Nickname(s) Sharks Appearances 16 (first in 1948) Appearances 16 (first in 1973) Head coach Elvis Fatović | FINA code AUS Best result 5th place (1984, 1992) | |
Asst coach Paul ObermanChristopher Wybrow Confederation Oceania Swimming Association Similar Japan men's national water polo team, United States men's national water polo team, Serbia men's national water polo team | ||
The Australian national water polo team represents Australia in men's international water polo competitions and is controlled by Australian Water Polo Inc. The national men's team has the nickname of "The Sharks". It is organised into the Asia/Oceania regional group. The national team is sponsored by Qantas airlines, Turbo Water polo and Mikasa Sports.
Contents
History
Australia has competed internationally since the 1948 London Olympic Games, and has qualified for all subsequent Olympic tournaments except Atlanta in 1996, and although not achieving the success of European teams, has remained relatively competitive at international level since.
In 1968, the team qualified to compete at the Mexico Olympic Games, but was denied entry by the Australian Olympic Federation.
Australia scored their first point in Olympic competition when they drew with Bulgaria in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
The Australian team placed 5th in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, the highest Olympic placing so far, and finished 4th in the World Championships at home in Perth in 1998.
Australia's best international water polo success came in 1996, when the Sharks won the six-nation Control Cup in Hungary, and followed it up with a bronze medal at an eight nation tournament in Italy in the same year. However, they failed to qualify for that year's Olympics for the first time since 1948.
A reinvigorated youthful team managed to finish second to Canada in an international tournament in England in 2002, and in 2003, they beat then world champions Serbia 12–11 in a FINA Water Polo World League match in Hungary, and followed it up by beating Croatia 10–6 at the 2003 Water polo World Championship in Barcelona, Spain.
The first history of the sport in Australia was launched in February 2009, under the title 'Water Warriors: Chronicle of Australian Water Polo', by Dr. Tracy Rockwell. The 592 page publication features over 1,300 images and is an in-depth reference on water polo in Australia from its very first match in 1879 to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. An updated edition is being planned.
Tournament history
A red box around the year indicates tournaments played within Australia
World Championship
FINA World Cup
FINA World League
Current squad
The following is the Australian roster in the men's water polo tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Nathan Power was originally named, but was replaced by Tyler Martin after injuring his hand during a pre-games training camp in Croatia.
Head coach: Elvis Fatović