Water polo is the oldest modern Olympic team sport, having been introduced in the 1900 Games, and the New York Athletic Club's water polo team has been a mainstay of the sport since those early days. In its nascent years, the US Olympic water polo team consisted of the winning club at the US National Championships. And so began a tradition of national and international success for the NYAC water polo teams, including gold in the 1904 St. Louis Games and representing the USA on several occasions.
This changed in the 1960s, when USA Water Polo created a national team that drew individuals from different clubs for the coveted roster spots. At that point, the NYAC played a critical role in the development of the sport from youth to Olympic caliber players, a role in which it continues to this day. With multiple national championships in men's and women's water polo over the past 25 years, the New York Athletic Club team continues to produce more national team and Olympic players than any water polo program in the country.