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In a thrilling finale at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Serbia’s men’s water polo team secured their third consecutive Olympic gold medal, solidifying their dominance in the sport. Despite a shaky start to the tournament, Serbia found their form in the knockout rounds, narrowly edging out Greece with a dramatic 12-11 win in the quarterfinals and then comfortably defeating the United States 10-6 in the semifinals to advance to the final.
The gold medal match against Croatia, held at the Paris La Defense Arena, was a highly anticipated showdown between two fierce rivals. Croatia, who had previously won the Olympic gold in 2012, sought to reclaim the top spot but fell short against a resilient Serbian team. Serbia took control early, scoring three unanswered goals in the final 90 seconds of the first quarter, establishing a 5-2 lead that Croatia struggled to overcome for the remainder of the match.
In a bid to shift the momentum, Croatia substituted their starting goalkeeper, Marko Bijac, during the match. Despite this change, Serbia’s offense, led by Milos Cuk, who scored three goals, continued to dominate. Nikola Dedovic and Nikola Jaksic each added two goals to Serbia’s tally. Croatia’s Jerko Marinic Kragic led his team with three goals, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. The match ended 13-11 in Serbia’s favor, marking their third straight Olympic title, a feat only previously achieved by Great Britain (1908-1920) and Hungary (2000-2008).
In the bronze medal match, the United States faced Hungary in another intense contest. The game ended in a dramatic 8-8 tie, but the U.S. triumphed in a penalty shootout, securing the bronze medal and their first podium finish in men’s water polo since 2008. This match was particularly poignant as it marked the final game for Hungarian legend Denes Varga, a player who has had an illustrious career and left an indelible mark on the sport.
Serbia’s victory not only cements their legacy in water polo history but also underscores their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, making them one of the sport’s all-time great teams.
This triumph adds to Serbia’s impressive Olympic record, bringing their total to six gold medals and 14 overall in men’s water polo.
