The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad and also known as Paris 1900, were an international multi-sport event that took place in Paris, France, from 14 May to 28 October 1900. No opening or closing ceremonies were held.
A water polo tournament was held on the Seine on 11 and 12 August 1900 as part of the 1900 Summer Olympics. Eight teams from four countries, all European, entered the event, although only seven ended up playing. The Osborne Swimming Club of Manchester, England, which has been listed with two rosters that are nearly entirely different, became the first Olympic water polo champions by defeating the Brussels Swimming and Water Polo Club of Belgium. Third place went to the two French-based semi-finalists, Libellule de Paris and Pupilles de Neptune de Lille, the latter of whom entered two teams, but merged them together after the first round.
Maurice Blitz was a Belgian Olympic water polo player during the 1920s. He was born in Île-de-France, Paris. He was the older brother of sporting champion Gérard Blitz, and father of Gérard Blitz who founded Club Med in 1950.
France was the host of the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. France was one of many nations that had competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics in Greece and had returned to compete at the 1900 Games.
Belgium competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It was the first appearance of the European nation. Belgium was represented in France by 78 athletes, all of them male, who competed in 11 disciplines. They comprised 95 entries in 28 events.
Water polo has been part of the Summer Olympics program since the second games, in 1900. A women's water polo tournament was introduced for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Hungary has been the most successful country in men's tournament, while the United States is the only team to win multiple times at the women's tournament since its introduction. Italy is the first and only country to win both the men's and women's water polo tournaments.
Otto Wahle was an Austrian-American swimmer who took part in two Summer Olympic Games and won a total of three medals. Wahle coached the men's US swim team at the 1912 Olympics, and the men's US water polo team at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics.
John Arthur Jarvis was an English competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain in three Olympic Games, and was a well-known amateur athlete of the late 19th century and early 20th century. He participated in Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris and won two gold medals in the 1000-metre and the 4000-metre freestyle events. He also won a gold medal in the water polo tournament.
Fernand Feyearts was a Belgian swimmer and water polo player who competed for Belgium at the 1900 Summer Olympics and the 1908 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in each.
George Wilkinson was an English water polo player who competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics representing Great Britain. He was in the Hyde Seal team when he won the Olympics. Hyde Seal are a Manchester team. He was part of the British water polo team and won two gold medals. The International Olympic Committee credits him with a third gold medal from the 1900 Games, but this is incorrect as he was in England during the tournament.
John Henry "Rob" Derbyshire was an English freestyle swimmer and water polo player from Chorlton, Lancashire, who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics (maybe), 1906 Intercalated Games, 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics. He and Alice Derbyshire founded swimming clubs in Hammersmith.
José Eustaquio Luis Francisco Escandón y Barrón was a Mexican polo player in the 1900 Summer Olympics with the team that won the bronze medal.
The West London Penguin Swimming and Water Polo Club, also known as the West London Penguins, is a British water polo and masters swimming club with history dating back to 1916. It was formed in 1976 as the Hammersmith Penguin Swimming Club by the merger of the Hammersmith Ladies Swimming Club and Penguin Swimming Club (1921). It states its date of foundation as 1921.
Jean Raymond Henri Thorailler was a French male water polo player. He was a member of the France men's national water polo team. He competed with the team at the 1912 Summer Olympics and 1920 Summer Olympics. Thorailler was given the honour to carry the national flag of France during the opening ceremony of the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, becoming the fourth water polo player to be a flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.
Victor De Behr was a Belgian athlete whose main event was water polo.
Georges Romas was a Belgian athlete whose main event was water polo.
Guillaume Séron was a Belgian athlete whose main event was the water polo.
