Serbia's water polo captain Dušan Mandić was notably absent from Aleksandar Vučić's presidential reception following the national team's sixth European Championship title, a conspicuous absence that sparked immediate speculation across Belgrade's sports and political circles.
The Serbian water polo team defeated Hungary 10-7 in a packed Belgrade Arena on Sunday, clinching another continental crown for a nation that has dominated the sport for years. Yet when President Vučić hosted the champions on Monday, the tournament's Most Valuable Player was nowhere to be seen.
The Water Polo Federation quickly issued a statement attributing Mandić's absence to illness, claiming the captain and teammate Miloš Ćuk had been "under high temperature" in recent days. The official explanation cited health problems that coach Uroš Stevanović had mentioned affecting multiple players after the final.
Yet the timing raised eyebrows among those familiar with the history between Mandić and government figures. The star player has previously clashed with Belgrade mayor Aleksandar Šapić, himself a former water polo champion, over training conditions and federation politics.
In the Balkans, as across post-conflict regions, the path forward requires acknowledging the past without being imprisoned by it. Sports achievements have long served as rallying points for national unity, yet they also expose underlying tensions between athletic excellence and political patronage.
The absence was particularly conspicuous given Mandić's central role in the championship campaign. His MVP performance represented not just individual brilliance but leadership that carried Serbia through a tournament where European rivals continue closing the competitive gap.
Minister Zoran Gajić was reportedly booed by sections of the arena crowd during medal presentations, suggesting broader public discontent with government figures attempting to associate themselves with sporting success.
The Water Polo Federation's defensive statement reflects how carefully such absences must be managed in a country where sports and politics remain deeply intertwined. Serbia's water polo dominance—spanning Olympic, World, and European championships—represents one of the few unambiguous sources of national pride in a society still navigating complex political and economic transitions.
Whether illness, protest, or simple personal choice, Mandić's non-appearance highlights the delicate relationship between athletic achievement and state recognition in contemporary Serbia. Champions may win titles together, but how they choose to celebrate reveals much about the society they represent.
