Despite having to come through a FIBA qualifying tournament to reach the Games and then suffering three group stage losses, the Serbian team earned wins over China and Venezuela to reach the knock-out stages.

Their growth through the tournament continued with an 86-83 victory over local rivals Croatia, before Milos Teodosic inspired his team to an 87-61 demolition of Australia in the semi-finals.

Although the Serbian team had pushed the United States close in the group stage, the gold medal match was a different story as the American team triumphed 96-66 to seal a third straight triumph at the Games.

The result has seen the US retain top spot in the rankings, while 2014 FIBA World Cup runners-up Serbia have risen two places to third.

They remain behind Spain, who defeated Australia 89-88 in the bronze medal match at the Games.

France, Lithuania and Argentina sit behind Serbia in the rankings, having each suffered quarter-final exits at the Games.

Hosts Brazil, who failed to reach the knock-out stage, have risen to seventh as a result of the rankings being calculated within the scope of a two Olympic Games cycle, including qualifying competitions at FIBA zone level.

The US and Spain remain in the top two positions in the women’s world rankings, after they claimed the gold and silver medals at the Games, with the Americans winning 101-72 in the final.

Similarly to the men’s rankings, Serbia have been boosted by their appearance on the podium at the Games, after they won the bronze medal match 70-63 against France.

Their efforts have led to the country moving up five places in the rankings to ninth position.

Despite missing out on a medal at the Games, France have moved above Australia into third spot in the standings.

The Czech Republic remain fifth, although they missed out on competing in Rio, while Canada, Turkey and Brazil are sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.