RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When it was all over, when they had the title they had coveted for years, Serbia's jubilant players hung the country's flag over one of the floating cages in the pool.
The soaked flag said it all. Serbia had finally conquered the Olympic men's water polo tournament.
Dusan Mandic scored four times, Branislav Mitrovic made 12 saves and Serbia dethroned Croatia with an 11-7 victory at the Rio Games on Saturday.
"This is maybe the best feeling in my life," center Slobodan Nikic said. "I feel like I'm flying."
It was Serbia's first Olympic gold medal in perhaps its favorite sport.