The best Bosnian and Herzegovina swimmer, Lana Pudar, was named Athlete of the Year by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pudar was also named the best female athlete in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the senior competition, and Nedžad Husić (taekwondo) was named the best male athlete.
In her speech afterwards, Pudar stated that she was particularly pleased to receive the recognition from the Olympic Committee and that she was honored to win this award for the third year in a row.
She is satisfied with the results achieved this year, in which she won two major medals, even though the Olympics did not go as she had planned. However, she emphasizes that she learned a lot from that performance and that she will work on correcting her mistakes in the coming period.
Tea Kovačević (tennis) was chosen as the best athlete in the junior category, while the best junior was Benjamin Husić (taekwondo).
The most successful sports club is the Orka Mostar Water Sports Club, the most successful national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Men’s Senior Basketball National Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the award for the most successful coach went to Damir Đedović (swimming).
The thirteenth consecutive event ‘Selection of the Athlete of the Year’ organized by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held in the festive atmosphere of the multimedia hall of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the special patron was the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The award ceremony was attended by BiH Presidency Member Denis Bećirović, who, together with OKBiH President Izet Radja, presented the Athlete of the Year award to Lani Pudar. In his speech, he emphasized that this evening, recognition is being given to exceptional individuals who inspire the entire society with their effort, talent, dedication and results.
Bećirović reminds that BiH has a rich sports tradition, and that the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo left an indelible mark in the hearts of our people and became an important part of the sports and cultural identity of BiH.
“This event also inspires new generations, positively promoting our capital and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the world stage. Our strategic interest is to bring back the former sports spirit and to become a sports-oriented nation again in full capacity. As the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Paris this year, I supported our Olympic team, which was represented by Lana Pudar, Aleksandra Samadžić, Larisa Cerić, Mesud Pezer and Jovan Lekić. It is time for the whole country to understand the importance of sports. In the modern world, sports and sports diplomacy are among the key factors in the redistribution of political and economic power. Due to its popularity and media ubiquity, modern sport has become an instrument through which countries attract investments, thereby strengthening international reputation and influence,” said Bećirović.
He added that BiH should recognize the positive effects of sports and sports diplomacy on creating a positive image of our country, and then thanked swimmer Ismail Barlov, BiH sitting volleyball team members, swimmer Lana Pudar, the BiH basketball team, and all the Olympians who represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, and other successful athletes, for their successes and dignified representation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past period.
In addition to awards for the best athletes, teams and coaches, special awards will also be given tonight.
Tomislav Cvitanušić (triathlon and pentathlon) and Muhamed Bikić (journalist) received special awards from OK BiH for the promotion of sports and Olympic values, Đurđica Šišul (athletics) and Mirsad Tinjić (gymnastics) for long-term contribution to the development of sports. The promoters of sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Ismail Barlov (paraswimming) and the BiH national team in sitting volleyball.
The best athlete or team from the family of non-Olympic sports were announced as Anes Bostandžić (karate), Emina Sipović (karate), Marina Kurteš (karate) and the BiH Moto National Team – motorcycling.
A special award for outstanding sporting results was given to Aleksandra Samardžić (judo), Ada Avdagić (taekwondo), Muay Thai National Team of BiH 2024 (Thai boxing) and Muhamed Đonko (taekwondo).
The award for media promotion of Olympic values was given to journalists Aleksandar Babić and Velid Spaho (journalist), for successful long-term coaching work Denis Muhović (karate), while the flattering title of ambassador of sports was given to Edin Džeko (football).
Source: zenit.ba
