Tomašević was one of the first two citizens of Serbia to participate in the Olympics, the other being the sprinter Dušan Milošević. The first Serb to participate in the Olympics was Momčilo Tapavica (), a Habsburg Serb who competed for Hungary at the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in tennis in the men's singles competition. At his official farewell before departing for Sweden, Tomašević was presented with a loaf of traditional Serbian bread and a wicker bag by the country's sports and government officials. He was Serbia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony on 6 July 1912, thereby becoming the first Serbian to carry his country's flag at an Olympic opening ceremony.