Since that May dawn in 2006, there have been many things in Montenegrin sports that could and should have been done better. There have been mistakes, system flaws, some national teams have taken big steps backwards, but despite everything, even after 20 years, sport is still the best product of our country.
Over the past two decades since Montenegro has been sailing independently through sports waters, there have been successes that few believed in, and pages of history have been written that will be remembered...
On the occasion of 20 years since the restoration of independence, we recall the 20 most significant moments of our sport.
THE MEDAL FROM LONDON SHINES FOREVER
One of the big questions facing Montenegrin sports was how long it would have to go before our country could be included among the immortals at the Olympic Games, how long it would have to wait for a medal from the most important sporting event...
The answer came relatively quickly. Perhaps the medal eluded the water polo players in 2008 at the first Games in which Montenegro appeared, but four years later in London everything came together.
Silver shone around the necks of Montenegrin handball players (if it weren't for the sisters) Bonaventura it would be gold), the one whose shine never fades. The first Montenegrin Olympic medal, unfortunately the last to date.
They wrote their names in golden letters that unforgettable summer by the Thames Marina Vukcevic (now Rajčić), Radmila Miljanic (now Petrovic), Jovanka Radicevic, Ana Djokic, Marija Jovanovic, Ana Radovic, Andjela Bulatović, Sonja Barjaktarovic, Maja Savić, Bojana Popović, Suzana Lazović, Katarina Bulatović, Majda Mehmedović, Milena Knezevic (now Raičević), as well as the coach Dragan Adzic.
ON JULY 13TH, MONTENEGRO DOES NOT LOSE
The first major gold medal came to our country just two years after the restoration of independence, at a time when many people were perhaps not even interested in success, but were simply thrilled to see Montenegro at major competitions.
During those two years, the water polo players traveled from the European B Championship to Malaga, which will always be a city that is especially engraved in the hearts of Montenegrins. On their debut at the continental championship, the “sharks” “bite” gold. Spain, Hungary, Croatia fell, and then the final was played on Montenegrin Statehood Day.
And on July 13th, our country did not lose - Serbia was defeated in the final, and the festivities throughout Montenegro could begin.
One of the greatest successes of Montenegrin sports was signed by Miloš Šćepanović, Drasko Brguljan, Vjekoslav Pasković, Nikola Vukcevic, Nikola Janović, Milan Tičić, Mladjan Janović, Veljko Uskokovic, Aleksandar Ivović, Boris Zlokovic, Vladimir Gojkovic, Predrag Jokic, Zdravko Radic, Damjan Danilović and selector Petar Porobić.
The water polo players were later European and world vice-champions, they also won a bronze medal, and unfortunately, they still have three fourth-place finishes from the Olympic Games.
WHEN THE FALCONS FLYED HIGH
Football has not brought Montenegro any medals, nor has it placed it in major competitions, but this sport is a story in itself and every victory is special, remembered for a long time... And in 2011, the "falcons" flew like never before or since.
Under the leadership Zlatka Cica Kranjčara from the bench and captain Mirko Vučinić On the field, they shone in the European Championship qualifiers and in June of that year they were in an unreal 16th place in the FIFA rankings.
Today, below that position are participants in the upcoming World Cup such as Uruguay, Denmark, Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Norway...
Soon, instead of Cic, he arrived. Branko Brnović, and the legendary Andrija Delibasic in the 91st minute of the match against the giants of England, he flew like a hawk, hit the post and sent the ball behind his back Joe HartFor an epic 2:2, for the play-offs...
There, the Czech Republic shattered the dream of the Euro, but nothing could erase the euphoria of that 2011.
DYNAMITE EXPLOSION AT NIGHT FOR ALL WEATHERS
In the year in which it celebrated its first decade of independence, Montenegro witnessed an incredible feat by one of its athletes. Suffice it to say that Dejan Zlaticanin brought to Montenegro a belt engraved with the portrait of the greatest Muhammad Ali.
"Dynamite" exploded that June 2016 in the US state of New York - knocking out Franklin Mamani and became the world champion in the WBC version, the most prestigious in professional boxing.
Before him, only the legendary one from these regions won the belt of that version. Mate Parlov.
GOLDEN LIONESSES 2012.
Just a few months after winning the silver medal, the Montenegrin women's handball team conquered Europe.
Milena Raičević taught handball in Belgrade during the semi-finals and finals, and the "lionesses" became champions of the Old Continent over the home team Serbia and the debtors from London, the Norwegian team. It was the most beautiful end to an incredible 2012.
Unlike the team from London, Bojana Popović, Maja Savić and Ana Radović were not there, and Adžić joined the "lions" Biljana Pavicevic (today Novović), Jelena Despotović (Radivojević), Andreu Klikovac, Sara Vukcevic, Jasna Tošković i Sandra Nikčević.
The "lionesses" experienced their greatest success after 2012 ten years later when they went through the "hell" of Morača, and then through Skopje and Ljubljana to win the European bronze. Jovanka Radicevic, Đurđina Jauković and her teammates defeated powerful France in the match for 3rd place.
TWO STARS OF THE FUTURE
Buducnost produced many great handball players even before the golden 2012, they already had European trophies, but the most valuable one, the Champions League, was still waiting, the one that somehow always eluded them in the semifinals.
And then the dream of all generations came true on May 13th - Bojana Popović, Maja Savić, Katarina Bulatović and her friends were better than Đero in two matches of the final.
If the first title was a long wait, the second one came quickly - just three years later in Budapest. This time, the coach was Dragan Adžić, and the "blue and white" reached the throne with 15 wins and a draw. In the final, they defeated Larvik.
KOTOR FESTIVAL
A year after Malaga, Rijeka arrived, and at that moment Montenegro ruled both among national teams and in club water polo.
Primorac was led in 2009. Ranko Perović won the Champions League, and in the final he defeated the giant Pro Reko.
The Kotor Festival in the Kvarner Bay was written by Zdravko Radić, Draško Brguljan, Damir Crepulja, Antonio Petrovic, Darko Brguljan, Juraj Zatovic, Gergelj Kiš, Vjekoslav Paskovic, Boris Pavlovic, Bojan Milosevic, Adam Steinmetz, Dragan Draskovic and the captain Nebojsa Milić.
A year later, the younger Kotor club also reached a European trophy - Cataro won the LEN Cup (today the Eurocup) in its debut season. In the final, they lost to Savona.
THRILLA IN MANILA AND THE IVANOVIĆ THREE
Basketball players have also brought many unforgettable moments to Montenegro, but two are particularly memorable - in both of them our national team played against greats.
The first one happened in the already mentioned 2012, when Montenegro played away against the great Serbia in the EuroBasket qualifiers and achieved one of the most incredible and unexpected victories. In the last attack Nikola Ivanovic scored from half court and silenced the “Belgrade Arena” (73:71).
Montenegro has played in a total of five European and two World Championships, but it has never been as fun as during the World Basketball Championship three years ago in Manila. Nikola Vucevic, Kendrick Perry and his teammates reached 11th place (the best finish in history), and the match with the American dream team is memorable, where they led at halftime and only fell heroically in the final (85:73).
MIRACLES OF LIONS
The miracles were the work of Montenegro's handball players. Over the years, the "Lions" reached the World and European Championships, overcoming giants Sweden and Germany, and in 2019, they even defeated Denmark, the then Olympic and world champions.
The handball team will be remembered both as our first to qualify for a major competition (EURO 2008), but also for their great performance at the EHF Euro 2022, when they finished 11th.
The goal will be remembered. Alena Muratović for the first Euro, games Vasko Ševaljevića against Sweden, Nemanja Grbović against Germany, farewell Petra Episode at that match. So does the heart Mirko Radović against Mikel Hansen, goals Miloš Božović i Stevan Vujović and defense Nebojše Simić in the duel with Denmark. The lion's heart of all of them will be remembered every time they were written off.
PHILIP THE GREAT
The proud boy from Cetinje is one of the most beautiful sports stories in Montenegro.
His name is Filip Radovic, he is a table tennis maestro and has brought his country two medals from the Paralympic Games - bronze from Tokyo and Paris. In addition to these, he has won many other medals throughout his illustrious career.
MARY'S FLIGHT OVER MUNICH
She was Marija Vuković world champion in the junior high jump, and then ten years later she crowned her career.
First, by reaching the final of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and then by winning a silver medal at the European Championships in Munich. At the iconic "Olympic Stadium", she jumped 195 centimeters.
THE CITY OF LIGHT ILLUMINATED SRĐA
Five wins and a great fight against the then world champion.
Judo player Srdjan Mrvaljević In 2011, he failed to pass in Paris. Ja Bum Kim from Korea to win gold, but his silver was a huge success.
LORD OF THE RINGS AND EUROLEAGUE IN MORACA
It was the hottest April in Podgorica ever - the basketball players of Budućnost Voli in the hell of “Morača” won the ABA League for the first time in history in 2018. Nikola Ivanović, Nemanja Gordic and the other guys Aleksandar Dzikic They were better than Red Star in the final. The images from our biggest stadium and from the streets of Podgorica will remain forever.
Conquering the region also meant qualifying for the Euroleague, which may have been too much at that moment, but it will be remembered that all the Spanish clubs fell in Podgorica, just like the great CSKA from Moscow.
CONTINUITY OF BASKETBALL PLAYERS
The Montenegrin women's basketball team first appeared at EuroBasket in 2011 and since then they have always been part of the finals of the Old Continent's championship - a total of eight times so far, and they are on track to continue the continuity next year.
Of all the appearances so far, the first one is particularly memorable. At the tournament in Poland, our national team shone through two group stages. Iva Perovanović, Jelena Dubljević, Jelena Škerović and the first-place team reached the quarterfinals, but then ran into eventual finalist Turkey and their dream of medals was shattered.
FOOTBALL HAS A FUTURE
When the senior national team was going through probably the most difficult period, "some new kids" of our football restored hope and sent a message that Montenegro has a future.
The young people, whom he gathered and first led Goran Perišić, and then continued Nenad Vukcevic, They became our first football team to qualify for a major competition - the Euro last summer. The cadets continued this year, or rather took a step further and secured a place in the European and World Championships.
Andrija Bulatović, Vasilije Adžić i Andrej Kostic They are already in the strongest leagues, and soon the pearls could follow in their footsteps. Radovana Kavaje.
AWARDS FROM THE RING
Two ladies and one guy gave Montenegrin boxing a special charm and brought our country three medals from the biggest competitions.
Bojana Gojković was the vice-champion of Europe, while Tamara Radunović i Tomislav Djinovic They have a bronze medal from the continental championship.
KARATE AND THE HARVEST OF MEDALS
Where there is karate, there are usually medals from major competitions.
Marina Raković He has three European and one world medal, as well as a medal from the European Games. Nenad Dulović was the vice-champion of the world, while Mario Hodzic He has silver with EP and bronze with SP.
Dragana Konjević, Jelena Maksimović i Nikola Malović also reached the European bronze, and Montenegro also won medals with teams in wrestling and kata.
DUKIĆ'S OLYMPIC LAPS
London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Paris - Milivoj Dukić He has battled rough seas and winds at four editions of the Olympic Games. At the penultimate one, he was the best in one regatta, and at the last one, he achieved a career-best finish of 14th place.
He might have been even better if the weather conditions in Marseille had allowed him to enter the Top 10 and fight for medals.
ANDREA AND BIG DREAMS ABOUT LOS ANGELES
Two years, two bronze medals from the European Championships - our taekwondo athlete Andrea Berishaj She won medals in Aigle, Switzerland, and Munich.
In the sport, which is Olympic, the great competitor dreams of Los Angeles and the 2028 Games. Because of everything so far, it is clear that her dream is more than realistic.
VOLLEYBALL IS WAKENING UP
The hard work has finally started to pay off for Montenegrin volleyball in recent years.
Our men's team has participated in three European Championships since 2019, while the ladies made history last year and won the first European championship.
The Montenegrin women will begin their Eurovolleyball campaign in Gothenburg this August.
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