Slobodan Nikić (Serbian Cyrillic: Слободан Никић; born 25 January 1983) is a Serbian professional water polo player. He is currently free agent and he is a long-standing member of the Serbia men's national water polo team. His most notable achievements with the national team are the gold medal from the Olympic Games in 2016, silver from the Olympic Games in 2004 and bronze from the Olympic Games 2012,[1] three gold medals from the World Championships in 2005, 2009 and 2015, and five gold medals from the European Championships in 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, and finally in 2016.
| Slobodan Nikić | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born |
25 January 1983 Zrenjanin, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Nationality | Serbian | ||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Weight | 106 kg (234 lb) | ||
Medal record | |||
He is one of the most decorated players in the history of water polo, and the only water polo player in the world to have won 3 FINA World Championship gold medals, an all-time record as of 2018. In his club career, his most important achievements are the LEN Euroleague and the LEN Supercup won in 2010 with Pro Recco. Nikić is one of the most successful Serbian Olympians.
National career
edit2012 Samaridis Cup
editFrom 9 to 11 January 2012. Nikić competed with his national team on the Greek island of Chios in the Samaridis Cup which was more a like preparation tournament for the upcoming 2012 European Championship held in Eindhoven. He and his team-mates finished second behind the Montenegrins on goal difference.[2]
2012 Eindhoven
editNikić scored his first goal at the European Championship on 17 January against Germany in a second game which the Serbs won by 13–12. On 19 January, in a third game of the tournament, Nikić scored his second goal in a difficult 15–12 victory against the defending European champions Croatia. On 21 January in the fourth match, Nikić scored his third goal of the tournament for his national team in a routine victory against Romania 14–5. On 29 January, Nikić won the European Championship with his national team beating in the final Montenegro by 9–8.[3] This was his third gold medal at the European Championships.
Honours
editClub
edit- Olympiacos
- Greek Championship: 2007, 2008, 2009
- Greek Cup: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
- Pro Recco
- Serie A1: 2009–10, 2010–11
- Coppa Italia: 2009–10, 2010–11
- LEN Euroleague: 2009–10
- LEN Supercup: 2010
- Ferencváros
- LEN Euro Cup: 2017–18
- Hungarian Championship (OB I): 2018
See also
edit- Serbia men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
- Serbia and Montenegro men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
- List of Olympic champions in men's water polo
- List of Olympic medalists in water polo (men)
- List of world champions in men's water polo
- List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo
References
edit- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Slobodan Nikić". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Serbia's water polo team second at Samaridis Cup | Vesti | Tanjug". Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ "Serbia 2012 European champions". www.waterpoloworld.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013.
External links
edit
- Slobodan Nikic at World Aquatics
- Slobodan Nikic at Olympics.com
- Slobodan Nikić at Olympedia
- Slobodan Nikić at the Olimpijski Komitet Srbije (in Serbian)
