With over 50 years of experience creating high-performance aquatic equipment, Malmsten AB has focused on water polo, driving innovations that improve precision, durability, and gameplay. From the design of water polo goals to field-of-play systems, Malmsten is not just supporting the sport—they're transforming it.

Image Source: Performance and top effort have been the Malmsten way for over 50 years. Here, Tommy Malmsten coaches athletes in the pool back in the mid-1970s (Malmsten)

Their cutting-edge solutions empower athletes while promoting sustainability and accessibility, cementing Malmsten's status as a leader in water polo worldwide.

2024 in Review: World-Class Water Polo Stages

Image Source: Serbia takes on Spain at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Water polo made headlines this year with the World Aquatics Championships and World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha and the Olympic Games in Paris. Add to that four global age-group championships where teams from over 45 nations competed; 2024 was an extraordinary year for the sport. The action was non-stop, from Croatia's fierce battles to Serbia's Olympic triumph and Spain's first-ever women's water polo gold.

Image Source: Malmsten equipment framing the field of play at the Paris 2024 Olympics (Malmsten)

Amid all this, Malmsten AB played a pivotal role by framing the field of play at each event with their world-class equipment, ensuring optimal conditions for competition.

A Family Legacy of Aquatic Innovation

Image Source: Malmsten Family Photo

Founded in 1974 by Tommy and Margareta Malmsten, the company's journey began with a focus on swimming products like the iconic "Swedish" racing goggles and their revolutionary lane lines. Today, Malmsten AB remains a family-run business led by Christian and Marcus Malmsten, continuing the company's tradition of excellence.

Image Source: Tommy and Margareta Malmsten with their sons Christian and Marcus at the Malmsten AB heaquarters in Ahus, Sweden (Malmsten)

With each new product, Christian Malmsten, the company's COO and Head of Product Design, pushes the boundaries of aquatic technology—especially in water polo.

Framing the Field of Play: Clear Boundaries, Stronger Revenue

Image Source: Malmsten's inflatable advertising floats in place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Malmsten)

In most water polo matches, the game is played within Olympic-sized pools, which are larger than the official water polo field dimensions. To address this, Malmsten designed inflatable advertising floats that clearly frame the field of play.

Image Source: France takes on Spain in the Men's Water Polo Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics (Al Bello/Getty Images)

This innovation enhances the experience for referees, fans, and broadcast viewers by clearly defining the field and opening up additional advertising opportunities. As Christian Malmsten explains, "In the past, only two sides of the pool were used for advertising. With our system, you can sell space on all four sides—benefiting both World Aquatics and local organisers."

A Bold New Look: Colour Innovations for Major Competitions

Image Source: The Alfred Hajos National Aquatics Complex alight for the Men's Water Polo Gold Medal Match at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships (László Balogh/World Aquatics)

Malmsten has worked closely with World Aquatics to bring a bold, new aesthetic to water polo events by revising the rules on colour schemes. Events can customise the field of play's colours for the first time, adding a fresh, modern look to prestigious events like the World Aquatics Championships in Doha and the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Image Source: Serbia and Croatia in play with the Olympic gold in the balance at the Paris 2024 Games (Mike Lewis/World Aquatics)

Christian Malmsten explains, "The rulebook used to be very strict, but now we can think creatively. The results speak for themselves—the new designs add excitement and elegance to the competitions."

Image Source: The World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were two competitions where bespoke color schemes for the line cone lines were used this year, helping achieve a field of play that is better for athletes and spectators alike (Malmsten)

The Malmsten Ball Release: Precision and Spectacle

Image Source: Max Irving of Team USA gathers the ball to start the match against Croatia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Paris (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

A crucial moment is at the heart of every water polo match: the start of play. Malmsten's Ball Release mechanism secures the ball at the centre of the pool's half-distance line, ensuring a fair and accurate start every time. The mechanism serves a practical purpose and adds a visual spectacle by making the ball appear as if it is hovering above the water.

Image Source: Malmsten Ball Release (Malmsten)

"During broadcasts, the camera often zooms in on the ball before the action begins," says Christian Malmsten. "So, we designed the Ball Release using transparent material, creating a sense of anticipation and elegance as the ball floats before the game begins."

Making Water Polo More Accessible

Image Source: Malmsten's portable water polo goals (Malmsten)

While Malmsten's products dominate international tournaments, the company is also helping grow the sport at the grassroots level. A lack of pool time can limit the growth of water polo, but Malmsten has designed portable goals that can be fixed between lane lines in public pools, making the sport more accessible.

"The more we can get people playing, the better," says Christian. "If we improve access, we improve the sport itself. We want to give people a place to consistently play water polo."

Want to know more? Check out the Malmsten Water Polo Press Kit.Â