This article is part of the special feature “20 Years of Montenegrin Sport”. The full publication is available at the link.
There are dates that have become historic for our country. One such date was 21 May 2006, when Montenegro restored its independence and began to build its own path. In sport, it is never easy for such a small country to carve its way to the very top, but the character we possess is deeply rooted in our history and has never disappeared. All we needed was the opportunity to show it once again.
As a 16-year-old girl, I had the opportunity to represent my country for the first time, to experience the most beautiful feeling of pride as I placed my hand over my heart and sang the national anthem. We built our journey gradually, with confidence and determination, believing that only hard work could lead us to success. Our first major medal at the 2010 Junior Championship showed that we were on the right path and that the best was yet to come. We did not have to wait long for the historic success of the generation that would go on to produce legends of this sport.
The year 2012 was the greatest year in the history of Montenegrin sport. First, with Budućnost, we won the EHF Women’s Champions League, and only a few months later we won Montenegro’s first, and so far only, Olympic medal. That silver medal, shining like gold, was an achievement still talked about today. Such a small country, with so much heart and character, made history and fulfilled every athlete’s dream. It was not just a medal – it was the voice of the “Lionesses”, representing their country before the entire world. The welcome we received back home was one of the most beautiful moments of our careers. Realising how much happiness we had brought to our people and how deeply Montenegrins feel for their country gave us even greater motivation not to stop there. We knew they were standing behind us and that everything we did on the court united both us and everyone cheering for us.
Only a few months later, at the European Championship in Belgrade, Montenegro won another medal. This time, it was gold. We reached the top of Europe. In a packed Arena, the Montenegrin flag flew proudly, and the atmosphere was unforgettable. Standing on the podium, watching the Montenegrin flag be raised and listening to the most beautiful national anthem in the world is something that cannot be put into words. It was not only a source of pride for those of us who had spent 80 minutes on the court playing a marathon match against the previously unbeaten Norway. It was a moment of pride for the entire nation and another page of history written in golden letters.
The dream of our generation came true. We truly lived our story. We never gave up, despite the many obstacles. By winning the EHF Women’s Champions League again in 2015, we proved that handball remained the number one sport in our country. That same year, we narrowly missed out on a bronze medal with the national team, but we did not miss that opportunity in 2022, when we won another medal. This time it was bronze, after defeating the powerful French team, one of the greatest handball nations in the world. Once again, we proved that on the court, the world’s biggest teams hold no advantage over courage, character and love for the country that we have carried in our hearts for generations.
We must remember that none of these achievements came overnight. They were earned through tremendous hard work. The foundations of these results were built over years and decades. That is why we must never allow ourselves to give up on what makes us proudest and happiest.
Sport is pure emotion. Just as our ancestors passed on to us the character and heart of the Lionesses, we too must continue to work and pass those same values on to future generations through our achievements on the court.
I truly believe that the voices of those who brought the greatest honours to our country will continue to be heard, and that we will pass on our knowledge and experience to the generations that follow.
Today, when I look back, I am proud not only of the medals we won, but also of the legacy we have left behind. The medals will remain recorded in history, but what matters even more is that we showed young generations that dreams have no limits, regardless of how small the country you come from may be. If we managed to stand on the Olympic podium and reach the top of Europe, then every child training today can believe that their dream is possible too. That is perhaps the greatest value of all our achievements – that they have become an inspiration for those who come after us.
One of the most beautiful memories I carry from our generation is singing the national anthem before every training session. It reminded us who we were playing for and what we represented.
Montenegro is a country that produces champions. A country that defeats great powers through character and heart, both on the field of play and beyond it. Let us protect it, love it and be worthy of its name.
Long live Montenegro!
