The Montenegrin Olympic Committee has confirmed the final composition of Team Montenegro for the 20th Mediterranean Games, to be held in Taranto, Italy, from 21 August to 3 September 2026. The Montenegrin delegation will consist of 55 athletes. Approximately 4,500 athletes from 26 countries across three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia – are expected to compete for medals.
Montenegrin athletes will compete in 13 sports: athletics, bocce, boxing, judo, sailing, karate, padel, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, shooting, taekwondo, tennis and water polo.
The largest individual team is the karate squad with ten athletes, while Montenegro will be represented in the only team sport by the men’s water polo team. The delegation reflects a balance of experience and youth, ranging from established national team members to athletes born after 2005, for whom Taranto will mark their first major senior multi-sport event.
In the individual and doubles events, Montenegro will be represented by an almost equal number of female and male athletes – 20 women and 21 men.
In addition to the men’s water polo team, Montenegro will be represented by:
- Athletics: Marija Bogavac (javelin throw) and Marija Vuković (high jump);
- Bocce: Sanela Brkan (precision shooting), Ela Stjepčević (speed shooting), Ilija Belan (speed shooting) and Gracija Stjepčević (precision shooting);
- Boxing: Bojana Gojković (up to 57 kg), Tomislav Đinović (up to 60 kg) and Miloš Roganović (up to 70 kg);
- Judo: Novo Raičević (up to 90 kg) and Aleksandar Tomić (up to 100 kg);
- Sailing: Milivoj Dukić and Ilija Marković (ILCA 7);
- Karate: Helena Backović (up to 55 kg), Nađa Boričić (up to 61 kg), Jovana Damjanović (over 68 kg), Jovana Stojanović (up to 68 kg), Lana Vukčević (up to 50 kg), Nenad Dulović (up to 67 kg), Lazar Jovović (up to 75 kg), Nemanja Jovović (over 84 kg), Nemanja Mikulić (up to 84 kg) and Balša Vojinović (up to 60 kg);
- Padel: Jelena Matijević, Ivanka Simonović, Gianluca Lamberto Pelonci and Luka Petranović (men’s, women’s and mixed doubles);
- Swimming: Jovana Kuljača (50 m and 100 m freestyle) and Miloš Milenković (50 m and 100 m butterfly);
- Rhythmic Gymnastics: Nina Dragović (individual all-around);
- Shooting: Ksenija Jukić (10 m air rifle), Kristina Popović (10 m air rifle and mixed team), Nevena Šaranović (10 m air pistol), Miloš Božović (10 m air rifle and mixed team), while Jovica Marković and Ivo Stanišić will compete in the trap event;
- Taekwondo: Anđela Berišaj (over 67 kg), Andrea Berišaj (up to 67 kg) and Enes Dushku (up to 68 kg);
- Tennis: Tea Nikčević (singles and mixed doubles) and Petar Jovanović (singles and mixed doubles).
Montenegrin Olympic Committee President Dušan Simonović said: “This will be Montenegro’s fifth appearance at the Mediterranean Games since the restoration of independence, and we have won 22 medals in our previous participations. The athletes representing Montenegro in Taranto combine experience and youth. These Games are also an important step in our preparations for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. The Mediterranean Games bring together 26 countries from three continents and represent one of the most significant multi-sport events after the Olympic Games, making participation particularly important for Montenegrin sport.”
The official farewell ceremony for Team Montenegro will be held prior to the delegation’s departure for Taranto.
