A member of the Athletics Club Podgorica, Danijel Furtula and Marija Vuković from Lovcen, Cetinje, are the best athletes of Montenegro in 2023, in the traditional selection of the Athletics Federation, the Management Board of that association decided.
In his final year, Furtula was a participant in the European Team Championship for seniors, he won a gold medal at the Games of Small European Countries and sixth place at the Winter European Cup of Throwers.
He also took fifth place at the Balkan Championship for seniors. His most valuable result according to the IAAF tables is 1112 points (discus throw – 62,79m).
"Recognition for the best athlete, even though I have received it several times, is as pleasing as the first time. The recognition is a reward for all the effort and work put in. Specifically for this year, I can be satisfied with the results, especially if you consider that I have minor injuries prevent them from being even better," said Furtula.
He emphasized that next year will be even better and that he will meet the norm for the Olympic Games in Paris and the European Championship in Rome.
"I believe that I can reach the Olympic standard. I believe that, if I can't do it based on the standard, I will win the performance based on the five best results," said Furtula.
Vuković is a participant of the European Team Championship for seniors in the high jump, she won 14th place at the World Championship for seniors and tenth at the European Indoor Championship for seniors.
She won second place at indoor meets in Kircberg and Trinec, and third in Banjska Bistrica.
Her most valuable result according to the IAAF tables is 1170 points (high jump - 195).
Vuković did not attend the ceremony due to her preparation obligations.
Ognjen Marsenić (2004) from Rudar in Pljevlja and Vesna Kljajević (2005) from Tara in Mojkovac were declared the best juniors, while Matija Vojvodić (2006) from Mornar and Anabela Mujovi, a member of the Sanja bar club, were awarded the best juniors.
In the pioneer competition, the best are Radovan Sošić from Tara, member of Sanja, Anđela Đuranović and Elzana Guberinić (Orion), while the best veterans are Tanasije Kujundžić (1960) from AK Podgorica and Svetlana Useinović (1957) from Mornar.
Tomaš Đurović and Risto Drobnjak received special awards for the results achieved in 2023.
Special awards were given to Darko Pešić, Kristina Rakočević, Slađana Pejović, Anđela Drobnjak, Amir Papazi and Dragan Pešić.
Mia Milašinović, Ljiljana Matović, Ivan Kukuličić, Vesna Pavlićević, Rada Miladinović, Nemanja Džaković, Maša Bubanja, Miljan Kukuličić, Željko Dabović and Marija Bogavac were awarded for the results achieved in 2023.
Golden plaques were also presented to the general sponsor Elektropriveda of Montenegro, the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Montenegrin Olympic Committee at the appropriate ceremony.
Bonus video:
