Water Polo at the 1912 Summer Olympics

Water polo had been contested at the 1900, 1904, and 1908 Olympics. The 1904 tournament was unusual and was contested only by American club teams, but British teams had won the tournament in 1900 and 1908. They were favored in 1912 as well, and came through to win the gold medal, in a single-elimination tournament with six teams. Great Britain had to win three matches for the gold, surviving close battles against Belgium and Sweden, before crushing Austria in the final, 8-0. Another tournament was then held using the Bergvall System to determine the silver and bronze medalists. In that system, the losers to the two finalists compete in single-elimination, but France was allowed to compete, although it did not lose to either Great Britain or Austria. The water polo tournament was held at the swimming stadium at Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, a bay in central Stockholm.