The water polo competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia saw Hungary’s return to the gold medal platform and the introduction of the women’s tournament. The Australian women had lobbied the IOC hard for the inclusion of women’s water polo in the Olympics, including showing up at the airport dressed only in their swimsuits during one pre-Olympic visit by members of the IOC.
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 was the first to win both the men's and women's water polo tournaments.
The women's water polo tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics was contested between August 16 and August 26 at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. Eight teams qualified for the Games, with Italy defeating the host nation Greece for the gold medal. The United States won the bronze medal.
The women's water polo tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from 11 August to 21 August at the Ying Tung Natatorium.
The water polo tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom was held at the London 2012 Water Polo Arena in the Olympic Park from 29 July to 12 August. The venue's capacity held 5,000 spectators. Twelve teams competed in the men's tournament and eight teams in the women's tournament.
The women's water polo tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London was held from 30 July to 9 August at the Water Polo Arena.
The water polo tournaments at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro took place from 6 to 20 August at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in Barra da Tijuca. Twenty teams competed in the tournament. Games that ended in ties in elimination rounds were decided by shootouts, as overtime has been abolished since 2013.
This article presents the national team appearances in the men's Olympic water polo tournament since the inaugural official edition in 1900.
This article presents the national team appearances in the women's Olympic water polo tournament since the inaugural official edition in 2000.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Australia men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Italy women's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Hungary women's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Spain women's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Netherlands women's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the France men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Russia men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Russia women's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Kazakhstan men's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Canada women's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
This article lists various water polo records and statistics in relation to the Greece women's national water polo team at the Summer Olympics.
Greece 
Hungary (men)
Italy (women)
Serbia and Montenegro (men)
Russia (men)
United States (women)
Australia (women)
