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Photo - S.Sandic, Serbia Water Polo Federation
Serbia’s amazing run of 9 consecutive podium finishes came to an end in Budapest 2020 when they lost to Spain in the quarters (with penalties) and had to settle for the 5th place. Before Budapest 2020, they won 7 of the previous 9 editions (2001, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), stood on the podium 10 times in the 11 editions they took part since their return in 1997, only missing the medal in 1999 and then in 2020 (their tally stands 7-2-1). Though that loss was just a beginning of a bad run as they were shockingly beaten by the French in the crossovers to finish 9th in Split, an all-time low. Two years later, a shootout loss in the quarters to Hungary prevented them from making the semis again, so now they missed the top flight in three straight editions.
Yugoslavia first entered the Europeans in 1934, finishing 5th. After skipping the 1938 and 1947 editions they became a constant medal winner: silver in 1954, 1958, 1962, 1977, bronze in 1950, 1966, 1970, 1974. Ironically, at home in Split this run was halted (4th place in 1981, the same in 1983), then came three more silvers (1985, 1987, 1989). It took 14 participations before they earned their first win in 1991. Yugoslavia was Olympic champion in 1968, 1984 and 1988, world champion in 1986 and 1991.
The Serbs could return (still under the name of Yugoslavia) to the world stage in 1996. A European silver in 1997 was the highlight before the big run has started in 2000. Since the Sydney Games they reached at least the semi-finals all but four times between 2000 and 2022 (only missing the SF at the 2013, 2019 and 2022 Worlds and at the 2020 Europeans). They clinched 25 gold medals en route: the Olympic titles (2016, 2021), 3 world titles (2005, 2009, 2015), 7 European titles (2001, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), 12 World League titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), 3 World Cup titles (2006, 2010, 2014).
At the majors (Worlds, Europeans, World League Super Finals, World Cup) the Serbs had an unbeaten run of 38 matches (34 wins, 4 ties) between the prelim’s third round of the 2014 European Championships and the prelim’s third round of the 2016 Olympic Games, when Brazil stunned them 6-5.
They won 9 straight big competitions: 2014 World League, 2014 Europeans, 2014 World Cup, 2015 World League, 2015 World Championships, 2016 Europeans, 2016 World League, 2016 Olympics, 2017 World League. Their golden streak came to an end at the 2017 Worlds when Croatia beat them in the semis, and they had to settle for the bronze medal.
Once several big players of their golden generation retired after retaining the Olympic title in Tokyo, a sharp decline came in their performances. They have been without a podium finish at the last five editions at the Worlds (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 – though made the semis in 2023 and 2025), at the last three Europeans (2020, 2022, 2024) and at the last two World Cups (2023, 2025) – but one thing didn’t change: they won the Olympics in Paris in stunning fashion to match Hungary’s historic feat to win three straight titles (2016, 2021, 2024).
- Radoslav Filipović
- Milan Glušac
- Nemanja Vico
- Đorđe Lazić
- Sava Ranđelović
- Nikola Jakšić
- Petar Jakšić
- Radomir Drašović
- Miloš Ćuk
- Nikola Lukić
- Vasilije Martinović
- Strahinja Rašović
- Nikola Dedović
- Dušan Mandić
- Viktor Rašović
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