Best Water Polo Teams in the World – FINA Ranking (posted 4 November 2014). Wondering about what the best water polo teams are in the world? Well, you are lucky because we have the list for you. This list is from FINA aka Fédération Internationale de Natation aka International Swimming Federation. This list covers the 2012 – 2014 period.
We’re focusing on the Top Ten Best Water Polo Teams in the World. If your national team is excellent but did not make this list, there’s a pretty good chance they’re very near the top ten.
In fact, we’d like to give a shout out to Kazakhstan, Canada, Romania, Germany, and Japan. These five nations currently occupy the 11th to 15th rankings. Want more water polo Speedo swimsuits?
Let’s begin with the best water polo team in the world according to FINA as of 02 August 2014. The honor goes to:
1. Hungary:
2. Serbia:
3. Montenegro:
4. Croatia:
5. Italy:
6. United States:
7. Spain:
8. Australia:
9. Greece:
10. China:
Observations: 1) What is it about countries from central or eastern Europe (or those formerly within the ambit of the Soviet Union) that makes them so good at water polo?
2) Our friend Kevin made the observation that water polo players tend to be older and bulkier (more thickset?) with more prominent midsections (hehe) than their counterparts who compete in purely swimming events. We get what he is saying because that’s also our initial impression but we are not sure whether this impression is backed by statistics. What say you, fellow Famewatchers?
3) Are you surprised that Great Britain is not in the top 10? It landed in the top 20 though. Team GB earned some points during the 2012 Olympics but, for some reason, has no points in other FINA events like the Water Polo World League in 2013 and 2014 as well as the Water Polo World Championships in 2013. Either the Brits did not participate in these events or they participated but came up with nothing.
4) We are even more surprised that the French are not in the world ranking at all. Apparently, the last time Team France figured prominently on the world stage in water polo is back in the 1920s when it earned a gold medal in the 1924 Olympics and a bronze medal in the 1928 Olympics. Since then, the French became non-contenders in the sport.
Okay, that’s it for now fellow Famewatchers. If you think your team should be in the Top Ten or deserves a higher ranking, you should take the issue with the FINA folks.
Best Water Polo Teams in the World – FINA Ranking. Posted 4 November 2014. Last updated: May 7, 2020 at 10:18 am.