2005. Montreal: The golden Women's team of Hungary

The Women’s team of Hungary Gold winner in Montreal 2005 FINA World Championships. The Hungarian team coached by the legendary Tamás Faragó: Patricia Horvath, Eszter Tomaskovics, Khrisctina Serfozo, Dora Kisteleki, Mercedes Stieber, Andrea Toth, Rita Dravucz, Krisztina Zantleitner, Orsolya Takacs, Aniko Pelle, Agnes Valkai, Fruzsina Bravik, Timea Benko.  

Ranking. 1. Hungary, 2. United States, 3. Canada, 4. Russia, 5. Greece, 6. Australia, Italy, Germany.

1909: Leicester ladies beat Clapton at Hackney Baths

¨The Water Polo match. The Leicester ladies beat Clapton by 3 goals to 1 at Hackney¨

Source: The Illustrated Sports and Dramatic News, October 9, 1909

1930: Water Polo for Ladies at Stoke Newington

"Water Polo for Ladies (1930)" Filmed at Stoke Newington, London. Mere man's one-time exclusive water sport is now being dived right into by the girls." Source: British Pathe

1922: The Women's team of Magyar Úszó Egylet (MUE).

The Women's Water Polo team of Magyar Úszó Egylet (MUE), Budapest in 1922.
Source: www.huszadikszazad.hu/

1928 : The Champions of H.Z. & P.C. Zian, Den Haag

The Women’s team of H.Z & P.C Zian of Den Haag Champions of Netherlands in 1928.

Source: http://www.gahetna.nl/

1900: Ladies Water Polo match

Ladies Water Polo match at the Ravensbourne Swimming Festival. “First goal for Swansea”.

Source: October 6, 1900 - The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News

1920, Antwerp: The "Hollandsche Dames Zwemclub"

Article by Tony Bijkerk about the Women’s Water Polo exhibition match held during the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games, (cont.): I found another clue in the State-Archives in the form of newspaper clippings from the newspaper De Telegraaf, which stated: “Antwerp, 29 August, The last day: Next two ladies’ teams from Holland  played a demonstration match of water polo, which was very much to the liking of the public in attendance. In Belgium, women’s water polo is not played at all. The intention for this demonstration match was, to try to get women’s water polo on the program for the next Olympic Games. ” The teams were composed as follows: Team A: T. Nijland, Helweg, Wijninck, Van Laar, Maria M. Beisenherz, G. Klapwijk, Knuyt. Team B: C. van Stok, T. Nyland, Van Tol, Evelein, Duykers, Hoogakker, A. C. Bolten. The referee was Mr. Delahaye. The result of the match was a 2-2 tie.”

Source: Citius, Altius, Fortius, Vol 2(2), article by Tony Bijkerk. 

Picture:  http://www.geheugenvannederland.nl/

1920, Antwerp: Women’s exhibition game

Article by Tony Bijkerk about the Women’s Water Polo exhibition match held during the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games : At the first page of the Official Yearly Report from the Netherlands Swimming Association for the period 1920-21, it is noted:  “With great pleasure we may refer in this report, which has to be short even on this particular point, to the Water Polo demonstration match, played in the swimming week of the Olympic Games and which was initiated by the ‘Hollandsche Dames Zwemclub’ (‘Dutch Ladies’ Swimming Club’) and played by some 14-some ladies from Amsterdam and Rotterdam. We are quite certain, that this exhibition has shown a great propaganda for women water polo and we very much hope, that the International Olympic Committee will honor the request of the Netherlands Swimming Association to include women’s water polo in the future program of the Olympic Games.

Source: Citius, Altius, Fortius, Vol 2(2), article by Tony Bijkerk. 

Picture:  http://www.geheugenvannederland.nl/

1929: The team of “Les Mouettes” of Paris

The women’s Water Polo Team of Paris “Les Mouettes” (Paris Seagulls) prior to a match played against “London Ladies” on September 11^th 1929 at Croydon Baths (South London). Among the players of the team features, with the ball, Marie Braun (Netherlands), Olympic and European Swimming Champion in the 1920's.

Source: http://len.eu/ , (Photo: Swimming Times)

1930: Water Polo for Ladies in London

"Water Polo for Ladies” - Filmed at Stoke Newington, London in 1930. "Mere man's one-time exclusive water sport is now being dived right into by the girls." (British Pathe Archive)

Source: http://www.britishpathe.com, Copyright remains property of British Pathe 

Limited

1896: Ladies playing Water Polo in Ireland

A very interesting and unique photo retrieved from the British illustrated newspaper “The Graphic” of July, 25^th, 1896 presenting Women playing Water Polo. The legend says: “Ladies playing Water Polo in the sea at Greystones, County Wicklow.”  - “Irish Mermaids at Sport” . The photo has been taken by Louis Medom.

Source: “The Graphic” July, 25^th, 1896

1924: The Women's team of "Y.M.C.A." Montreal

The Women's Water Polo team of "Y. M. C. A." Montreal, Canada in 1924. (Y.M.C.A. stands for Young Men's Christian Association).
Photo: Wm. Notman & Son© Musée McCord
Source: http://www.musee-mccord.qc.ca/

1997: Art photography - The team of Vouliagmeni

The 1997 Women's team of Vouliagmeni Nautical Club after their 4th Championship title, in a "Fit for Fun" Sports Magazine photo layout by the well known photographer George Kalfamanolis. From L-R: Terri Roupaka, Liana Dima, Niobe Mara, Antiope Melidoni, Alexia Kammenou. Phryne Andrianaki, Gina Roupaka. Alexia Kammenou, along withn twins Gina and Terri Roupaka, went on to coach the team and won two consecutive European Club Championships in 2009 and 2010.

Source: Magazine Fit for Fun 1997

1920's: The ladies team of Donegall ASC

The ladies team of Donegall ASC, Ireland in the 1920's.
Source: http://donegallasc.org/

1947: Women play Water Polo in the Netherlands

Action during a Women’s game between the teams of Hilversum and Rotterdam in the Netherlands in 1947.
Source: Sport Club; Belgisch Weekblab – 25 November 1947

1901: Florodora Maidens “Play Water Polo”.

Source: “The New York Times” of Thursday August 18th, 1901

1901: Florodora maidens “Play Water Polo”.

Extract from “Evening World” of Tuesday August 17th 1901, announcing a Water Polo game of the famous (at the time) Florodora musical sextet. The game took place at the Yorkville Baths, New York on August 18th 1901.
Florodora's famous double sextet, “Tell me pretty Maiden”, became the most successful show tune of its time.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Florodora_-_Tell_me_pretty_maiden.ogg
Source: Evening World, August 17th 1901

2000: Waneek Miller poses for TIME

Waneek Horn-Miller, a Mohawk from Kahnawake, Québec, was a key member of the Canadian Women's Water Polo team that won gold at the 1999 Pan Am Games. Voted MVP, Waneek became co-captain and proudly led her team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Horn-Miller, grabbed national attention after posing nude for the cover of Time magazine.
Source: TIME magazine- Canada, 2000

1902: Women’s Water Polo in Yorkville, New York

Extract from the “Evening World – New York August 18, 1902): Girls Swimmers form Water Polo team and want to be challenged; There are many young women who are expert swimmers and up to a hard, long race, but until recently Water Polo was considered a sport entirely too strenuous for the strength and endurance of the fair sex. Water Polo is perhaps best described as a game in which the players almost drown each other.
And yet up at Alex Meffert’s Yorkville Baths, on the East River there are dozens girls who play Water Polo and play it well. Meffert who was an amateur champion and afterward coach and instructor of the famous Knickerbocker Athletic Club, has taught these girls the fine points of the game.......
Source: The Evening World – New York August 18, 1902

1912: Women’s Water Polo camp in Peterborough

Action during a Women Water Polo game held at Dr. Sargent’s camp for girls in Peterborough, New Hampshire in 1912.
Source: private collection