Russia women's national water polo team

Water polo in Russia dates back to 1910, when the sport was included into the national water sports programme. The Shuvalov school was opened back then, featuring rules that differed from the international rules. In 1913, the first water polo tournament was played between the Shuvalov school and Moscow, with the first winning 3–2. The new sport progressed in Russia, as all swimming organizations included this sport into their programme. P. Erofeev and A. Shemansky further populized water polo by publishing brochures with rules and hints.[1]

As previously, water polo was predominant in Moscow and Leningrad (formerly known as St. Petersburg). However, this changed when the water polo teams of the Black Sea Fleet, Baltic Fleet and Caspian Flotilla further spread water polo in Russia. In the early history, water polo was popular especially among sailors. The strongest teams were Delfin of Leningrad and the Moscow Life Saving Society and the Yacht-Club. Following the resolution by the organizing bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1925, physical culture has been greatly propagated in Russia, stimulating water polo as well.[2]

The first championship took place in 1925. Apart from the teams of Leningrad, Moscow and Kyiv, the tournament featured teams from the Caucasus, Crimea, Ural, as well as the aforementioned fleet teams. Three years later, water polo was included in the All-Union Spartakiade (sports festival). The team of Leningrad dominated in Russian water polo until 1933, as the city had winter water pools and so had more training opportunities. In 1946, the USSR Water Polo Cup was introduced. One year later, the Soviet Union was selected into the FINA. The national water polo then debuted at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Helsinki.[2]

Roster for the 2020 Women's European Water Polo Championship.[4]

Head coach: Alexandr Gaidukov

No	Name	Pos.	Date of birth	Height	Weight	L/R	Caps	Club
1	Anna Ustiukhina	GK	(1989-03-18) 18 March 1989	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)	67 kg (148 lb)	R		Spartak Volgograd
2	Maria Bersneva	W	(1998-12-17) 17 December 1998	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)	61 kg (134 lb)	R		Uralochka Zlatoust
3	Ekaterina Prokofyeva (C)	W	(1991-03-13) 13 March 1991	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)	70 kg (154 lb)	R		Kinef Kirishi
4	Elvina Karimova	W	(1994-03-25) 25 March 1994	1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)	62 kg (137 lb)	R		Uralochka Zlatoust
5	Maria Borisova	DF	(1997-07-28) 28 July 1997	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	95 kg (209 lb)	R		SKIF-CSP Izmailovo
6	Olga Gorbunova	W	(1993-08-27) 27 August 1993	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)	60 kg (132 lb)	R	6	Spartak Volgograd
7	Alena Serzhantova	W	(1998-05-06) 6 May 1998	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)	72 kg (159 lb)	R		SKIF-CSP Izmailovo
8	Anastasia Simanovich	CF	(1995-01-23) 23 January 1995	1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)	70 kg (154 lb)	R	8	Kinef Kirishi
9	Anna Timofeeva	CB	(1987-07-18) 18 July 1987	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)	87 kg (192 lb)	R		WC Yugra
10	Evgenia Soboleva	FP	(1988-08-26) 26 August 1988	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	75 kg (165 lb)			Kinef Kirishi
11	Evgeniya Ivanova	W	(1987-07-26) 26 July 1987	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)	70 kg (154 lb)	R		Kinef Kirishi
12	Anastasia Fedotova	W	(1998-11-30) 30 November 1998	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)	61 kg (134 lb)	R		Spartak Volgograd
13	Anna Karnaukh	GK	(1993-08-31) 31 August 1993	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)	61 kg (134 lb)			Kinef Kirishi