The earliest known description of a sporting event in Croatia is from the 16th century. It reffered to the 1593 regatta of seventy four (yes, 74) wooden fishing boats called falkusa, from the harbour of the town of Komiza on the island of Vis to the islet of Palagruza. It was the oldest known boat race in Europe. Falkusa is autochthonous Croatian boat of 9m of length, with the mast of equal size, in use from 11th or 12th century…
We should remember also Fritzie Zivic (originally Zivchich, 1913-1984), known as The Croat Comet, famous welterweight boxer in the USA, who had 230 professional matches. In 1940 he won the title of the champion of the world having defeated “unbeatable” Henry Armstrong. Their rematch held in Madison Square Garden in 1941, where Fritzie managed to defend his title, was visited by 23,190 people (and 5,000 fans were reportedly denied access). This remains all-time highest Garden record for attendance. In 1993…
Veljko Rogosic was named International Long Distance Swimming Federation World Champion four times between 1971 and 1974. He was the first one to have swam the distance of 200 km without interruption. From the town of Grado near Trieste in Italy to Riccone near Ancona he set the world record of 225 km in long distance swimming (during this swim he lost 16 kg). In 1992 this outstanding sportsman entered the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Florida, USA. He…
Kristijan Curavic set a new world record in diving under ice (2004). He reached a depth of more than 50 meters under ice (1.4 m thick) in Lake Djupvatnet (1100 m above sea level) in the Northeastern part of Norway, wearing only a mask, wetsuit and monofin. In 2005 he improved his own record reaching an amazing depth of 51.2 m in 1.32 min., at the temperature of air of -22 degrees C, and water temperature of -3 degrees C,…
Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic won silver medal at the 2008 Finn European Championship held in La Marina di Scarlino, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy, in 2008. In 2009 he won gold medal in the Finn class at the 41st Semaine Olympique Française in Hyeres. Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic, Split, Croatia. Photo by Robert Deaves, International Finn Association. His very nice boat on the photois easily recognizable by red and silver squares from the Croatian Coat of Arms. Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic were Men’s…
The Rowing Club Neptun (Veslacki klub Neptun) in Dubrovnik was founded in 1923.In the school year 1890/1891 the Dubrovnik Grammar School introduced rowing as an optional subject within the gymnastics programme and a ten-oar boat was used for pupils. Since 2000 the International Semper Primus Regatta of Student Eights’(the name is derived from a Latin proverb: Semper primus, simper melior – Always the first, always the best). Source Welcome to Dubrovnik, 2009, no 18, p 27. Croatian eight-man boat (on…
Here is an excerpt from a lovely description of the 2001 triumph of the water polo club Jug from the famous Dubrovnik, winning the European Champions League, taken from www.waterpolo.com: Elvis Leads JUG To “FINAL FOUR” TitleDubrovnic, Croatia, May 19- Water polo is a national obsession in this beautiful Dalmatian coast port city, but it had been twenty years since Jug, the local club, had won the European Champions league. For the six thousand lucky souls who got tickets to…
The Croatian handball team won the olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996, under leadership of Velimir Kljaic, gold medal at the World Championship held in Portugal in 2003, under the baton of Lino Cervar the olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004 with perfect score, without any lost game, under the leadership of Lino Cervar (for the first time in the history of this sport the same national team bears the titles of both Olympic and World champions). silver…
Regarding collective sports basketball is very popular. Important role for its development in Croatia had Mirko Novosel, both as a basketball trainer and indefatigable organizer. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, USA, in 2007. Dražen Petrović and Mirko Novosel Source: Croatian Philatelic Society, USA, founded by Ekrem Spahic Monument to the memory of Dražen Petrović in his native city of Šibenik.The city of Šibenik was founded in 1066 (11th century), during the reign of Croatian King Krešimir….
Soccer is of course the most widespread sport. An excellent soccer club in Croatia is Hajduk (Split), founded in 1911 (by Croatian students in the Prague, Czechia, in the well known beerhouse “U Fleku”) three times quarter-finalist of the European League of Champions (last time in 1995) and once a semi-finalist of the UEFA cup. Ivo Tijardović: Kraljica lopte, Split, 1926.Hajduk is the only soccer club in the world which has its own operetta, composed already 1926.Many thanks to Dr…