Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament

The men's tournament of water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing, People's Republic of China, began on 10 August and lasted until 24 August 2008.^[1] All games were held at the Ying Tung Natatorium.

Men's water polo
at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad

Medal ceremony (left Hungary, right Serbia)
Tournament details
Host country	China
City	Beijing
Venue(s)	Ying Tung Natatorium
Dates	10–24 August 2008
Teams	12 (from 4 confederations)
Competitors	153
Final positions
Champions	Hungary (9th title)
Runners-up	United States
Third place	Serbia
Fourth place	Montenegro
Tournament statistics
Matches	44
Goals scored	784 (17.82 per match)
Multiple appearances	5-time Olympian(s): 1 4-time Olympian(s): 10
Multiple medalists	3-time medalist(s): 10
Top scorer(s)	Alessandro Calcaterra (27 goals in 8 matches)
Most saves	Stefano Tempesti (83 saves in 8 matches)
Top sprinter(s)	Pietro Figlioli (21 sprints won in 7 matches)
← 2004 2012 →

Teams from twelve nations competed, seeded into two groups for the preliminary round. 44 games were played, 30 of them in the preliminary round (each team played the other teams in the group). Seven classification games and seven games in the medal round were also played.

Format

The format of water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics:^[2]

• Twelve teams are divided into two preliminary groups,^[3] composed of six teams each, and play a single round robin in each group.
• The first placed team of each group will have a bye. The second and third placed teams will play against each other in a cross-group format. Losers go on to play a series of classification games.
• The fifth and sixth placed teams from each group in the preliminary round play against each other in a cross-group format to determine who will play for places 9–12. These games make up part of the quarterfinal round. The fourth placed teams from each group have a bye in this round. The losers of the classification games in the quarterfinal round will play for places 11–12. The winners of the classification games in the quarterfinal round will play the fourth placed teams from each group to determine who will play for places 7–10. These games are part of the semifinal round. The losers of the classification 7–10 games will play each other for places 9–10. The winners will play for places 7–8.
• Winners from the quarterfinal will progress to the semifinals and play against the first placed teams in each group of the preliminary round. Losers go on to play classification games.
• Winners of the semifinals will contest the gold medal game and the losers the bronze medal game.

Preliminary round

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
Hungary	5	4	1	0	60	36	+24	9	Qualified for the semifinals
Spain	5	4	0	1	52	34	+18	8	Qualified for the quarterfinals
Montenegro	5	2	2	1	43	33	+10	6
Australia	5	2	1	2	45	40	+5	5	Will play for places 7–10
Greece	5	1	0	4	39	56	−17	2	Will play for places 7–12
Canada	5	0	0	5	21	61	−40	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8).

10 August 2008 9:30	Report	Spain	16–6	Canada	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Ciric (SRB), Ni (CHN)
		Score by quarters: 5–2, 4–2, 3–1, 4–1
		Molina 3, X. García 3, Piralkov 2, Vallès 2, F. Perrone 2	Goals	Feltham 2

10 August 2008 10:50	Report	Hungary	10–10	Montenegro	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Margeta (SLO), Caputi (ITA)
		Score by quarters: 3–3, 3–1, 2–4, 2–2
		Dé. Varga 2, Kásás 2, Benedek 2	Goals	M. Janović 4, Ivović 2, Gojković 2

10 August 2008 14:00	Report	Australia	12–8	Greece	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Bock (GER), Chaney (USA)
		Score by quarters: 5–5, 4–3, 2–0, 1–0
		Figlioli 4, McGregor 3	Goals	Ntoskas 3

---

12 August 2008 9:30	Report	Canada	0–12	Montenegro	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Knights (NZL), Pinker (RSA)
		Score by quarters: 0–3, 0–4, 0–4, 0–1
		-	Goals	Vukčević 2, M. Janović 2, Gojković 2

12 August 2008 10:50	Report	Spain	9–8	Australia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Margeta (SLO), Caputi (ITA)
		Score by quarters: 4–0, 2–4, 2–2, 1–2
		X. García 3	Goals	Whalan 2, Woods 2

12 August 2008 14:00	Report	Greece	6–17	Hungary	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Rak (CRO), Ciric (SRB)
		Score by quarters: 2–7, 2–2, 1–4, 1–4
		Schizas 2	Goals	Biros 4, Benedek 3, Madaras 2, Dá. Varga 2, Molnár 2

---

14 August 2008 12:10	Report	Hungary	8–5	Spain	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Ciric (SRB), Chaney (USA)
		Score by quarters: 2–3, 4–2, 0–0, 2–0
		Dé. Varga 2, Benedek 2, Kis 2	Goals	Molina 2

14 August 2008 14:00	Report	Montenegro	10–6	Greece	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Tulga (TUR), Margeta (SLO)
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 2–1, 5–2, 0–2
		M. Janović 2, Zloković 2, Gojković 2, Jokić 2	Goals	Ntoskas 2

14 August 2008 15:20	Report	Australia	8–5	Canada	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Bock (GER), Klopper (NED)
		Score by quarters: 2–3, 2–1, 3–1, 1–0
		Figlioli 3, Franklin 2	Goals	Feltham 2

---

16 August 2008 10:50	Report	Canada	7–13	Greece	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Hart (AUS), Ni (CHN)
		Score by quarters: 1–6, 4–5, 2–1, 0–1
		Graham 3, Feltham 3	Goals	Ntoskas 4, Theodoropoulos 3

16 August 2008 14:00	Report	Spain	12–6	Montenegro	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Chaney (USA), Tulga (TUR)
		Score by quarters: 3–0, 4–1, 3–4, 2–1
		Molina 3, F. Perrone 2, X. García 2	Goals	N. Janović 2, Ivović 2

16 August 2008 15:20	Report	Australia	12–13	Hungary	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Klopper (NED), Rak (CRO)
		Score by quarters: 4–4, 1–5, 4–2, 3–2
		Figlioli 3, Whalan 2	Goals	Molnár 3, Kiss 2, Biros 2, Kis 2

---

18 August 2008 10:50	Report	Hungary	12–3	Canada	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Ciric (SRB), Littlejohn (GBR)
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 3–0, 1–2, 5–0
		Madaras 2, Kásás 2, Biros 2, Molnár 2	Goals	Graham 2

18 August 2008 12:10	Report	Montenegro	5–5	Australia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Chaney (USA), Caputi (ITA)
		Score by quarters: 2–1, 1–2, 0–1, 2–1
		Vukčević 1, M. Janović 1, Ivović 1, Zloković 1, Gojković 1	Goals	Campbell 1, Martin 1, McGregor 1, Woods 1, Beadsworth 1

18 August 2008 15:20	Report	Spain	10–6	Greece	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Rak (CRO), Simion (ROU)
		Score by quarters: 2–0, 3–0, 3–5, 2–1
		F. Perrone 7	Goals	Theodoropoulos 2

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
United States	5	4	0	1	37	31	+6	8	Qualified for the semifinals
Croatia	5	4	0	1	56	31	+25	8	Qualified for the quarterfinals
Serbia	5	3	0	2	50	38	+12	6
Germany	5	2	0	3	33	44	−11	4	Will play for places 7–10
Italy	5	2	0	3	57	50	+7	4	Will play for places 7–12
China	5	0	0	5	25	64	−39	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

10 August 2008 12:10	Report	Serbia	11–7	Germany	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Tulga (TUR), Littlejohn (GBR)
		Score by quarters: 1–3, 5–2, 2–2, 3–0
		Pijetlović 4, Udovičić 2, Šapić 2	Goals	Politze 2, Mackeben 2

10 August 2008 15:20	Report	Croatia	11–7	Italy	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Simion (ROU), Antsiferov (RUS)
		Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–0, 4–1, 2–3
		Bošković 3, Bušlje 2, Marković 2	Goals	Felugo 3, Calcaterra 2

10 August 2008 16:40	Report	United States	8–4	China	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Balfanbayev (KAZ), Brguljan (MNE)
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 1–2, 2–1, 2–0
		Azevedo 5, Beaubien 2	Goals	Wang B. 2

---

12 August 2008 12:10	Report	Italy	11–12	United States	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Brguljan (MNE), Patelli (BRA)
		Score by quarters: 1–2, 2–3, 4–3, 4–4
		Gallo 3, Felugo 3, Calcaterra 2, Sottani 2	Goals	Powers 3, Azevedo 2

12 August 2008 15:20	Report	Serbia	8–11	Croatia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Turcotte (CAN), Klopper (NED)
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 1–4, 1–4, 3–2
		Šapić 4, Udovičić 2	Goals	Joković 3, Barač 3, Smodlaka 2

12 August 2008 16:40	Report	Germany	6–5	China	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Moliner Molins (ESP), Hart (AUS)
		Score by quarters: 0–2, 5–2, 0–0, 1–1
		Savić 2, Schertwitis 2	Goals	Yu 2

---

14 August 2008 9:30	Report	Croatia	13–5	Germany	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Moliner Molins (ESP), Argyros (GRE)
		Score by quarters: 4–1, 3–2, 2–1, 4–1
		Burić 3, Joković 2, Smodlaka 2, Marković 2, Bošković 2	Goals	Politze 2

14 August 2008 10:50	Report	United States	2–4	Serbia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Antsiferov (RUS), Littlejohn (GBR)
		Score by quarters: 0–0, 1–2, 0–2, 1–0
		Varellas 2	Goals	Udovičić 1, Pijetlović 1, Šapić 1, Vujasinović 1

14 August 2008 16:40	Report	China	7–19	Italy	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Kiszelly (HUN), Koryzna (POL)
		Score by quarters: 2–5, 2–5, 1–4, 2–5
		Xie 3, Han 2	Goals	Calcaterra 4, Gallo 3, Angelini 3, Di Costanzo 2, Felugo 2, Mistrangelo 2

---

16 August 2008 9:30	Report	Germany	8–7	Italy	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Brguljan (MNE), Turcotte (CAN)
		Score by quarters: 2–1, 3–1, 0–2, 3–3
		Schertwitis 2	Goals	Calcaterra 3

16 August 2008 12:10	Report	Croatia	5–7	United States	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Simion (ROU), Antsiferov (RUS)
		Score by quarters: 2–2, 1–3, 0–0, 2–2
		Đogaš 2	Goals	Azevedo 3

16 August 2008 16:40	Report	Serbia	15–5	China	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Koryzna (POL), Oshima (JPN)
		Score by quarters: 5–2, 2–1, 4–2, 4–0
		Šapić 9, Vujasinović 3	Goals	Liang 3, Xie 2

---

18 August 2008 9:30	Report	Serbia	12–13	Italy	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Klopper (NED), Antsiferov (RUS)
		Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–3, 3–5, 4–2
		Šapić 3, Prlainović 2, Filipović 2, Vujasinović 2	Goals	Calcaterra 3, Felugo 2, Bencivenga 2, Sottani 2

18 August 2008 14:00	Report	United States	8–7	Germany	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Margeta (SLO), Kiszelly (HUN)
		Score by quarters: 3–2, 2–1, 2–2, 1–2
		Powers 2, Wright 2	Goals	Nossek 5

18 August 2008 16:40	Report	China	4–16	Croatia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing
		Score by quarters: 0–4, 0–3, 1–1, 3–8
		Wu 2	Goals	Barač 4, Joković 3, Đogaš 2, Marković 2, Hinić 2

Classification round

Bracket

	7th–12th					7th–10th					7th–8th
						A4	Australia	17
	B5	Italy	13			B5	Italy	16
	A6	Canada	11								8	Australia	8
											7	Greece	9
						B4	Germany	9
	A5	Greece	13			A5	Greece	13
	B6	China	8
						11th–12th					9th–10th
						11	Canada	8			9	Italy	10
						12	China	7			10	Germany	8

Classification 7th–12th

20 August 2008 09:30	Report	Canada	11–13	Italy	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Rak (CRO), Ni (CHN)
		Score by quarters: 1–4, 3–2, 3–3, 4–4
		Graham 4, Miller 2	Goals	Sottani 3, Gallo 2, Felugo 2, Calcaterra 2

20 August 2008 10:50	Report	Greece	13–8	China	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Balfanbayev (KAZ), Knights (NZL)
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 4–4, 2–0, 4–3
		Ntoskas 4, G. Afroudakis 3, C. Afroudakis 2	Goals	Xie 3, Wang Yo. 2

Classification 11th–12th

22 August 2008 09:30	Report	Canada	8–7	China	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Koryzna (POL), Argyros (GRE)
		Score by quarters: 1–1, 3–1, 1–2, 3–3
		Boyd 2, Sayegh 2	Goals	Yu 2, Han 2

Classification 7th–10th

22 August 2008 10:50	Report	Australia	17–16 (OT)	Italy	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Moliner Molins (ESP), Chaney (USA)
		Score by quarters: 4–2, 1–5, 4–0, 1–3  OT: 0–1, 3–2, 4–3 (PS)
		McGregor 3, Franklin 2, Figlioli 2, Maitland 2, Martin 2, Whalan 2	Goals	Calcaterra 6, Gallo 2, Felugo 2, Angelini 2, Sottani 2

22 August 2008 17:00	Report	Germany	9–13	Greece	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Ciric (SRB), Patelli (BRA)
		Score by quarters: 3–3, 1–3, 2–4, 3–3
		Nossek 3, Schertwitis 2, Kreuzmann 2	Goals	Ntoskas 6, Schizas 3, Theodoropoulos 2

Classification 9th–10th

24 August 2008 09:30	Report	Italy	10–8	Germany	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Rak (CRO), Hart (AUS)
		Score by quarters: 4–3, 1–1, 1–1, 4–3
		Calcaterra 5, Gallo 2, Angelini 2	Goals	Savic 2, Schertwitis 2, Schlotterbeck 2

Classification 7th–8th

24 August 2008 10:50	Report	Australia	8–9	Greece	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Simion (ROU), Pinker (RSA)
		Score by quarters: 2–3, 2–2, 3–1, 1–3
		Figlioli 3, Campbell 2, Martin 2	Goals	Schizas 2, C. Afroudakis 2

Medal round

Bracket

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Gold medal game

A1

Hungary

11

B2

Croatia

6

A3

Montenegro

9

A3

Montenegro

7

Hungary

14

United States

10

B1

United States

10

A2

Spain

5

B3

Serbia

5

B3

Serbia

9

5th–6th

Bronze medal game

5

Spain

11

Serbia

6

6

Croatia

9

4

Montenegro

4

Quarterfinals

20 August 2008 16:00	Report	Montenegro	7–6	Croatia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Tulga (TUR), Bock (GER)
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 2–3, 1–0, 1–2
		N. Janović 2, Ivović 2, Gojković 2	Goals	Hinić 2

20 August 2008 17:20	Report	Spain	5–9	Serbia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijinb Referees: Turcotte (CAN), Klopper (NED)
		Score by quarters: 1–0, 1–5, 1–2, 2–2
		Molina 2	Goals	Pijetlović 4, Ćirić 2, Vujasinović 2

Classification 5th–6th

24 August 2008 13:00	Report	Croatia	9–11	Spain	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Chaney (USA), Kiszelly (HUN)
		Score by quarters: 2–0, 3–5, 1–3, 3–3
		Bušlje 2, Đogaš 2	Goals	X. García 4, Minguell 3, F. Perrone 2

Semifinals

22 August 2008 18:20	Report	Hungary	11–9	Montenegro	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Simion (ROU), Tulga (TUR)
		Score by quarters: 3–4, 3–3, 3–0, 2–2
		Kiss 3, Madaras 2	Goals	N. Janović 2, Uskoković 2, Gojković 2

22 August 2008 19:40	Report	United States	10–5	Serbia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Turcotte (CAN), Margeta (SLO)
		Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–1, 2–1, 3–0
		Azevedo 3, Beaubien 2, Bailey 2	Goals	Pijetlović 2, Vujasinović 2

Bronze medal game

24 August 2008 14:20	Report	Montenegro	4–6	Serbia	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Tulga (TUR), Margeta (SLO)
		Score by quarters: 0–2, 1–2, 1–2, 2–0
		M. Janović 2	Goals	Savić 2

Gold medal game

24 August 2008 15:40	Report	Hungary	14–10	United States	Ying Tung Natatorium, Beijing Referees: Turcotte (CAN), Brguljan (MNE)
		Score by quarters: 6–4, 3–4, 2–1, 3–1
		Dá. Varga 3, Biros 3, Dé. Varga 2	Goals	Azevedo 4, Beaubien 2, Smith 2

Ranking and statistics

Main article: List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics

See also: National team appearances in the men's Olympic water polo tournament

Final rankings

Rank[1] Team  Hungary  United States  Serbia 4.  Montenegro 5.  Spain 6.  Croatia 7.  Greece 8.  Australia 9.  Italy 10.  Germany 11.  Canada 12.  China

2008 men's Olympic champions  Hungary Ninth title

Multi-time Olympians

Main article: List of players who have appeared in multiple men's Olympic water polo tournaments

Five-time Olympian(s): 1 player

•  Hungary: Tibor Benedek^[4]

Four-time Olympian(s): 10 players

•  Croatia: Igor Hinić^[5]
•  Greece: Georgios Afroudakis^[6]
•  Hungary: Tamás Kásás^[7]
•  Italy: Alberto Angelini,^[8] Fabio Bencivenga,^[9] Alessandro Calcaterra^[10]
•  Serbia: Aleksandar Šapić,^[11] Dejan Savić,^[12] Vladimir Vujasinović^[13]
•  Spain: Ángel Andreo (GK)^[14]

Multiple medalists

Main article: List of Olympic medalists in water polo

Three-time Olympic medalist(s): 10 players

•  Hungary: Tibor Benedek,^[4] Péter Biros,^[15] Tamás Kásás,^[7] Gergely Kiss,^[16] Tamás Molnár,^[17] Zoltán Szécsi (GK)^[18]
•  Serbia: Aleksandar Ćirić,^[19] Aleksandar Šapić,^[11] Dejan Savić,^[12] Vladimir Vujasinović^[13]

Leading goalscorers

Rank	Player	Team	Goals	Matches played	Goals per match	Shots	%
1	Alessandro Calcaterra	Italy	27	8	3.375	51	52.9%
2	Georgios Ntoskas	Greece	20	8	2.500	48	41.7%
	Aleksandar Šapić	Serbia		8	2.500	56	35.7%
4	Tony Azevedo	United States	17	7	2.429	40	42.5%
5	Maurizio Felugo	Italy	16	8	2.000	41	39.0%
	Pietro Figlioli	Australia		7	2.286	44	36.4%
	Felipe Perrone	Spain		7	2.286	39	41.0%
8	Valentino Gallo	Italy	15	8	1.875	31	48.4%
9	Xavier García	Spain	14	7	2.000	36	38.9%
10	Péter Biros	Hungary	13	7	1.857	23	56.5%
	Mlađan Janović	Montenegro		8	1.625	38	34.2%
	Guillermo Molina	Spain		7	1.857	37	35.1%

Source: Official Results Book (page 179)^[20][21]

Leading goalkeepers

Rank	Goalkeeper	Team	Saves	Matches played	Saves per match	Shots	%
1	Stefano Tempesti	Italy	83	8	10.375	169	49.1%
2	Merrill Moses	United States	70	7	10.000	117	59.8%
3	Alexander Tchigir	Germany	63	7	9.000	130	48.5%
4	Iñaki Aguilar	Spain	58	7	8.286	107	54.2%
	Ge Weiqing	China		7	8.286	143	40.6%
6	Slobodan Soro	Serbia	57	8	7.125	93	61.3%
7	Robin Randall	Canada	55	7	7.857	129	42.6%
8	Miloš Šćepanović	Montenegro	49	8	6.125	99	49.5%
	Frano Vićan	Croatia		7	7.000	94	52.1%
10	James Stanton	Australia	48	7	6.857	109	44.0%

Source: Official Results Book (page 175)^[20][21]

Leading sprinters

Rank	Sprinter	Team	Sprints won	Matches played	Sprints won per match	Sprints contested	%
1	Pietro Figlioli	Australia	21	7	3.000	23	91.3%
2	Kevin Graham	Canada	18	7	2.571	23	78.3%
3	Maro Joković	Croatia	16	7	2.286	21	76.2%
4	Tamás Kásás	Hungary	10	7	1.429	12	83.3%
5	Aleksandar Ćirić	Serbia	9	8	1.125	12	75.0%
6	Filip Filipović	Serbia	8	8	1.000	15	53.3%
	Tobias Kreuzmann	Germany		7	1.143	12	66.7%
	Moritz Oeler	Germany		7	1.143	16	50.0%
	Peter Varellas	United States		7	1.143	18	44.4%

Source: Official Results Book (page 178)^[20][21]

Awards

Media All-Star Team^[22]

• Goalkeeper
  • Merrill Moses (70 saves)
• Field players
  • Tony Azevedo (17 goals, 2 sprints won)
  • Péter Biros (13 goals, 3 sprints won)
  • Alessandro Calcaterra (centre forward, 27 goals)
  • Mlađan Janović (13 goals, 5 sprints won)
  • Felipe Perrone (16 goals)
  • Dániel Varga (8 goals)

See also

• Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament