This article is part of the special feature “20 Years of Montenegrin Sport”. The full publication is available at the link.
When you sail, you spend hours alone at sea, exposed to the wind, the waves, the sun or the cold. In that solitude, you quickly learn the most important lesson: at sea, there is no room for improvisation. Every movement carries weight, every decision shapes your course, and a boat responds perfectly only when you are completely present. Yet, despite that apparent solitude on seas and regatta courses around the world, I have never truly felt alone. Every time I looked up at my sail, I knew who I was, where I came from and under which flag I was sailing.
This important milestone, the 20th anniversary of Montenegro’s restored independence, carries deep personal and sporting significance for me. My growth as a person and as an athlete has unfolded alongside the development of our sporting nation. From London 2012, through Rio and Tokyo, to Paris 2024, I have had the honour of witnessing, across four Olympic cycles, how a small country on the world map has become a symbol of remarkable strength, character and dignity in the way we represent our homeland. Our sport embodies the traditional Montenegrin values of honour and courage, expressed through competition while always maintaining true respect for our opponents.
Competing under the Montenegrin flag is an emotion that is difficult to express in simple words. It is the feeling of walking behind our flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, knowing that behind you stands every stone, every bay of the Bay of Kotor, and every person who believes in you. But it is also an enormous responsibility. Sport has taught me perseverance – not to compete against others, but to strive for myself, my team, and my country. It has taught me to respect my opponents, but even more importantly, to remain faithful to my own dream.
Over the past two decades, Montenegrin sport has written a remarkable history, filled with sporting achievements, tears of joy and moments that have united us. Behind every success lie countless hours, days and years of hard work, perseverance and battles with oneself, long before dawn. It is precisely through those battles that the strength of character that defines our athletes is forged.
Today, as preparations for Los Angeles 2028 are already well underway, I look at sport and at our role within it with even greater maturity. Our responsibility is not only to chase results and faster times, but also to help build the system and create opportunities for future generations. This anniversary reminds us that we have built a recognisable sporting identity, but it also encourages athletes’ voices to play an even greater role in shaping solutions for the future.
There are places around the world with more ideal sailing conditions, but nowhere do I feel a stronger sense of peace and connection than at home, in Herceg Novi. That is where I learned to read the wind and the sea. I believe that Montenegro, like a skilled sailor, has the wisdom to recognise every fair wind and the strength to withstand every storm.
It is now up to us to continue believing in a positive outcome, to work tirelessly and to keep our sails raised high. I believe that Montenegrin sport will continue to grow, and that new generations will carry our flag even further. Here’s to many more proud sunrises and victories under our flag.
