XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 16, 21st August, 2016

The men's marathon was scheduled on the last day of the Olympic Games. The athletes started it in heavy rain. 140 runnes could complete the race out of the 155, Anđelko Rističević finished 119th clocking 2:30:17. Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya won the race with 2:08:44.

Then came the basketball final. There isn't much to talk about the mutant aliens of Area 51 American team knocked out Serbia to 66:96.
If we see the positive side: nobody is better than Serbia in the world. (Americans don't count now, their position in basketball is the same as Germans' in football.) Well done, boys!!!

A message to Nemanja Bjelica from the podium (Bjelica had to cancel his participation at the Olympic Games in the last minute because of an injury): this medal is yours, too!

The water polo boys were there to support the team


Posted by Bogdan Bogdanovic on Sunday, August 21, 2016

Serbia earned 2 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals at the 2016 Olympic Games:
Gold - Davor Štefanek (Greco-Roman wrestling, 66 kg), men's water polo team
Silver - Tijana Bogdanović (women's tae-kwon-do, 49 kg), men's basketball team, women's volleyball team, the Marko Tomičević/Milenko Zorić duo (men's kayak double 1000 m)
Bronze - Ivana Španović (women's triple jump), women's basketball team

Our Olympic broadcast has ended, thank you for your attention.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 14, 19th August, 2016

Vladimir Savanović finished 42nd out of 80 competitors in men’s 50 km race walk. Only 49 athletes could finish the race

salutations to the other Serbian, Predrag Filipović to also be able to cross the finish line

but racers freaked out completely by the 32 degrees Celsius and the 80 % humidity. It’s a miracle 49 people could finish it at all.

I caught an interview with Bence Venyercsány, the only Hungarian athlete, who could finish the race. He said (while trying to find his breath) that it was his toughest race ever, the heat was killer and the worst was seeing fellow athletes giving it up, one after the other, many of them collapsing while walking. 

Big respect to every single athlete, but especially to Vladimir Savanović, who completed the race. You are all champions!
Here is Vladimir Savanović’s post-race message to the fans.

Izjava Vladimira Savanovića nakon trke.
Posted by AK Partizan Beograd on Friday, August 19, 2016

In the evening came the men’s basketball semifinal. Australia vs. Serbia.
The Serbian team washed off Australia with a fantastic, amazing game, winning to 61:87 and marching into the final.
First quarter: 5:16
Second quarter (half-time): 14:35
They had such a game that they could make even this at the end of the first half. Teodosić throws the ball, and then... ALLEEEEY-OOOOOP!

Alley-up za Bogdana!
Posted by Partizane naš si ponos on Friday, August 19, 2016

And it continued like this, until the final buzz. Great game, basketball gala, at the end Australians just had a dry smile on their faces while assisting for Serbia. The final will be on Sunday, Serbia plays against the United States for the Olympic championship title.

Mačvan had numerous scores against Australia

Three is three, just like the truth

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 13, 18th August, 2016

Another silver medal for Serbia!!!
Congratulations and salutations to Marko Tomičević and Milenko Zorić for their silver medal in men's 1000 m kayak double!

Asmir Kolašinac could not qualify to the men’s shot put final. He finished 8th in Group B at the qualifications with 20.16 m.

Ono što je trebao biti san,pretvorilo se u košmar...jedan veoma loš dan,odnosno veoma loša sezona. Povreda je nažalost ostavila predubok trag...uključujući ovo takmičenje samo 8 sam ih imao ove godine a to je za mene malo da udjem u pravu formu i da rutinski bacam blizu 21m i preko. Ovu prvu dvojicu Amera ne zelim da komentarišem ali bronza sa 21.36m i da sam onaj od prošle godine...možda je moglo sve biti drugačije. Ali tako je bilo sudjeno,takmičenja i šansi će uvek biti Treba samo biti spreman i strpljiv. Hvala svima na porukama podrske koje ste mi slali i svima koji ste uz mene i kada gubim...slavicemo mi akoBogda jos puno puta!

A photo posted by Kolasinac Asmir (@asko_kolasinac) on Aug 19, 2016 at 5:04am PDT

The Serbian water polo team had a sweeping victory against Italy to 8:10, and they qualified to the final!!!
The truth is that it was a totally smooth game, the reason the difference is "just" 2 goals is that Serbs practically joked the end off. The first quarter finished with 0:3, the half time was 2:6 (it was 0:6 in the middle of the second quarter, Italians scored their first goal less than two minutes before the end). The third quarter brought just one single goal (2:7), in the fourth it grew to 5:10, Italians scored three goals in the last 4 minutes, while Serbs were just chilling on the waves with a big smile, knowing well, that whatever Italians try, they won’t be able even just to equalize.
The finall will be tomorrow against Croatia. It will be a real, true derby, the best kind.

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 10, 15th August, 2016

There was only one event this day with a Partizan-athlete, men’s 110 m hurdles (athletics). Milan Ristić started in Heat 5. Ronnie Ash from the US won the heat clocking 13.31, Ristić finished 6th (13.66), he couldn’t qualify to the semifinal.

Athletes line up for the start, Ristić is checking the court

The starter pistol fires...

...athletes run, Ristić with Souza (BRA) on his right and Kaba (CAN) on his left...

...just a few more steps until the finish line...

Photo-finish

(photo: rio2016.com)

No matter which place you finished at, for us you're the Olympic champion

(unmarked photos: Facebook/Olimpijski komitet Srbije)

XXXI. Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - Day 6, 11th August, 2016

At long last the rowing Final B could happen late afternoon CET. Both the Beđik-Vasić and the Šljukić-Marjanović duos finished on Place 10.

Andrea Arsović finished the 50 m rifle 3 positions at the 28th place. She again couldn’t qualify to the final.

And now here is the video of the day for all of you, not to end this blogpost in such a depressed mode. Asmir Kolašinac can’t wait to compete in shot put.

Teretana u Olimpijskom selu i tegovi boje duge 💪💪💪

A video posted by Kolasinac Asmir (@asko_kolasinac) on Aug 11, 2016 at 3:26pm PDT

Photos of the day - on the way to Rio!

The Olympic Games start next week. Everyone will be there, all those who matter (and those, too, who don't) and the world will spin around Rio for two weeks.
Partizan's athletes will be there, too. A group of them departed to Rio just now.

Among them there are the athletes of Partizan Rowing Club (Veslački Klub Partizan) Nenad Beđik and Miloš Vasić (coxless pair)

...as well as Andrija Šljukić and Marko Marjanović (double scull)

Andrea Arsović (left), athlete of Partizan Shooting Club (Streljački Klub Partizan) in 10 m air rifle and 50 m rifle in 3 positions

The entire male basketball team, incl. Milan Mačvan and Bogdan Bogdanović (if you take a good look, you can also find the beard of Miroslav Raduljica as well on the picture)

The male water polo team - you can find there Miloš Ćuk, Filip Filipović, Nikola Jakšić and Dušan Mandić

Filip Filipović saying goodbye to his family before the departure

Dušan Mandić was probably asked to watch the suitcases while the others go for a coffee (behind him is Dejan Savić, head coach of the Serbian water polo team)

They will be joined by the 3 athletes of Partizan Athletic Club (Atletski Klub Partizan): Milan Ristić (110 m hurdles), Anđelko Rističević (marathon), Vladimir Savanović (50 km walk) and Asmir Kolašinac (shot put). Cyclist Ivan Stević will also be there, former athlete of Partizan Cycling Club (Biciklistički Klub Partizan) in individual road race. Velimir "Velja" Stjepanović from Partizan Swimming Club (Plivački Klub Partizan) in 100, 200 and 400 m freestyle. And of course there will be Ana Ivanović and Nenad Zimonjić, who started their tennis career at Teniski Klub Partizan.
We will also root for tennis player Viktor Troicki and tae-kwon-do fighter Milica Mandić, because they also root for Partizan every time.

GOOD LUCK!!!

(photos: Facebook/Olimpijski Komitet Srbije)

Video of the day - Asmir Kolašinac at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio

The Olympic Committee of Serbia have made a promotional video with Asmir Kolašniac, athlete of AK Partizan and Serbian Olympic Team.
Enjoy!

#JedanCilj... na to je koncentrisan Asmir Kolašinac. #TeamSerbia #RoadToRio #NaPutuZaRio
Posted by Olimpijski komitet Srbije on Sunday, July 24, 2016

Daily low blow

If news are correct, Emir Bekrić, world championship bronze medal winner athlete, (one of) Serbia's pride leaves Partizan. It is shocking in itself, but what makes it even more shocking is that rumours say, he might transfer either to Radnički Kragujevac.
...or to Crvena Zvezda.

No. Just no. System failure. Reboot. Please. No. NO.

Update:
It's official: Emir Bekrić continues at Radnički Kragujevac. The reason behind his decision is that he can train and progress in much better conditions in Kragujevac.

:'(

Photo of the day - Emir Bekrić at the event of Serbian Olympic Committee and Vojvođanska Banka

Emir Bekrić, taking a selfie with elementary school children at the event organized by Serbian Olympic Committee and Vojvođanska Banka.

(photo: sportskacentrala.com)

Emir Bekrić in Budapest

When was this and why did I get to know about it only now?...
Emir Bekrić in SYMA Centre, Budapest, running off Bálint Móricz from Hungary - it's seemingly as easy as a pie for him. (Behind them Miloš Raović is coming.)

Emir Bekrić 6th in the final

Emir Bekrić finished at the 6th place at the Athletics European Championship in Zürich. AK Partizan's athlete didn't make a secret of his disappointment.
- I'm very sorry I couldn't get any medal. I made a mistake at one of the hurdles. I'm very sorry. I'm very sad.

But we still love you.

And now you raise yourself up from that place gravity has nailed you at, stand up straight and salute for this HERO.

Emir Bekrić in the final

AK Partizan's athlete, Emir Bekrić qualified himself to the final of the 2014 Athletics European Championship in his discipline, 400 m hurdles.
You know what to do.
Friday evening you take the super glue out of your fridge and glue yourself to the TV screen (from about 20:50, hopefully there will be no delay like today), you won't get your eyes off the screen, you pray, you cheer, you keep your fingers crossed, you scream on the top of your lungs.
(Who cares about the neighbourhood?...)
And if you're so lucky that you're in Zürich now... THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??...