The athlete recovery and regeneration programme implemented by NOC Montenegro and SIRO Porto Montenegro as part of preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games continued with Montenegrin swimmers Miloš Milenković, Jovana Kuljača and Jana Borović staying at SIRO Porto Montenegro.
The programme brought together swimmers at different stages of their sporting careers – Miloš Milenković, an NOC Montenegro scholarship holder and Montenegrin record holder in the 50m and 100m butterfly, Olympian Jovana Kuljača, and young swimmer Jana Borović. During their stay, the focus was on recovery between training sessions, sleep, nutrition, and work outside the pool – elements of preparation that are particularly important in a sport involving a high training volume and limited time for recovery.
The programme launched by NOC Montenegro and SIRO Porto Montenegro forms part of a broader system of support for Montenegrin athletes on the road to Los Angeles 2028. During their stay, athletes have access to restorative rooms, fitness facilities, a swimming pool, recovery treatments, sports massages and nutritional support.
For swimmers, whose daily schedules often include two training sessions, quality recovery is an integral part of the training process.
During his stay at SIRO Porto Montenegro, Miloš Milenković highlighted how this approach allows him to focus on recovery between demanding training sessions. “What I like most about SIRO is the environment, which is designed with athletes and recovery in mind. This is the right place for athletes to recover, step away from their everyday routine for a while and reflect on everything,” Milenković said.
His main goal for the period ahead is to achieve the Olympic qualification standard for Los Angeles 2028, and he also emphasised the importance of NOC Montenegro’s support on that journey. “The NOC Montenegro scholarship contributes greatly to my progress because it gives me the flexibility to attend training camps, gain new knowledge and experience, compete at the highest-level international events and obtain the swimming equipment I need,” Milenković said.
Jovana Kuljača, who represented Montenegro at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, particularly highlighted the importance of rest and regeneration in a sport that allows very little time for a break between seasons. “Recovery is one of the most important aspects of sport and is just as important as training, but it is not talked about enough. I think we need to learn much more about it. Our stay here will mean a great deal to us ahead of our upcoming competitions,” Kuljača said.
Kuljača also highlighted the importance of NOC Montenegro’s continuous support for athletes during their preparations and competitions. “The support of NOC Montenegro means a great deal to me because I know there is someone behind me who follows my results, my work and my effort. For an athlete, the most important thing is to represent their country in the best possible way,” Kuljača said.
The youngest of the three, Jana Borović, has for years built her daily life around swimming as something much more than just training. Speaking about the demands of her sport, she highlighted that spending so much time in the pool also requires strong mental preparation. “I think swimming is one of the most demanding sports because it requires a great deal of fitness, but also mental strength. Every day you swim from one end of the pool to the other, and you spend much of that time alone with yourself. Swimming is part of my life, and even when I have a longer break, after just two weeks I am already thinking about how nice it would be to get back into the pool,” Borović said.
The swimmers’ stay forms part of the Recovery and Regeneration Programme launched by NOC Montenegro and SIRO Porto Montenegro in May this year, with the aim of providing Montenegrin athletes on their Olympic journey with a systematic approach to recovery, regeneration, sleep, nutrition and overall well-being. The programme is intended for NOC Montenegro scholarship holders in individual sports, as well as athletes from team sports who are potential participants at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.