With the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar in February and then the all-important Paris Olympic Games in July, there was plenty to play for with some excellent encounters that shook up the world rankings. Here’s a look at how the year unfolded.
United States of America and Netherlands looked to be the best teams in the world and the Dutch came away with the European title in January while USA was the best in the Americas and for many years, best in the world. However, 2024, was to produce a new world order, especially when Olympic medals were on offer.
It was a year with big events, even more so for the Europeans who had to back up in Doha just weeks after the gruelling two-week European extravaganza. Non-European nations had to fit in preparation where they could pre-Doha and then see how kind the year would be to them.
The biggest event was obviously the Olympic Games in Paris and here the action heated up to boiling point with many upsets.
World Aquatics Championships
Day 1
USA 10 Netherlands 8. The fact they clashed on the opening day was a huge drawcard for the day’s action. The Dutch led early but USA was on top by the quarter break and was 10-6 deep into the fourth before the Dutch pulled back two.
Day 2
China 11 France 10 in a sudden-death penalty shootout. France was looking to be well prepared for its home Olympics. This match helped, although it had to come back four times to secure the 6-6 draw — through Louise Guillet — and the shootout. Both teams missed twice and it went to sudden death with France missing its second attempt after China scored twice.
Day 4
Netherlands 16 China 14. What a goal-fest! All the numbers tied to seven, then Netherlands slipped out to three up on two occasions and four up before China won the last four minutes 3-1, closing at 16-14. The new-look Chinese were back near the top.
Day 5. Quarterfinals
USA 10 Australia 9. From 3-3, USA rolled Australia to lead 9-3 early in the fourth. Then the Aussie Stingers produced a withering quarter that had the score at 10-4 before five goals came in less than four minutes for 10-9 by 0:37, thanks to Sienna Green’s lob. USA hit the cross bar and the final Aussie shot from Bronte Halligan failed to find the target. USA was shaken, but not stirred.
Hungary 13 Netherlands 12 in a penalty shootout. Hungary was all over Netherlands and held 1-1, 4-2 and 5-4 break scores. Goals were traded to 8-7 and nearly three minutes later, with eight seconds left on the clock, Maartje Keuning steered in a ball off the left-post position for 8-8, enough to go to a shootout. Nine perfect shots were scored before Lieke Rogge found the goalie’s hand, leaving Hungary 13-12 ahead.
Day 6. Semifinals
USA 11 Spain 9. USA shot to 4-2, was 8-4 midway through the third period and 10-7 by the final break. Maddie Musselman made sure of the 11-7 advantage, leaving Spain to pick up the scraps for 11-9. USA was one step away from regaining its world crown lost in Fukuoka in 2023.
Hungary 13 Greece 11 in a penalty shootout. Greece was dominant at 3-1 and 6-4, but Hungary levelled at 6-6 by halftime, was 7-7 at the final break and scored a go-ahead goal to Dorottya Szilagyi. Greece regained the lead and it was left to Dora Leimeter to level at 9-9, 21 seconds from time for the shootout. Greece missed its first two and Hungary sent in four to claim the victory 13-11.
Day 7. Medal Finals
Spain 10 Greece 9. Spain was never headed, although Greece levelled at one, four and five and then, when 9-6 down, rolled in a fantastic triple with two from Eleftheria Ninou for 9-9 at 2:50. The dying seconds were mayhem with Elena Ruiz firing a rocket the length of the pool into an empty goal for the winner on the final buzzer. It was the closest winner of the tournament.
USA 8 Hungary 7. USA built on a 3-0 start, was a goal up at the first two breaks, was level at 5-5 by the final break, rammed in three straight for 8-5 and gave up two with the last from Krisztina Garda at 0:57 for 8-7 and the gold medal. USA was back in its rightful place — top of the world and captain Maggie Steffens (above) had supposedly ended her illustrious international career.
Olympic Games
Day 1
Netherlands 10 Hungary 8. Second in Doha, Hungary stumbled at the first hurdle. The Dutch went three up, led 4-1 and then had leads eradicated at 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 by the final break. Two Dutch goals were matched by Hungary by 4:32. However, Lola Moolhuijzen and Bente Rogge closed the door shut in the final 40 seconds for 10-8, the last on the buzzer.
Day 2
France 9 Italy 8. France gained the adulation of the crowd with its first Olympic match win after a hiding from Spain on day one. Italy held sway at 3-1, 6-4 and 7-6 by the breaks before a penalty save ignited France to three straight goals and 9-7 with the sole Italian reply from veteran Roberta Bianconi not enough.
Spain 13 USA 11. USA started in usual fashion with a 3-1 lead inside five minutes. However, by 5:34 in the second quarter Spain was 5-4 ahead and never relinquished the advantage, going 6-5 at halftime and 11-6 with USA clawing back three by the final break at 11-9 down. USA saved a penalty attempt and Kaleigh Gilchrist scored for 11-10 behind. Anni Espar and Paula Leiton scored either side of another saved penalty for 13-10 with the final goal coming from USA goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson from eight metres. The USA bubble had burst.
Day 3
Australia 15 Netherlands 14 in a penalty shootout. The Aussie Stingers grabbed the first of an unbelievable three penalty-shootout victories in Paris. Australia came from 4-2 behind to lead 5-4, go into the final quarter 6-5 up and lead 7-6 with a minute remaining. Bente Rogge equalised at 7-7 off a cross pass at 0:41 to enforce the shootout, which went to an incredible 20 shots, Australia prevailing 15-14 after Moolhuijzen had her attempt saved.
Day 5
Australia 14 Hungary 12 in a penalty shootout. Australia was on top most of the match and at 6-4, Alice Williams had her team handy. Hungary drew level in the fourth and three more Williams goals had the Stingers at 9-7. Rita Keszthelyi and Leimeter made it 9-9 just inside the final minute, to which Australia could not reply, meaning another shootout. Australia was perfect with five while Hungary missed its fourth, leaving it 14-12.
Day 6. Quarterfinals
USA 5 Hungary 4. Hungary led 2-1 at the first and USA 3-2 at halftime. It was tied at four by the final break with the sole goal of the fourth coming from Rachel Fattal from the deep on extra for 5-4, still with 3:02 remaining. Johnson (USA) made an astonishing 17 saves in the process.
Day 7. Semifinals
Spain 19 Netherlands 18 in a penalty shootout. This was a stunning match with Spain in blistering first-quarter form at 6-1. With 10-5 at halftime, Spain was more than happy. Then the Dutch awoke, scoring four, and answered twice for 11-9. Simone van de Kraats and Nina ten Broek levelled for 11-11 at the final break. Netherlands twice scored go-ahead goals, but Elena Ruiz and Maica Garcia gave Spain the 14-13 lead by 0:20. Brigitte Sleeking steered one in off the right-post position for 14-14, seven seconds from time to go to the shootout. Ironically, Sleeking was the only shooter to miss and Spain had the win 19-18.
Australia 14 USA 13 in a penalty shootout. Shootout No. 3 for Australia and in doing so ending the glorious run of a medal at every Olympics for the USA. USA had a 5-2 halftime lead and an Abby Andrews quartet had the match at 6-6 in the third before veteran Maggie Steffens gave USA the 7-6 final-break advantage. Fattal made it 8-6 before two Halligan goals levelled at eight — enough for Australia’s third shootout. Everyone scored in the first rotation and Musselman could not reply to Aussie captain Zoe Arancini’s second goal in sudden death and Australia made it an historic third shootout win and entry to the gold-medal final for the first time since winning the inaugural crown at Sydney 2000.
Day 8. Medal Finals
Netherlands 11 USA 10. USA lost its second match in a row after leading 3-2, 7-3 and 9-6 at the breaks. It was 10-7 at 4:26 before Vivian Sevenich scored on extra and from centre forward, followed by Bente Rogge for the equaliser from the top on extra. Sabrina van der Sloot capped off her career with the winner from the top, one second from time for the bronze medal. USA was oh, so close.
Spain 11 Australia 9. Spain was the favourite for gold and three shootouts had ground down the Aussies. Spain led just 3-2 at halftime, stretched it to 7-5 by the final break and 9-6 and 11-7 by 1:47. Australia was still in the frame, scoring through Sienna Hearn and Williams — her fifth — for 11-9, albeit at 0:19. Spain was the champion for the first time, becoming the fifth nation to claim gold in seven editions.
Summary
We had a new champion in Spain while USA still remains the only multiple Olympic champion. USA went home empty-handed in Paris but does have another world title to its name.
Spain deserved victory after a long period of medals under head coach Miki Oca, the 1996 Olympic champion.
Australia has been knocking on the door and the heroics of most valuable player Williams and Andrews, as well as goalkeeper Gabi Palm, who some believe should have been named the goalkeeper of the Olympics, a bright future awaits, especially with new coach Bec Rippon, herself and dual Olympic and bronze medallist.
Farewell to USA’s Maggie Steffens, probably the finest player of her era and certainly the most decorated, especially with three Olympic golds.
Looking at 2025, the World Aquatics World Cup in January and April will give us a pointer to new-look teams ahead of the July World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.