RIO DE JANEIRO — It took the United States four tries to finally win a gold medal in women’s water polo since it became an Olympic sport in 2000.
On Friday, however, the Americans set a standard the rest of the world will struggle to meet.
With a 12-5 victory over Italy, Team USA became the first group to win consecutive Olympic gold medals and did it without losing or tying a single match in the tournament. In fact, it wasn’t much of a competition at all.
After surviving a series of close matches in London to come out with the title, the Americans came to Rio and showed no mercy on their opponents, winning their six games by an average margin of 6.