Water Polo History

Water polo is a fun game or activity for any age level to play. The sport has a long history and has come a long way throughout the years! Read more to learn about the history of water polo.

Water Polo History Key Facts and Timeline

• Water polo is first played in England in the mid to late nineteenth century
• William Wilson creates what became known as the Scottish rules of water polo around the beginning of the 1880s
• John Robinson brings the sport of water polo to the United States in 1888 where a slightly different version of the game begins
• Water polo become the first team sport included in the Olympics in 1900
• FINA, the governing body of all water sports, adopts the Scottish rules as the international rules of the sport
• The United States finally begins to play by the sanctioned international rules by the end of 1914
• Women do not compete in the sport of water polo in Olympic competition until the 2000 Sydney Games
• The sport of water polo continues to grow to this day and is most certainly a global game