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SERBIA has gotten their revenge after suffering a heartbreaking semifinal defeat against Team USA in men’s basketball at the Paris Olympics.
The European nation denied the Americans a chance to win their first-ever gold medal in men’s water polo less than 24 hours after falling on the hardwood.
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Nikola Jokic and his Serbian teammates gave Team USA a run for their money, holding a double-digit lead for three quarters in the battle for a spot in the men’s basketball final.
But America’s stars pulled off a stunning comeback in the fourth quarter with Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid leading the late charge.
The following day, Serbia’s water polo team avenged Jokic and Co.
The back-to-back Olympic champions beat the USA in Friday’s semifinal 10-6 to set up a gold medal clash with Croatia.
The two teams went neck-in-neck for most of the first half.
After the first period ended with the score tied at 2-2, Serbia’s brother duo Petar and Nikola Jaksic gave their country a two-goal lead.
Luca Cupido pulled USA within 4-3 with 3:23 left in the second.
But the Americans got outscored 6-3 during the remainder of the clash to secure the victory.
Olympic fans noted that the triumph must have provided Serbia with some sort of comfort after the crushing defeat on the basketball court the previous day.
“Serbia has exacted its revenge on the U.S. in the pool!” one posted on X.
“Well done to Serbia for making it up in Water Polo after such a close and heartbreaking loss in basketball!” another added.
“Looks like Serbia got their revenge after all,” a third said.
“Yesterday Serbia was in lead for majority part of the match but just at last 8 min Curry & LeBron bullied poor Serbia. But Serbia defeated them in men’s water polo SF today,” one wrote.
The US men’s water polo team has reached the Olympic final in water polo three times — but never managed to top the podium.
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The Americans fell to Yugoslavia in back-to-back gold medal matchups at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and four years later in Seoul.
They reached the title clash again in 2008 in Beijing, only to fall to Hungary.
Team USA also claimed bronze in 1924, 1932, and 1972 in the men’s tournament.
The women’s side has seen much more success in the pool, particularly in recent years.
After winning two silvers and a bronze in the 2000s, the female US team won three straight golds in London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016), and Tokyo (2020).
However, Team USA won’t defend the title at the Paris Olympics having lost to Australia after a shootout in the semifinals.
