Croatia’s water polo team have all grown moustaches for the Olympics but they refuse to divulge exactly why.

“It’s for good luck, but we can’t talk about it — it’s a secret,” said Igor Hinic after an 11-7 victory over Italy. ”If I tell you, it will ruin it. Maybe it’s working — it worked today — but it’s too early to tell.”

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One of the more famous moustaches in the pool belonged to David Wilkie, of course, and this story reminded me of a (no doubt tall) tale about the great Scot. I was told that Wilkie once said, jokingly, to a bunch of Soviet swimmers that his great times were down to his silky big moustache making him more streamlined in the water. At the next big event, the Soviets all turned up sporting similarly impressive moustaches…

If anyone knows if there is even a grain of truth in that story, please let me know.

PHOTO: A mustachioed Aljosa Kunac of Croatia gestures during their men’s preliminary round Group B water polo match against Italy at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh