Blood in the Water Polo Match episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 7, 2026 · 27 MIN

Blood in the Water Polo Match

from History Dispatches · host Matt and McKinley Breen

In November of 1956, the Hungarian Water Polo team came to Melbourne, Australia, for the Olympic games. But back in Europe, the player’s homeland was only a couple of weeks removed from a bloody - and failed - uprising against the Soviet Union. Then, on Dec. 6, in the semi finals - the Hungarian polo team was slated to face the Soviet Union - who many saw as their suppressors and overlords. What followed was one of the most brutal matches - of any sport - in Olympic history. This is the story of the Blood on the Water polo match. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom%27s_Fury https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_in_the_Water_match https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1956 History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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