36-year-old middle blocker Marko Podrascanin and 32-year-old opposite Aleksandar Atanasijevic announced their retirement from the national team after the last match of the 2024 Olympics against Canada, which Serbia won (3:2).

"I never dreamed that I would play for the national team for almost 20 years. I joined the team in 2006, when my idols played there," said Podrascanin, who will turn 37 on August 29. "I don't feel relief, but satisfaction. I have always played for the national team, except when I had surgeries. It was an honor! I won many medals with the national team. Now we are not a medal-winning team, but we tried. We did our best, as we promised. I think we are leaving the national team in good hands."

Podrascanin won two European Championships (2011, 2019) as a member of the Serbian national team, as well as the World League in 2016. Marko also participated in two Olympics (2012, 2024). Atanasijevic has similar achievements. But he has a total of six medals with the Serbian national team, while Podrascanin has 11.

"The match against Canada was my last for the national team. I am very glad that this match turned out to be a victory at the Olympics. This is a long-standing decision, I will not change it. We need new guys to continue improving men's volleyball. We need to get it back to the levels of 2019. Majstorovic, Petric, and Podrascanin left, now it's my turn. I think Uros Kovacevic will also leave.

The fifth set against France cost us the Olympic quarter-final, which we all dreamed of. At least we showed some character and dignity. We played to the end against Canada and won. I will remember this for the rest of my life. I am very happy with what I experienced with these guys," said Atanasijevic in an interview forZurnal.rs.