: 1–2, 4–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 603 Soviet Union  3–2  Egypt Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
A. Weghofer (AUT)
Scoring by half: 1–1, 2–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 603 Hungary  9–1  Germany Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Rigal (FRA)
Scoring by half: 3–0, 6–1
29 July 1952 OR p. 603 Soviet Union  6–2  Germany Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Voogd (NED)
Scoring by half: 3–1, 3–1

Group C

The first match between the Netherlands and Yugoslavia was won by the Dutch, 3–2, but successfully protested by Yugoslavia on the grounds that the "referee in this match had shown incompetency."[3] FINA invalidated the match and ordered a replay. Because the results of the match were not necessary to determine qualification for the semifinals (both teams would advance regardless), and because the two teams were drawn into the same semifinal group, the replay was not held until the semifinal round though Yugoslavia's 2–1 win ultimately counted in the standings for the first round group.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Yugoslavia 3 3 0 0 20 3 +17 6 Semifinals
2  Netherlands 3 2 0 1 17 6 +11 4
3  Sweden 3 1 0 2 9 18 −9 2
4  Argentina 3 0 0 3 6 25 −19 0
Source: Official Report, p. 597
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


26 July 1952 OR p. 600 Netherlands  9–3  Argentina Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
F. Dahmen (GER)
Scoring by half: 6–1, 3–2
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 Yugoslavia  9–1  Argentina Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Rigal (FRA)
Scoring by half: 4–1, 5–0
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 Netherlands  7–1  Sweden Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
T. Batalle (ESP)
Scoring by half: 3–0, 4–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 603 Sweden  7–2  Argentina Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
E. J. Scott (GBR)
Scoring by half: 3–2, 4–0
1 August 1952 OR p. 604 Netherlands  1–2  Yugoslavia Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
S. Zuckerman (SWE)
Scoring by half: 0–2, 1–0
29 July 1952 OR p. 603 Yugoslavia  9–1  Sweden Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
J. Bauwens (BEL)
Scoring by half: 4–1, 5–0

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Belgium 3 3 0 0 12 5 +7 6 Semifinals
2  Spain 3 2 0 1 13 10 +3 4
3  South Africa 3 1 0 2 10 9 +1 2
4  Brazil 3 0 0 3 7 18 −11 0
Source: Official Report, p. 597
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


26 July 1952 OR p. 600 Belgium  5–4  Spain Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
B. Rajki (HUN)
Scoring by half: 3–2, 2–2
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 Spain  3–1  South Africa Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
D. Grimaldi (ITA)
Scoring by half: 1–0, 2–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 600 Belgium  3–1  Brazil Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Voogd (NED)
Scoring by half: 1–0, 2–1
27 July 1952 OR p. 603 Spain  6–4  Brazil Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
Y. Ezzeldin (EGY)
Scoring by half: 4–1, 2–3
27 July 1952 OR p. 603 Belgium  4–0  South Africa Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
S. Zuckerman (SWE)
Scoring by half: 2–0, 2–0
29 July 1952 OR p. 603 South Africa  9–2  Brazil Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
J. Kitajef (URS)
Scoring by half: 3–0, 6–2

Semifinals

The 8 semifinalist teams were again divided into pools of 4 teams each. Each pool played a round robin, with the results of the first round games between teams from the same first round pool counting for the semifinals as well. For wins, 2 standings points were awarded; draws were worth 1 and losses 0. The top two teams in each pool advanced to the final; the bottom 2 teams moved to the 5th–8th place classification round.[3]

Semifinal E

The results of the first round Italy–United States and Belgium–Spain matches counted for the semifinal pool.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Italy 3 3 0 0 12 6 +6 6 Final
2  United States 3 2 0 1 14 11 +3 4
3  Belgium 3 1 0 2 8 13 −5 2 Classification 5–8
4  Spain 3 0 0 3 9 13 −4 0
Source: Official Report, p. 598
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


30 July 1952 OR p. 604 United States  4–2  Belgium Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
A. Weghofer (AUT)
Scoring by half: 4–1, 0–1
30 July 1952 OR p. 604 Italy  2–1  Spain Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
V. Polic (YUG)
Scoring by half: 1–1, 1–0
31 July 1952 OR p. 604 Italy  5–1  Belgium Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
V. Podjukivitsch (URS)
Scoring by half: 2–0, 3–1
31 July 1952 OR p. 604 United States  6–4  Spain Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Voogd (NED)
Scoring by half: 2–2, 4–2

Semifinal F

The results of the first round match between Hungary and the Soviet Union were counted as part of the semifinal round robin. The first-round match between the Netherlands and Yugoslavia had been invalidated due to a successful protest. The replay of that match took place at the end of the semifinal pool and was effectively an elimination match: the winner would join Hungary in advancing to the final, with the loser moving to the classification round. The Netherlands would advance if the match were drawn. In the replay, Yugoslavia took a 2–1 decision to advance and eliminate the Netherlands.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Hungary 3 1 2 0 11 9 +2 4 Final
2  Yugoslavia 3 1 2 0 7 6 +1 4
3  Netherlands 3 1 1 1 9 8 +1 3 Classification 5–8
4  Soviet Union 3 0 1 2 8 12 −4 1
Source: Official Report, p. 598
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


30 July 1952 OR p. 604 Netherlands  4–4  Hungary Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
F. Roggione (ITA)
Scoring by half: 1–3, 3–1
30 July 1952 OR p. 604 Soviet Union  3–3  Yugoslavia Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
T. Batalle (ESP)
Scoring by half: 2–1, 1–2
31 July 1952 OR p. 604 Yugoslavia  2–2  Hungary Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
J. Bauwens (BEL)
Scoring by half: 1–1, 1–1
31 July 1952 OR p. 604 Netherlands  4–2  Soviet Union Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
D. Grimaldi (ITA)
Scoring by half: 2–0, 2–2

Finals

The 4 finalists played one more round robin. For wins, 2 standings points were awarded; draws were worth 1 and losses 0. There was also a classification pool for the semifinal losers.[3]

Final

The first round game between Italy and the United States and the semifinal match between Yugoslavia and Hungary counted for the final pool.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Hungary 3 2 1 0 13 4 +9 5
2  Yugoslavia 3 2 1 0 9 5 +4 5
3  Italy 3 1 0 2 8 14 −6 2
4  United States 3 0 0 3 6 13 −7 0
Source: Official Report, p. 598
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


1 August 1952 OR p. 604 Hungary  7–2  Italy Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Rigal
Scoring by half: 2–2, 5–0
1 August 1952 OR p. 604 Yugoslavia  4–2  United States Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
J. Bauwens (BEL)
Scoring by half: 2–1, 2–1
2 August 1952 OR p. 605 Yugoslavia  3–1  Italy Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
T. Batalle (ESP)
Scoring by half: 0–1, 3–0
2 August 1952 OR p. 605 Hungary  4–0  United States Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
S. Zuckerman (SWE)
Scoring by half: 3–0, 1–0

Classification round 5–8

The first round match between Belgium and Spain and the semifinal match between the Netherlands and the Soviet Union counted for the classification pool.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
5  Netherlands 3 3 0 0 16 6 +10 6
6  Belgium 3 1 1 1 11 12 −1 3
7  Soviet Union 3 1 1 1 9 10 −1 3
8  Spain 3 0 0 3 8 16 −8 0
Source: Official Report, p. 598
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.


1 August 1952 OR p. 604 Soviet Union  4–3  Spain Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
E. J. Scott
Scoring by half: 2–2, 2–1
1 August 1952 OR p. 604 Netherlands  5–3  Belgium Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
F. Roggione (ITA)
Scoring by half: 2–2, 3–1
2 August 1952 OR p. 605 Netherlands  7–1  Spain Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
F. Roggione (ITA)
Scoring by half: 4–0, 3–1
2 August 1952 OR p. 605 Belgium  3–3  Soviet Union Helsinki Swimming Stadium
Referees:
G. Rigal (FRA)
Scoring by half: 2–3, 1–0

Final standings

Place[1] Nation
1  Hungary (HUN)
2  Yugoslavia (YUG)
3  Italy (ITA)
4  United States (USA)
5  Netherlands (NED)
6  Belgium (BEL)
7  Soviet Union (URS)
8  Spain (ESP)
9  Brazil (BRA)
10  Egypt (EGY)
11  Sweden (SWE)
12  Great Britain (GBR)
13  Austria (AUT)
14  South Africa (RSA)
15  Germany (GER)
16  Argentina (ARG)
17  Romania (ROU)
18  Mexico (MEX)
19  Australia (AUS)
20  Portugal (POR)
21  India (IND)

References

  1. ^ a b c "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Water Polo at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Official Report, p. 565.

Sources