This article is part of the special feature “20 Years of Montenegrin Sport”. The full publication is available at the link.
As we look back on twenty years of Montenegro’s independence, we realise that history is not written by dates alone. It is written by people – through genuine emotion, immense sacrifice and hearts beating on the field of play. For small nations, sport has never been just a game. It is the purest reflection of our spirit, our defiance, and proof that the greatness of a nation lies not in its territory, but in the courage of its daughters and sons.
Before speaking of medals, I want to express my deepest respect and gratitude to the generations before us who secured the sacred right for us to compete under our own flag. Without the foundations they laid, my generation would never have had the opportunity to stand proudly alongside the world’s best.
For me personally, that journey began in the remarkable year of 2006. I had the honour of winning a silver medal in Moscow, bringing Montenegro its first European medal as an independent nation. That moment broke the ice. Then, in 2008, the magic of Málaga saw our water polo Sharks crowned European champions. Success followed success. In 2011, I won the silver medal at the World Judo Championships in Paris, while the crowning moment came in 2012 with the Olympic silver medal won by our Lionesses in London – a medal that continues to shine like a diamond, illuminating the path for future generations. Completing that circle, I am proud that, at the end of last year, I once again won a world title on the veterans’ stage in Paris, proving that you fight for Montenegro for as long as your heart beats.
Our pride has been forged by everyone: footballers who defeated European giants at the Pod Goricom Stadium, basketball players competing on the world stage, handball players battling through the toughest European competitions, and volleyball players who made history. Equally inspiring have been our individual champions – athletes who reached historic heights, fearless boxers, outstanding taekwondo athletes, our karate competitors who continue to rank among Europe’s and the world’s best, sailors who rose from the waters of Herceg Novi and Tivat to the Olympic stage, determined shooters and tennis players who have proudly represented Montenegro around the world.
I would also like to thank our loyal supporters, who have shared every victory and every difficult defeat with us, as well as all private companies and businesses that have invested in sport and contributed to providing better conditions for our young athletes.
However, if these words are to be more than ceremonial praise, we must honestly face reality. Behind the scenes, the road of sport is too often difficult, and many of the problems are deeply rooted in inadequate legislative solutions. Because of this, the Montenegrin Olympic Committee has never been given the status it deserves within the country. Nevertheless, at least in my own experience, and today through its work with new generations, the MOC has always been and remains a true partner and a genuine source of support for athletes.
For that reason, I would like to send two clear, direct and important messages for the years ahead.
A message to public officials and decision-makers: Your positions and mandates are temporary, but the dreams and sacrifices of our children last a lifetime. You are not the owners of Montenegrin sport, nor are you the arbiters of children’s futures. Your only duty is to serve them and to protect them. Stop allowing administrative barriers and personal interests to stand in the way of our athletes. Improve the legislation and build a system in which medals are no longer won through sheer defiance and determination alone, but through stable and meaningful support from the state. Be the wind behind their backs, not the wall they are forced to overcome.
A message to our children and future champions: Look at the emblem on your jersey, compete with all your heart, and never allow any official or any flawed system to destroy your dream. When you encounter injustice, do not let it break your spirit. Let it make you stronger. Remember this throughout your life: it is not where you come from that matters, but what you are striving to achieve. We, the older generation, are here to fight for you and to protect you. Your only task is to love sport, compete fairly and believe that from our small sports halls you can conquer the world. You are the true and genuine future of Montenegro.
As we enter the third decade of Montenegro’s sporting independence, let us preserve our unity, improve our legislation, support our young people and believe in them, because they are the finest ambassadors our country can send to the world.
Here’s to many more years of pride, to our youth, and to Montenegro!
