Montenegrin taekwondo national team member, Andrea Berišaj, has been selected among the six finalists of the 14th summer edition of the Piotr Nurovski Award for the Best Young European Athlete, awarded by the European Olympic Committees (EOC).
The Montenegrin Olympic Committee (MOC) announced that Berishaj, among 21 candidates from European National Olympic Committees, was shortlisted for one of the most prestigious awards for young athletes in Europe.
"The previous finalists of the award have won a total of 42 Olympic and 151 medals at world championships, which speaks to the quality and significance of this recognition. The selection of Andrea Berišaj among the six finalists represents an exceptional success for Montenegrin sport, taekwondo and the MOC. This is confirmation that the results of young athletes from Montenegro are recognized and valued at the highest European Olympic level," the statement reads.
The final vote for the award winners will be held during the 55th EOC General Assembly, which will be held on 12 and 13 June 2026 in Budapest.
The finalists include young athletes from Romania, Great Britain, Bulgaria, Estonia and Slovenia.
Berishaj has recently confirmed her status as one of the most promising European female taekwondo athletes. In 2025, she won three bronze medals at the European Senior Olympic Category Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, the World Junior Senior Championships in Kenya, and the European Junior Senior Championships in Pristina.
Based on these results, MOC declared her the best female athlete of Montenegro for 2025.
She confirmed her exceptional talent in early May by winning a bronze medal at the Senior European Championships in Munich.
President Dušan Simonović said that Berišaj's placement among the finalists has special significance and represents a big day for her, but also for Montenegrin sports.
"Being among the six best young athletes in Europe, competing against candidates from the entire European Olympic movement, is a result that deserves great respect. Andrea, with her work, talent and attitude towards sports, has shown that Montenegro has young people who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in Europe," said Simonović.
He said that MOC will continue to support young athletes, stating that they are the future of the Montenegrin Olympic team.
The Piotr Nurowski Award was established in 2011 in memory of the former president of the Polish Olympic Committee and a prominent sports worker.
The award is given to young athletes up to the age of 18 and its goal is to recognize young athletes who, in addition to their results, stand out for their character, dedication, sportsmanship and the values that represent the Olympic movement.
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