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…
Croatia is the only country in the world with no mountain above 2,000 meters (though with probably the most beautiful mountain in Europe – VELEBIT) and with world’s top skier – Janica Kostelic. She was shining in women’s slalom in 1999 (being only 17 years old). Her second victory of the season put her in first place in the World Cup overall standings and strengthened her lead in the specialty standings. In her historical victory in Serre Chevalier, France, 5….
Nikola Dragaš, three times world champion in 9 pin bowling Nikola Dragaš was three times indidvidual world champion in 9 pin bowling: in Split 1972, Eppelheim 1974 and in Vienna 1976. In 1988 he was the world champion in pairs with Boris Urbanc. He is one of the greatest bowling players in history. During the Serbian 1991-1995 aggression on Croatia he was active in humanitarian aid. Since 2003 Nikola Dragaš leads the movement “With bowling against smoking”.
Otto Lang (1908-2006) founded the first ski school at Mount Rainier (a National Park in the USA) in 1937 and directed Sun Valley’s ski school before and after World War II. Then he launched a successful career as a Hollywood filmmaker. He was born in 1908 in the small village of Zenica, Bosnia, to an Austrian father and Croatian mother. One of his best-known pupils was Gretchen Kunigk of Tacoma, who later won an Olympic gold medal for the United…
Jakov Fak, biathlon athlet, wearing the Croatian national flag at the solemn opening of 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. Jakov Fak, biathlon athlet. These two photos by Getty Images. Jakov Fak, Croatia’s biathlon skiing athlet, won a bronze medal in the 10 km sprint at the 2010 Winter Olympics Games in Vancouver.
Val and Sandra Bezic, brother and sister, are famous Canadian figure skating pair. They were champions of Canada in the period of 1970-1974, and representatives of Canada in the Winter Olympic Games, Munich, 1972 (placed ninth). Sandra Bezic is known as one of the best figure skating choreographers in the world. For many years, Bezic served as producer, director, and choreographer of the touring show Stars on Ice. Sandra Bezic also worked on highly acclaimed “Carmen on Ice.” She designed…
Lucija in the village of Potkonje near Knin, at Hrvoje Pozar stud.Photo by her mother Julija Vojkovic (on this web with kind permission) Sinjska alka (The Sinj Alka) is a competition to the memory of the legendary 1715 victory over the Turks, where the town of Sinj near Split has been saved. According to the legend, the victory was attained due to the help of the Lady of Sinj (Gospa Sinjska). The aim of the competition, organized August 15th each…
Bill Belichick & Nick Saban, two Croatians – Coaches in the NFL (National Football League, USA), are very successful with their teams playing american football. Let us cite Bill Belichick: “…I think it just makes this division, which is already very tough, even that much tougher. You know, two Croatians in the division, Joe, that’s not something you see everyday. [Laughter]…” (from an interview given to Joe Benigno and Sid Rosenberg WFAN, sports Radio 66AM New York, January 5, 2005)….