Water Polo at the 1908 Summer Olympics

Water polo had been contested at both the 1900 and 1904 Olympics. Six teams entered this 1908 event, but Austria and Hungary withdrew, leaving four teams to contest the medals. The British team was a true representative side, with players from four different swim clubs. They eventually won the gold medal, although, because of the draw and the Austrian withdrawal, they had only to play one match, defeating Belgium in the final, 9-2. The matches were held in swimming pool on the infield of the huge White City Stadium, in Shepherd’s Bush, the main Olympic Stadium in 1908.