The world of swimming was rocked this morning when World Aquatics announced the addition of stroke 50s to the 2028 Olympics, but those weren’t the only changes announced today.
One of the other big changes comes in women’s water polo. Since it was added to the Games in 2000, the women’s tournament has consisted of 10 teams or less, while the men’s has consisted of 12.
The Los Angeles Games in 2028 are being hosted in the center point of the American Water Polo scene, and, for the first time ever, the women’s event will have 12 teams competing for gold, making the men’s and women’s sports equal.
There are a variety of other changes coming, including the addition of Olympic events, meaning this Olympics will be giving out more medals than any other Games in history.
Other Changes:
- The soccer (football) tournament will feature an increase in women’s teams, with 16 teams competing, while the men’s tournament will feature 12. This marks the first Games ever where there will be more women’s teams than men’s teams in soccer. In 2024, the men had 16 and the women had 12.
- A new weight class is being added to women’s boxing, resulting in seven weight classes for both the men’s and women’s sports.
- The 3×3 basketball tournament will also be expanded to have 12 women’s teams and 12 men’s teams, which puts it in line with the other team sports.
- They are introducing six mixed gender team events in archery (compound bow), artistic gymnastics, athletics (4×100 mixed gender relay), costal towing beach sprint (mixed double sculls), golf, and table tennis
- Sport climbing is gaining two medal events due to the separation of boulder and lead climbing, leading to three total medal events.
