Targeted Sport: Water Polo

A VenuesWest targeted sport deeply engrained within history, water polo has faced challenges evolving the game we know and love today. Let's reflect on this remarkable journey.

The history of water polo extends back to the Victorian English Society in the mid 1870's, envisioned as "football in the water". Initially played without goal posts, the objective was to swim with the ball and place it on a floating platform.? In 1880, William Wilson, a Scottish Swimming Coach significantly evolved the game's rules, including the introduction of the inflatable ball and goals in the water.

The sport is governed by FINA, the world aquatic body, is played in more than 100 countries and is the longest-standing team sport in the Olympic games. Despite this longevity at the Olympics, it took some time for women to have the chance to compete at Olympic level.

While men's water polo debuted in the Paris 1900 Olympics, it took nearly eight decades for women to gain recognition. Women fought tirelessly, staging protests and lobbying officials to acknowledge their rightful place on the Olympic stage.

VenuesWest has been at the forefront of hosting prestigious water polo events, including the 1998 World Aquatic Championships at HBF Stadium, formally known as Challenge Stadium, where the women's team achieved a commendable 3rd place.

Finally, a historic moment, women's water polo made its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000, a century after the sport's Olympic inception. A testament to the women who fought for their rights in the sport they dedicated their lives to perusing.

The Australian women's team left an indelible mark by winning gold in sport's women's Olympic debut. This triumph was about more than just the medal after the long fight to have the women's game recognised internationally.

At VenuesWest, we're proud to host world class athletes who represent Australia at an international level. Former VenuesWest brand ambassador Zoe Arancini recently captained Australia at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, and was joined by fellow West Aussies Sofie Pontre and Genevieve Longman in the team.

For the Sharks, George Ford, John Hedges, Luke Pavilard and Tim Putt were all selected. Ford and Putt train regularly at the water polo pool at HBF Stadium with UWA.

The Stingers placed sixth in Doha in 2024, while the Sharks placed 11th. Sharks Head Coach Tim Hamill said: “We’re probably one of the few teams in the world that has been really happy to have three World Championships in back-to-back years, as we need as many international games as we can leading into Paris."

With less than 150 days until the 2024 Paris Olympics, excitement is building as both men's and women's teams gear up for their most crucial training period yet.?

For more information and to join us in celebrating the spirit of women in water polo, visit Sydney 2000: The incredible story behind Australia's Women's Water Polo gold medal at the Sydney Olympics | Sporting News Australia

?