*Americans seek first official gold medal in Olympic water polo*
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By Sandy Zinn 
SportsTicker Senior Editor 

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The 2000 Summer Olympics may
end up being remembered as a year of firsts in water polo. 

First, the women's competition makes its Olympic debut and
features the United States, host Australia, Russia, Canada, the
Netherlands and Kazakhstan. 

At the same time, the American men will seek their first gold in
the event since three teams from the United States swept the
medals in the unofficial Olympic tournament of 1904. 

This year's men's team is possibly America's most talented ever,
led by star goaltender Dan Hackett, lefthander Chris Hunbert and
the talented trio of Wolf Wigo, Chris Oeding and newcomer Tony
Azevedo. 

The only questions surrounding the American squad are whether it
can play at a consistently high level during the Olympic
tournament and does it have the depth to win it all? 

John Vargas is regarded as one of the best young coaching
talents in the world and could lead the Americans to their first
medal since 1988. 

In their way are six-time gold medalist Hungary and medal
favorites Yugoslavia and Croatia, who are in the same bracket as
the U.S.  Australia and Italy are among the powers in the other
half. 

Water polo is a national obsession for Hungary, which is without
a medal since 1980 despite possessing some of the world's
greatest talent. 

But the Hungarians have refound their chemistry and are the gold
medal favorites after winning the 1999 FINA World Cup.  Tibor
Benedek is considered the best player in the world, and they won
the tournament without him. 

The Yugoslavian water polo program has survived the Balkan war,
the break-up of the Yugoslavian confederation, the Kosovo war
and UN sanctions, so adding a gold medal to their victories in
the 1984 and 1988 Games should not be considered out of reach. 

The Yugoslavians were the dominant team at the Olympic
Qualification Tournament, thanks to their defense, which may be
the best in the world. 

Croatia, the 1996 silver medalist, plays a similar game to
Yugoslavia, in its use of a conservative offense and disciplined
team style that gives up few counterattacks. 

The Croatians are big, strong, fundamentally sound and deep at
every position, evidenced by two club teams being represented in
the European Final Four. 

The host Australians are a talented team and a threat to medal
for the first time.  They finished eighth in 1988 and 1992 and
did not qualify four years ago. 

Italy, which won gold in 1992 and bronze in 1996, plays a
physical defense aimed at wearing down teams late.  The Italians
are guided by Ratko Rudic, who has won three gold medals and a
bronze as coach over the last four Olympics. 

Also a threat in the talented water polo pool is defending gold
medal champion Spain, which is led by five-time Olympic veteran
Manuel Estiarte. 

The Americans are among the favorites in the six-team women's
tournament and are led by Maureen O'Toole, considered by many
the best female player in history. 

The 39-year-old O'Toole has competed internationally since 1977,
excluding a three-year retirement in the mid-1990s.  She is a
five-time U.S. Water Polo Athlete of the Year. 

The U.S., which last month went 6-0 at the Holiday Cup against
Olympic competition, finished seventh in the world two years ago
but has developed into a favorite for the gold medal behind
coach Guy Baker. 

Australia also is a medal favorite in the women's event.  The
host country, which has finished in the top three at every major
international tournament the last 20 years, played a significant
role in making women's water polo an Olympic sport. 

The water polo competition runs the length of the Games --
September 16-October 1.  The women's medal games are September
23 and the men's October 1. 

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