She was the first in the history of Montenegrin karate to win a world and European medal in combat and is the only female athlete from our country with a medal at the European Games, as she won bronze at the first one in Baku. Her name is synonymous with Montenegrin karate, and sport in general - she was the best in the selection of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, and now she is the first winner of the Golden Plaque of the Karate Association for the best female competitors in the year in which they end their careers.
Marina Raković decided at the beginning of 2023 to train others through fighting, and her treasury is filled with medals and awards from all competitions and in all age categories. How many there are - some of them would probably have been missed even by the most accurate chroniclers.
- I decided that enough was enough already at the beginning of this year and decided to continue what I did as a competitor, which is to help the younger ones to improve. I founded the Kobra Kai club, and the name came from the popular series. I am the head coach, in the club I work with Andrijo Danilović, who has a handful of medals from European, Mediterranean and Balkan competitions. For now, we are training 50 participants, as well as 30 competitors between the ages of six and 16. Now we also have a hall at the Old Airport near the football complex - story for "Vijesti" Raković.
Recognized for her incredible consistency, with four senior European medals to her credit, Marina also had "that something"... The World Federation is her ipon over the great champion Irina Zarevska declared the move of the year in all WKF disciplines. She was also the face on numerous propaganda posters of the largest organization in karate, as well as on the websites of the European Federation and the WKF.
- I never accepted half-hearted solutions, I gave my best in every training and competition, and now it seems to me that I am working even more. I want to convey the desire and perseverance to young people so that they can be successful athletes and, above all, socially responsible persons - concluded Raković.
President of the Karate Association Predrag Perković initially appointed Marina as a selector in the age group - up to 14 years old.
- The Association's decision to give the best competitors a chance proved correct in this case Milena Milacic i Almira Cecunjanin, and Raković is the best and there must be a place for her in the organization I manage. Milena and Almir justified their trust with big medals this year, and I have no doubt that it will be the same with Marina - Perković explained the decision.
This year, the Karate Association can boast of medals in both disciplines. The representative kata team won the European bronze, and Nenad Dulović world silver in wrestling.
Bonus video:
