The best Montenegrin water polo players returned to the top of Europe at the end of January, they won a bronze medal at the Old Continent Championship in Budapest and thereby announced great things in the Olympic year.
The qualification tournament for the Olympic Games was waiting for them, Vladimir Gojković's boys were supposed to travel to Rotterdam with good prospects of obtaining a visa for Tokyo - they were in a rush, in a good rhythm and mood, and then the covid-19 virus interrupted all the world's plans and projections .
For Đur Radović, a guy who is no longer talked about as one of the greatest water polo talents, but as a mature, built player, ready to take responsibility - the postponement of the qualification tournament and the Olympic Games did not go down very well.
Especially because it was supposed to be his first Olympic Games.
- We were really in a rush, we all felt great after the European Championship and were waiting for the start of the qualification for the Olympic Games. But the coronavirus changed things, the qualifications were justifiably postponed, and then the Olympic Games - said Radović for the website of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee (COK).
The Government of Japan and the International Olympic Committee have decided to postpone the holding of the Games by exactly one year, so the new date is July 23 - August 8, 2021.
It is not known when the qualifying tournament will be held, where our water polo players will play for an Olympic visa, most likely in March 2021...
The postponement of the Games only moved the goal of the "shark" in time - therefore, it did not change it...
- Regardless of the delays, our goal is the same. The priority for the coming year is qualifying for the Olympic Games. I'm a young player and haven't had the chance to compete in the biggest sports show, but I can guess what all the Games are about. The best athletes on the planet are participating in the Olympics, I hope that we younger people will also get the opportunity to compete - says our left-handed representative.
Although he is only 21 years old, the role of Đur Radović in the national team and in his home club - Jadran Novlja, is already great.
Young water polo players are training at home, in the least pleasant environment for athletes, and waiting to return to the pool.
- It seems to me that I train the most now. The situation, especially for us in water polo, is a little more difficult, but we try to work on ourselves as much as possible and respect the plan and program we receive from the fitness coaches - adds Radović.
The fight against the coronavirus will last as long as the measures are respected, claims the Montenegrin representative. - The most important thing is to show discipline and patience. All this will pass, and then we will return to normal activities - concluded Đuro Radović.
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