This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Yugoslavia men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics .
The Yugoslavia men's national water polo team has participated in 12 of 27 official men's water polo tournaments .[ 1]
Abbreviations
Team statistics
Comprehensive results by tournament
Notes:
Results of Olympic qualification tournaments are not included. Numbers refer to the final placing of each team at the respective Games.
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a water polo tournament was contested, but only American contestants participated. Currently the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Swimming Federation (FINA) consider water polo event as part of unofficial program in 1904.
Related teams: Croatia men's Olympic water polo team (statistics ), FR Yugoslavia men's Olympic water polo team † [ a] (statistics ), Serbia and Montenegro men's Olympic water polo team † (statistics ), Montenegro men's Olympic water polo team (statistics ), Serbia men's Olympic water polo team (statistics ).
Last updated: 5 May 2021.
Legend
1 – Champions
2 – Runners-up
3 – Third place
4 – Fourth place
— – The nation did not participate in the Games
Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
Team † – Defunct team
Abbreviation
FRY – FR Yugoslavia
SCG – Serbia and Montenegro
Number of appearances
Last updated: 5 May 2021.
Legend
Men's team[ 1]
Apps
Record streak
Active streak
Debut
Most recent
Best finish
Confederation
Yugoslavia †
12
12
0
1936
1988
Champions
Europe – LEN
Best finishes
Last updated: 5 May 2021.
Legend
Men's team[ 1]
Best finish
Apps
Confederation
Yugoslavia †
Champions (1968, 1984, 1988)
12
Europe – LEN
Finishes in the top four
Last updated: 5 May 2021.
Legend
Men's team[ 1]
Total
Champions
Runners-up
Third place
Fourth place
First
Last
Yugoslavia †
8
3 (1968, 1984, 1988)
4 (1952, 1956, 1964, 1980)
1 (1960)
1952
1988
Medal table
Last updated: 5 May 2021.
Legend
Player statistics
Multiple appearances
The following table is pre-sorted by number of Olympic appearances (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), date of birth (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
Number of five-time Olympians: 0
Number of four-time Olympians: 2
Last updated: 27 July 2021.
Male athletes who competed in water polo at four or more Olympics
Apps
Player
Birth
Pos
Water polo tournaments
Age of first/last
ISHOF member
Note
Ref
1
2
3
4
5
4
Mirko Sandić
1942
FP
1960
1964
1968
1972
18/30
1999
Flag bearer for Yugoslavia (1972)
[ 2]
Ozren Bonačić
1942
FP
1964
1968
1972
1976
22/34
[ 3]
Note:
Multiple medalists
The following table is pre-sorted by total number of Olympic medals (in descending order), number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), year of receiving the last Olympic medal (in ascending order), year of receiving the first Olympic medal (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
Number of four-time Olympic medalists: 0
Number of three-time Olympic medalists: 0
Last updated: 1 May 2021.
Note:
Top goalscorers
The following table is pre-sorted by number of total goals (in descending order), year of the last Olympic appearance (in ascending order), year of the first Olympic appearance (in ascending order), name of the player (in ascending order), respectively.
Number of goalscorers (50+ goals): 0
Number of goalscorers (40–49 goals): 0
Number of goalscorers (30–39 goals): 3
Last updated: 1 April 2021.
Male players with 30 or more goals at the Olympics
Rk
Player
Birth
L/R
Total goals
Water polo tournaments (goals)
Age of first/last
ISHOF member
Note
Ref
1
2
3
4
5
1
Zoran Janković
1940
34
1964 (6)
1968 (21)
1972 (7)
24/32
2004
[ 4]
2
Mirko Sandić
1942
Right
31
1960 (3)
1964 (6)
1968 (17)
1972 (5)
18/30
1999
Flag bearer for Yugoslavia (1972)
[ 5] [ 2]
3
Uroš Marović
1946
30
1968 (10)
1972 (8)
1976 (12)
22/30
[ 6]
Source:
Note:
Goalkeepers
The following table is pre-sorted by edition of the Olympics (in ascending order), cap number or name of the goalkeeper (in ascending order), respectively.
Last updated: 23 May 2021.
Note:
Coach statistics
Medals as coach and player
The following table is pre-sorted by total number of Olympic medals (in descending order), number of Olympic gold medals (in descending order), number of Olympic silver medals (in descending order), year of winning the last Olympic medal (in ascending order), year of winning the first Olympic medal (in ascending order), name of the person (in ascending order), respectively. Last updated: 5 May 2021.
Ratko Rudić won a silver medal for Yugoslavia at the 1980 Summer Olympics. Upon retirement as an athlete, he immediately entered the coaching ranks. During his career, Rudić guided three different men's national teams to five Olympic medals, more than any other coaches.[ 21] [ 22] [ 23]
Ivo Trumbić won the silver medal in 1964 and Yugoslavia's first Olympic gold medal in water polo in 1968. He moved to the Netherlands in 1973, hired as the head coach of the Netherlands men's national team . At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, he led the Dutch team to win a bronze medal.[ 24] [ 25]
Olympic champions
1968 Summer Olympics
Edition of men's tournament: 15th
Host city: Mexico City , Mexico
Number of participating teams: 15
Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
Champion: Yugoslavia (1st title; 2nd place in preliminary B group)
Match
Round
Date
Opponent
Result
Goals for
Goals against
Goal diff.
Match 1/9
Preliminary round – Group B
14 October 1968
Egypt
Won
13
2
11
Match 2/9
Preliminary round – Group B
16 October 1968
East Germany
Drawn
4
4
0
Match 3/9
Preliminary round – Group B
17 October 1968
Mexico
Won
9
0
9
Match 4/9
Preliminary round – Group B
19 October 1968
Netherlands
Won
7
4
3
Match 5/9
Preliminary round – Group B
20 October 1968
Italy
Lost
4
5
–1
Match 6/9
Preliminary round – Group B
21 October 1968
Greece
Won
11
1
10
Match 7/9
Preliminary round – Group B
22 October 1968
Japan
Won
17
2
15
Match 8/9
Semi-finals
24 October 1968
Hungary
Won
8
6
2
Match 9/9
Gold medal match
26 October 1968
Soviet Union
Won
13
11
2
Total
Matches played: 9 • Wins: 7 • Ties: 1 • Defeats: 1 • Win %: 77.8%
86
35
51
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1968 (pp. 812, 814, 816, 817, 819, 822, 824, 826).
Mirko Sandić scored 17 goals at the 1968 Olympics, helping Yugoslavia win gold.
Roster
Cap No.
Player
Pos
Height
Weight
Date of birth
Age of winning gold
Oly debut
Goals
ISHOF member
1
Karlo Stipanić
GK
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
85 kg (187 lb)
8 December 1941
26 years, 323 days
No
0
2
Ivo Trumbić
FP
1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
103 kg (227 lb)
2 April 1935
33 years, 207 days
No
8
2015
3
Ozren Bonačić
FP
1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
110 kg (243 lb)
5 January 1942
26 years, 295 days
No
6
4
Uroš Marović
FP
1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
94 kg (207 lb)
4 July 1946
22 years, 114 days
Yes
11
5
Ronald Lopatni
FP
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
91 kg (201 lb)
19 September 1944
24 years, 37 days
Yes
3
6
Zoran Janković
FP
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
95 kg (209 lb)
8 January 1940
28 years, 292 days
No
21
2004
7
Miroslav Poljak
FP
1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
95 kg (209 lb)
3 September 1944
24 years, 53 days
Yes
13
8
Dejan Dabović
FP
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
95 kg (209 lb)
3 August 1944
24 years, 84 days
Yes
1
9
Đorđe Perišić
FP
1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
80 kg (176 lb)
6 May 1941
27 years, 173 days
Yes
6
10
Mirko Sandić
FP
1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
100 kg (220 lb)
9 May 1942
26 years, 170 days
No
17
1999
11
Zdravko Hebel
GK
1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
87 kg (192 lb)
21 January 1943
25 years, 279 days
Yes
0
Average
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
94 kg (207 lb)
28 May 1942
26 years, 151 days
Total
86
Coach
Aleksandar Sajfert
Sources:
1984 Summer Olympics
Edition of men's tournament: 19th
Host city: Los Angeles , United States
Number of participating teams: 12
Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to the round-robin final pool
Champion: Yugoslavia (2nd title; 1st place in preliminary A group; 1st place in final D group)
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1984 (pp. 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533).
Sources:
1988 Summer Olympics
Edition of men's tournament: 20th
Host city: Seoul , South Korea
Number of participating teams: 12
Competition format: Round-robin pools advanced teams to classification matches
Champion: Yugoslavia (3rd title; 1st place in preliminary B group)
Source: Official Reports (PDF): 1988 (pp. 593, 594, 595, 597).
Sources:
Water polo people at the opening and closing ceremonies
Flag bearers
Some sportspeople were chosen to carry the national flag of their country at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games . As of the 1988 Summer Olympics, three male water polo players were given the honour to carry the flag for Yugoslavia .
Legend
2008 O – Opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2012 C – Closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics
Flag bearer ‡ – Flag bearer who won the tournament with his team
See also
Notes
References
Sources
Official Reports (IOC)
PDF documents in the LA84 Foundation Digital Library:
Official Report of the 1896 Olympic Games (download , archive )
Official Report of the 1900 Olympic Games (download , archive )
Official Report of the 1904 Olympic Games (download , archive )
Official Report of the 1908 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 359–361)
Official Report of the 1912 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 1021–1024, 1031–1037)
Official Report of the 1920 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (p. 130)
Official Report of the 1924 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 439–440, 486–494)
Official Report of the 1928 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 746–757, 797–807)
Official Report of the 1932 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 619–623, 646–652)
Official Report of the 1936 Olympic Games, v.2 (download , archive ) (pp. 345–356)
Official Report of the 1948 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 537–540, 640–647)
Official Report of the 1952 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 600–608)
Official Report of the 1956 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 592–594, 624–627)
Official Report of the 1960 Olympic Games (download , archive ) (pp. 552–555, 617–634)
Official Report of the 1964 Olympic Games, v.2 (download , archive ) (pp. 682–698)
Official Report of the 1968 Olympic Games, v.3 (download , archive ) (pp. 449–466, 811–826)
Official Report of the 1972 Olympic Games, v.3 (download , archive ) (pp. 331, 353–365)
Official Report of the 1976 Olympic Games, v.3 (download , archive ) (pp. 446–447, 484–497)
Official Report of the 1980 Olympic Games, v.3 (download , archive ) (pp. 458, 495–510)
Official Report of the 1984 Olympic Games, v.2 (download , archive ) (pp. 528–534)
Official Report of the 1988 Olympic Games, v.2 (download , archive ) (pp. 590–598)
Official Report of the 1992 Olympic Games, v.5 (download , archive ) (pp. 354, 386–400)
Official Report of the 1996 Olympic Games, v.3 (download , archive ) (pp. 56–73)
Official Results Books (IOC)
PDF documents in the LA84 Foundation Digital Library:
PDF documents on the FINA website:
PDF documents in the Olympic World Library:
PDF documents on the International Olympic Committee website:
Official Reports (FINA)
PDF documents on the FINA website:
Official website (IOC)
Water polo on the International Olympic Committee website:
Olympedia
Water polo on the Olympedia website:
Sports Reference
Water polo on the Sports Reference website:
Todor66
Water polo on the Todor66 website:
Water polo at the Summer Games
Water polo at the 1900 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1904 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1908 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1912 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1920 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1924 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1928 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1932 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1936 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1948 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1952 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1956 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1960 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1964 Summer Olympics (men's tournament )
Water polo at the 1968 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 1972 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 1976 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's European qualification )
Water polo at the 1980 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's European qualification , men's world qualification )
Water polo at the 1984 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 1988 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 1992 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 1996 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 2012 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 2016 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 2020 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
Water polo at the 2024 Summer Olympics (men's tournament , men's qualification )
ISHOF
International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) website:
External links
Yugoslavia squads – Summer Olympics
General Tournaments
Qualifications
Squads
Statistics
Miscellaneous