{"id":18243,"date":"2026-07-26T10:14:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T10:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/greece-crowned-water-polo-world-champions-greek-city-times\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T10:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T10:14:08","slug":"greece-crowned-water-polo-world-champions-greek-city-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/greece-crowned-water-polo-world-champions-greek-city-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Crowned Water Polo World Champions \u2013 Greek City Times"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Greece\u2019s men\u2019s national water polo team beat Hungary in the World Cup Water Polo Final in Sydney 15-14 , earning their \u00a0first major international title in the nation\u2019s history.<\/h3>\n

After claiming bronze at the 2026 European Championship in Belgrade earlier this year\u2014ending a long wait for a European medal\u2014Theodoros Vlachos\u2019 side now has banished another painful record by finally winning gold after five defeats in major international finals.<\/p>\n

Greece has established itself among the world\u2019s elite over the past three decades but has repeatedly fallen just short on the biggest stage. Its first appearance in a major final came at the 1997 FINA Cup in Athens, where it lost 8-5 to the United States.<\/p>\n

More than two decades later, Greece was beaten on penalties by Serbia in the 2018 Mediterranean Games final before suffering another defeat to Serbia in the gold medal match at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.<\/p>\n

Further heartbreak followed in 2023, when Hungary edged Greece in a penalty shootout in the World Championship final in Fukuoka, while Spain denied the Greeks World Cup glory in last year\u2019s final in Podgorica.<\/p>\n

Greece\u2019s Major Finals<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year<\/th>\nCompetition<\/th>\nOpponent<\/th>\nResult<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1997<\/td>\nFINA Cup<\/td>\nUnited States<\/td>\nLost 8-5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\nMediterranean Games<\/td>\nSerbia<\/td>\nLost on penalties (8-8, 10-12 pens)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2021<\/td>\nOlympic Games<\/td>\nSerbia<\/td>\nLost 13-10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2023<\/td>\nWorld Championships<\/td>\nHungary<\/td>\nLost on penalties (11-11, 13-14 pens)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025<\/td>\nWorld Cup<\/td>\nSpain<\/td>\nLost 16-14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Greece <\/source><\/picture><\/figure>\n

Photos Copyright Nick Bourdaniotis \/ Greek City Times<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greece\u2019s men\u2019s national water polo team beat Hungary in the World Cup Water Polo Final in Sydney 15-14 , earning their \u00a0first major international title in the nation\u2019s history. After claiming bronze at the 2026 European Championship in Belgrade earlier this year\u2014ending a long wait for a European medal\u2014Theodoros Vlachos\u2019 side now has banished another … <\/p>\n

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