When the Montenegrin water polo players open the Olympic tournament against Croatia on July 28, Dr. Đuro Marić will feel pride and satisfaction in his home in Herceg Novi, little will he remember that he is not in Paris to state on the spot that the "sharks" are once again among the best, among the sports world elite, for the fifth time in a row, for 16 years!
- I cannot describe in words how happy it makes me that we once again confirmed that water polo was and remains the best sports representative of our country. We were the bearers of the Montenegrin Olympic flame in Beijing in 2008, and we will be in Paris in 2024. This is proof that, regardless of all the limitations and problems, we have an established system because, if it were not so, our place among the best would be threatened. However, we are constantly present on the biggest stage, we have never been episodic, but a team that always fights and strives for the biggest goals. For small Montenegro, this is a huge thing - says the president of the Water Polo and Swimming Association of Montenegro.
The Montenegrin water polo team has a trophy history - five medals from the European and world championships, three World League trophies, three Olympic semi-finals, and a constant hand-to-hand battle with the giants of this sport. Marić points out, it will be the same in Paris, in hellish, never stronger competition.
At the Olympic tournament in Paris, the "Sharks" will play in group A, which includes Croatia, Italy, Greece, the USA and Romania. Group B includes Serbia, Spain, Hungary, Australia, Japan and France.
At first glance, it is clear that there are no classic outsiders among the 12 selections, as there were China, Canada, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, South Africa at the previous Games...
- I don't remember that there was competition like this at the Olympic Games. And that's why it's a great honor and a great success to be part of this tournament. We are aware that we are not in the group of the biggest candidates for a medal, I think that a great success would be to reach the quarter-finals, to be among the four best teams in the group, and everything beyond that - a phenomenal result - points out Marić.
In anticipation of the Olympic Games, the summer of 2024 will also be remembered for the performance of the younger selections at the world championships - the U16 generation, which won the European silver last year in Podgorica, remained one step away from a medal and took fourth place in Malta, but that's why the U18 selection in Argentina she climbed to the podium with a bronze world medal.
- What our younger national teams are doing borders on a miracle - says Marić.
- Why? From a narrow circle of players of a certain age, by far the smallest base of all the leading European water polo nations, we have so much talent to win and be in the top. And not only talent, but also the exceptional and dedicated work of our coaches and selectors. It's a story about the system, because if we didn't have a system, if we didn't have coordination in work and training, a good plan and program, we certainly wouldn't be able to be at the top. The fact that from 2008 to 2024, our younger selections won as many as 10 medals at European and world championships sounds almost unreal. Therefore, it is not a coincidence, nor an incident - it is proof of the strength and uniqueness of our water polo - Marić is clear, noting:
- All this was possible despite the fact that Kotor and Primorac did not have a swimming pool for many years, and that Jadran, since 2021, when the roof of the Igalo Institute pool was demolished, has been improvising the conditions for training and matches in the winter at Škver in Herzegnov. However, we managed to slowly expand the base to Podgorica, which I am particularly proud of - water polo moved from the sea to our continental part, so in the younger selections we have boys from Podgorica, who are also very important members of the teams, some some of them are also leaders, with the tendency and potential to be senior national team players in the near future. That trend must continue, our base must expand, in order to remain competitive, and for that we also need the help of the state. That is why I am extremely happy to announce that the Government of Montenegro will support our candidacy to organize the European Championship in 2028, by developing the infrastructure by then, which is a prerequisite for us to move forward and keep up with the competition. The Government's announcement is proof that water polo is recognized not only as a sports, but also as a national brand - concluded Marić.
We managed to be a real service to all our members
As president of the national association, Đuro Marić points out that his obligation, above all, was to provide the means so that all national teams get the treatment they deserve - quality preparations and control matches and tournaments, adequate conditions for training, accommodation worthy of their needs and ambitions. And in that, he says, he succeeded.
- It is not easy, but we manage to be a real service to all our selections every year. Our budget cannot be compared to the budgets of the national associations of our rivals, and we have the same obligations as them - we have the same number of selections, which go to the same tournaments and the same competitions, which are housed in the same hotels... I am very proud that we provided it to them - said Marić.
- Let's say, just this year our senior selection had the European Championship in Croatia, the World Championship in Qatar and now the Olympic Games. How many days of preparation and competition are there, a total of more than four months. The younger selections had two world championships, the U19 national team in September and the European championship, along with preparations, trips to tournaments. And everything is prepared and provided for their performance. At the same time, we are an alliance of two sports, which is often forgotten. Our male and female swimmers have their own program, their own competitions, we will have them in Paris - Jovan Kuljač and Miloš Milenković, who received the invitation by performing at the European championships in Belgrade and the world championships in Qatar, which were also held this year. We tried, and I think we succeeded, to provide them with the best possible conditions for preparations and competitions.
Marić concludes:
- I hope that all water polo players, from the youngest to the oldest, all our swimmers, feel proud to be part of the Montenegrin water polo and swimming family. I would be extremely happy if so, because then my mission as the president of our most successful national sports association would be completely fulfilled. Their successes and their smiles have been my guiding star since day one.
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