Maica Garcia Godoy of Team Spain celebrates a goal in the Women's Semifinal match between Team Netherlands and Team Spain. Getty Images

The Spanish women's national team won the Olympic gold medal with a victory over Australia with a score of (11-9) becoming the fifth team to win a gold medal in this discipline. The Netherlands won the bronze (11-10) against the United States.

The match started with a lot of intensity. Spain began by missing several attacks, causing Australia to be the first to break the scoreless score. That short space of less than a minute would be the only stretch of the match in which Spain was behind, as quickly Paula Leiton and Elena Ruiz scored goals, putting a (2-1) on the scoreboard before the 4th minute was reached.

Later Australia would score again in the last play, reaching the end of the first half (2-2). From this moment on Spain led ending the second half (2-3) for the European team. 

During the third half, Australia tried to come back but was unable to close the gap after Spain scored several more times. The third period ended (5-7) in Spain's favour making things very difficult for the Australian team.


Paula Leiton and Paula Camus of Team Spain react with teammates during the penalty shoot-out in the Women's Semifinal match. GETTY IMAGES
Paula Leiton and Paula Camus of Team Spain react with teammates during the penalty shoot-out in the Women's Semifinal match. GETTY IMAGES


Finally, the last half was marked by nerves and a lot of intensity with 7 goals scored in that time. However, as much as Australia fought for the gold, Spain secured the victory by finishing the match (9-11) to win its first gold medal in its third Olympic final becoming the fifth country to do so. 

Australia got its first silver water polo medal adding to the two bronze medals and its only gold medal which was won in the event in 2000.



In the battle for bronze, the United States lost a fair match after suffering a brutal comeback by the Netherlands. The match was dominated by the American team, which after a very good first and second half (3-2) and (7-3), saw them take a very advantageous position.

The Netherlands kept their eyes on the prize and in the third period managed to close the gap to 9-6. The United States maintained their 3-goal advantage into the final period looking likely to assure them the victory but against all odds the European team made an epic comeback.

The Netherlands scored five goals to the USA's one meaning the Netherlands took the bronze with a (10-11).

It means that the United States not only lost its streak of winning gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020) but also ended its historic record of being the only team to have won medals in all past editions of women's water polo.