Analysis of water polo injuries during 8904 player matches at FINA World Championships and Olympic games to make the sport safer

OBJECTIVE: To analyse injuries of water polo players reported during four Summer Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and four Federation Internationale de Natation World Championships (2009, 2013, 2015, 2017). METHODS: Injuries during training and matches were reported daily by the team physicians and the local medical staff at the sports venues using an established surveillance system.