The Australian water polo team made its Olympic debut at the 1948 London Olympics. The team included members of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club (TSLSC) – Colin French (1916-1984), of ‘Frenchies’ on The Esplanade, and Les McKay (1917 – 1981), who was also Australia’s flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies. Peter Bennett (1926-2012) was also chosen for the team but opted out to pursue his budding career with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Later, Peter became captain of the water polo team in Helsinki in 1952 and vice-captain in Melbourne in 1956, with Col French as coach at both Olympics.
All three were also members of the Gold Medal Team at the 1950 Auckland Empire Games (Commonwealth Games).
Other TSLSC members, Michael Withers and Keith Wiegard represented Australia in Water Polo at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Michael Withers again represented Australia at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics with teammate Leon Wiegard.