With a young family to support and no grants on offer for paddlers outside the national squad, Djenadić started working full-time at a petrol station in Šabac.

Djenadić and Bora Sibinkić were chosen to join up with reigning K-2 200 m world champions Ognjen Filipović and Dragan Zorić to form a new specialist K-4 200 m crew.

In July, in a trial race in Bačka Palanka, the new four defeated the number one crew of Šoti / Stanojević / Ilić / Našagaćin, who had reached the K4 200m final at Račice.

In Szeged, Djenadić and his new teammates won the gold medal at the first attempt, ahead of the host nation (and defending champions) Hungary.

The Szeged gold medal came with a share of the €120,000 prize money - a worthy reward for the long-time club paddler who then set his sights on the Beijing Olympics though he did not qualify.