Marko Pejović, a 15-year-old goalkeeper in water polo, experienced an unforgettable summer filled with sports as he participated in two world championships with two national teams.

He concluded this remarkable season in the best possible way, by securing a victory and a medal with the U18 team at the championship held in Argentina, following a narrow loss to his peers (U16) for bronze just 15 days prior in Malta.

“It was quite exhausting, more mentally than physically, but being part of great teams in a fantastic atmosphere made it all easier. When a medal is won, everything else fades away, leaving only the feeling of satisfaction and pride,” says the ‘double’ member of the Montenegrin national team.

Pejović was the youngest player on the national team that clinched bronze in Buenos Aires, proving that it’s a squad with immense potential.

However, Montenegro could have performed better; a poor start to the semi-final against Serbia and a significant deficit in the second quarter (which saw them trailing 8:0) ultimately cost them dearly, finishing the match at 13:9.

“Our capability was evident after the loss to Serbia. An inexplicably poor start to that match led to our defeat, but we quickly regrouped. The coach instilled confidence in us during the meeting, and we motivated each other. We were determined to validate our hard work throughout the summer and played exceptionally against Italy to secure bronze, winning 12:11 and controlling the match from the outset,” Pejović emphasizes.

Achieving a medal in Argentina was also a key objective for the talented squad.

“I believe we have the quality to win gold and that we are better than everyone—we only stumbled in the first part of the semi-finals. It’s a shame, but the bronze is still a significant achievement,” he adds.

Winning bronze in Argentina allowed him to set aside the disappointment from two weeks earlier in Malta, where he was close to earning a world medal with his U16 team, one of its leaders.

“I regret that we didn’t secure a medal in Malta, but we were very close. We led against Italy for most of the semi-final, but were unfortunate in the penalty shootout, ultimately losing to Hungary in a tight contest for third place,” reveals the young goalkeeper.

A year ago in Podgorica, with that same generation, he won a medal at a major competition—a memorable experience at the Podgorica swimming pool during the European Championship, where the “sharks” reached the finals but lost to Hungary. Pejović earned the title of best goalkeeper during the tournament.

“I believe both teams are filled with talent, and together, we represent the future of our water polo. We often discuss how wonderful it would be to unite in our best selection and compete for the biggest titles. I’m absolutely certain that this will happen, and we will continue on the path we’ve begun,” shares the optimistic Marko Pejović.

Accidentally a goalkeeper

Marko Pejović, a member of Primorje, aims to come closer to the first team of the Montenegrin champions, despite being only 15 years old.

“Last season, I trained several times with the Primorje first team, and I believe I demonstrated that I can keep up with the pace. Now, I want to showcase my abilities at the club, even though I understand that my time will come,” Pejović reflects on his journey to goalkeeping:

“I started off as a player, but honestly, I didn’t enjoy swimming. After discussing it with coach Blaženko Radnjić, he suggested I try my hand as a goalkeeper, and that’s how it all began,” Pejović disclosed.

Ten medals of youth selections from major competitions

The bronze medal earned by the U18 national team in Argentina at the World Championship marks the 10th medal won by junior water polo teams at major competitions since 2008.

In the U19 category, Montenegro boasts one European gold (2008) and two silvers (2009 and 2018). The U17 team has secured two gold medals at European championships (2013 and 2017), while the U18 team has two world championship medals (silver in 2016 and bronze in 2024).

The U20 selection was the runner-up at the world level in 2021, while the U15 team has finished as European vice-champion twice (2019 and 2023).

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