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Photo - Croatian Water Polo Federation
After becoming an independent country, the Croats won their first medal in 1999 at the Europeans, a silver (before that their ranks were: 5., 4., 4.). This was followed by some ups and downs: 2001: 4., 2003: 2., 2006: 7., 2008: 4., before making the top at home in 2010, when they won the European title in Zagreb. But next came the worst ever performance in Eindhoven 2012, when they came 9th. Then they were 5th in Budapest and 7th in Belgrade. After making the semis 7 times in 9 editions, they couldn’t advance to the top four in three straight occasions. This bad run was halted in 2018 when they made the semis and beat Italy for the bronze, then in Budapest they were back to the semis again but after single-goal losses to Spain and Montenegro they finished 4th. Then came two more home editions and just like in 2010, they clinched the title in Split 2022 and were on their way to repeat that feat in Zagreb 2024 but lost the final to Spain amidst dramatic circumstances – so they made the semis on the last four Europeans.
The Croats reached the final at the Olympics upon three times in the last four editions, captured gold in London 2012, came second in Rio 2016 and in Paris 2024. They also had a silver on their debut in Atlanta 1996, followed by three modest showings (7th, 10th, 6th) and in Tokyo they were beaten in the quarters again (by Hungary) and came 5th.
In the Worlds they have an amazing run: after five medal-less performances between 1994 and 2005, they claimed medals in 7 successive editions, including titles from 2007 and 2017, four bronze medals in 2009-11-13 and 2019, and a silver from 2015. In 2022, they made the semis for a record 9th straight time, but their medal run came to an end as they finished 4th. Then in 2023, they fall from grace for the first time in 20 years and tied their worst-ever performances from 1998 and 2003 to finish 9th in Fukuoka. Only to bounce back and won the World Championship in Doha 2024, but again, missed the semis in Singapore 2025 where they were dropped to the 5th place.
They have one World League crown from 2012, had three silvers and three bronzes. In the World Cup they earned one silver and a bronze as their best efforts.
After Croatia had a brilliant run in 2024 by reaching the finals at all three big tournaments (silver at the Europeans, gold at the Worlds, silver at the Olympics), they returned home empty-handed from the World Cup (4th) and the Worlds (5th).
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