Although referred to as a bloodbath, the 1956 Hungarian-Soviet event was actually a milestone in the history of polo.

On October 23, 1956, a mass protest in Budapest escalated into an armed uprising, leading to a Soviet invasion on November 4. The Hungarian water polo team, unaware of the unfolding events, was training for the Melbourne Olympics. They lived in a hotel on Freedom Hill and traveled daily to the island for practice. Despite the tension in the city, they felt disconnected from the turmoil. Gyarmati Dezső recounts his experience of joining the protesters, capturing the surreal atmosphere of the moment in his book co-authored with Peterdi Pál.