Novak Djokovic's wife Jelena ecstatic as Serbia win third straight Olympics gold medal in men's water polo at Paris 2024
Novak Djokovic's wife Jelena celebrated Serbia's triumph in the men's water polo gold medal match on the final day of the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the team secured a thrilling 13-11 win over their Balkan rivals Croatia. The Serbians extended their reign in Olympic water polo with the victory, claiming their third consecutive gold medal.
Serbia entered the Summer Games as the two-time defending champions but were nowhere close to being the favorites to triumph in the French capital. They barely made it through their group in fourth place with just two wins out of five.
The Serbs did, however, shift gears at the right time, with an emphatic 12-11 buzzer-beater win over Greece in the first round of the playoffs. They followed it up with a 10-6 victory over the United States in the semifinal to book their place in a third straight final.
In a seventh meeting against Croatia, it was the Serbs who took the upper hand early, taking a 5-2 lead at the end of the first half. More of the same followed in the second, with the Serbians ultimately proving too strong for their arch-rivals as they powered their way to a 13-11 win and their third successive gold medal.
Jelena took to her Instagram shortly after the encounter to celebrate their triumph. She's been a vocal supporter of her nation throughout the Olympics and has consistently shown her appreciation to the entire contingent.
"That's right. Let's go❤️🇷🇸❤️🇷🇸❤️🇷🇸 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇," Jelena exclaimed via Instagram Stories.
The win ensured Serbia finished the 2024 Olympics in the 27th spot on the medal table. They won five medals — three golds, one silver, and one bronze. Novak Djokovic won the gold in the men's tennis, while the shooting duo of Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec secured the country's only other gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
"The people of Serbia have never given up on me" - Novak Djokovic pays tribute to home nation after winning gold at 2024 Paris Olympics
An emotional Novak Djokovic dedicated his historic Olympic win to the people of Serbia with a heartfelt video on Instagram. It included his best moments at the 2024 Summer Games, glimpses of his family, and a throwback to his childhood.
He thanked his fellow Serbians for their unwavering support and celebrated representing his nation, calling such moments the pinnacle of his career.
"I could never give up on the dream of winning this gold medal, just as the people of Serbia have never given up on me. Together, we believed in the impossible. While I may be the one holding this medal, I want every Serbian to know that it belongs to all of us," Djokovic wrote on Instagram.
"Representing our nation is the greatest honor in the world. This medal, these moments, this life—none of it would have been possible without your unwavering support. This is because of you. This is for you. Love, Nole," he concluded.
With the win, Novak Djokovic also became only the fifth tennis player to achieve the historic Career Golden Slam — the Olympic Gold and all four Grand Slams. He joined the likes of Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal.