COK presented awards to the most successful athletes

The Montenegrin Olympic Committee (COK) presented awards to the most successful athletes and teams in 2022 at a solemn ceremony today in Villa "Gorica".

For the second year in a row, the most successful Montenegrin athlete is the athlete, Marija Vuković.

In the women's team competition, the handball team won the award. The title of the most successful men's selection was shared by the senior handball team and the shooting team in the trap discipline.

The most successful young athletes of Montenegro in 2022 are boxer Bojana Gojković and taekwondo representative Anđela Berishaj.

The most successful young athletes are boxer Mirko Šarčević and bocce player Gracija Stjepčević.

"The European medal is a great reward after 12 years of hard work in my sport. The award itself in the COK selection means a lot to me, and, frankly, I did not expect to receive it, because many of our athletes have achieved great success, made both the country and me proud. Being here pleases me and I hope that next season I will continue where I left off in Munich and that this award, which is the icing on the cake in the year that is the best in my career, will bring greater confidence for 2023, and then we will talk about Paris 2024, where I hope that the country will be represented by the largest team so far," said Vuković.

The greatest success in the women's national selection competition in 2022, which will be remembered for its great results, was achieved by the women's handball team, which returned with a medal after 10 years with a victory over the Olympic champion, France.

"When it comes to the competition of the men's selections, in 2022 we witnessed the breakthrough of our national team to the top of European handball. 11th place at the European Championship in January is the best placement of the lions in major competitions ever. Close to a medal, even gold, at the World Championship in In Osijek, our shooters were in the trap discipline. Jovica Marković, Ivo Stanišić and Dragan Mrkajić were four shots away from being called for the title of world champion, in the end they had to settle for ninth place. The handball and shooting teams shared the award for the most successful men's selection in the year chosen by the Montenegrin Olympic Committee," the COK announced.

Bojana Gojković and Anđela Berishaj, members of the national team in combat sports, showed that they are the pearls of the world and shared the award for the most successful young athlete of Montenegro in 2022.

Bojana Gojković received this recognition for the fifth time in a row. In her first senior season, she boxed in two major finals and won silver medals at the European Championship and the Mediterranean Games.

The world junior silver, the biggest medal in the history of Montenegrin taekwondo, was won by Anđela Berishaj, who showed at the championship in Sofia that she has serious potential in this popular Olympic sport.

And in the men's competition, the award for the most successful young athlete was shared by members of the national team who represent the future of our sport.

"Gracija Stjepčević, the world junior champion and the third senior on the planet in bocce, in the speed break discipline, delighted us this fall, and in April the bronze medal came from the best young boxer of Montenegro, Mirko Šarčević, who was third at the European Championship for young people in Sofia," COK announced.

The president of COK, Dušan Simonović, said in his opening address that he is proud of the great results of our athletes in Olympic and non-Olympic sports.

"The year behind us has been very successful, and it was especially marked by our ladies, Marija Vuković, Bojana Gojković, Tamara Radunović, Anđela Berishaj, the golden lionesses. The year was challenging, and it will be like that in 2023. Six competitions await us under the auspices of the International of the Olympic Committee, and the most important are the European Games in Krakow, which will be a qualifying competition for the Games in Paris. At the next Olympic Games, we expect a good team, we expect a demanding period for our enthusiastic team and athletes, and we believe that we will confirm our class in Paris. it is especially pleasing that we have many young athletes, who are already recording good results, as well as our handball and water polo players. like taekwondo. We especially highlight the results of our competitors in non-Olympic sports, which the Montenegrin Olympic Committee will especially support. This year we had champions like Vasilij Jakšić, Ars Milić, Gracija Stjepčević, good results in kick boxing. "Especially in the younger categories, the results were fantastic and this gives us strength, will and hope for further work, but strengthens the belief that we don't have to worry about the future of Montenegrin sports," concluded Simonović.

The ceremony in Villa "Gorica" ​​was attended by the highest state officials, representatives of embassies and national sports associations.