Sport in Yugoslavia

The 1984 Winter Olympics were held in Sarajevo.

Sport in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had significant role in its culture and society. Team sports such as football, basketball, handball, volleyball and water polo had the biggest popularity. Of individual sports the most popular were tennis, athletics, alpine skiing, swimming, table tennis, ski jumping, chess... Yugoslavia made its debut at the Summer Olympics in 1920. Until its break up in 1992, it competed in 16 Summer and 14 Winter Olympic games and won a total of 87 medals in various summer and winter sports. Yugoslavia hosted its first and the only Winter Olympic games in 1984 in Sarajevo[1] when Jure Franko won country's first Winter Olympic medal, silver in alpine skiing.

Olympic Games

The 1984 Winter Olympic torch

Yugoslavia for the first time participated at the Summer Olympic Games in 1920. Until its break up in 1992, country won a total of 83 medals, 26 gold, 29 silver and 28 bronze. The most medals are won in gymnastics, wrestling and water polo. Yugoslavia hosted its first and the only Winter Olympic Games in 1984 in Sarajevo when Jure Franko won country's first Winter Olympic medal, silver in alpine skiing. Three more medals are won at Winter Games, all in alpine skiing and ski jumping.[2]

Water polo

Water polo was the most successful Yugoslavian team sport at the Olympic games. National team was a total of three times Olympic champion (in 1968, 1984 and 1988) and four times runner-up (in 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980). They were also twice World champions, once European champions and two times champions of water polo World cup.

For the notable Yugoslav water polo players see Category:Yugoslav water polo players.

Yugoslavian clubs were also very successful at the European competitions. Water polo teams from Yugoslavia won thirteen times Champions League and six times Cup Winners' Cup. Among the most notable teams are VK Partizan, HAVK Mladost and VK Jug Dubrovnik. Yugoslav Water Polo Championship was held between 1921 and 1991, Cup between 1972 and 1991 and Winter Championship between 1959 and 1972.

Yugoslavia hosted World Championship in 1973 in Belgrade, European Championship in 1981 in Split and World Cup in 1979 in Belgrade and Rijeka.

Tennis

Mima Jaušovec won the first Yugoslavian Grand Slam, French Open in 1977. The most successful Yugoslavian tennis player is Monika Seles, former world number one player. In 1990, at the age of 16, Seles became the youngest-ever French Open champion. In her rich career, she won total of 9 Grand Slam singles titles, making her one of the best female players ever. Sabrina Goleš won silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics when the tennis was demonstration sport. Yugoslavia Fed Cup team reached the semi finals in 1984.

The most notable Yugoslavian male tennis players are Željko Franulović, Nikola Pilić, Slobodan Živojinović, Dragutin Mitić, Boro Jovanović, Franjo Punčec, Nikola Špear, Josip Palada, Goran Prpić and Goran Ivanišević. Yugoslavia Davis Cup team reached three times semi finals: in 1988, 1989 and 1991.

Yugoslavia won 1991 Hopman Cup with Monika Seles and Goran Prpić in the team and World Team Cup in 1990 when Goran Ivanišević, Goran Prpić and Slobodan Živojinović represented country.

Athletics

Yugoslavia won two Olympic medals in athletics. Ivan Gubijan won a silver medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London in hammer throw and Franjo Mihalić won a silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in marathon.

Yugoslavian athletes never won a medal at the World Championships. The biggest success achieved Yugoslavian 4x400m relay at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo when Dejan Jovković, Nenad Đurović, Ismail Mačev and Slobodan Branković won fourth place.

At the European Championships Yugoslvian athletes won 15 medals, 6 of them gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals. The most notable athlete is Vera Nikolić, two times European champion and once bronze medalist in 800m. Nikolić is also a former world record holder in 800m. The rest five gold medals are won by: Luciano Sušanj in 800m, Miloš Srejović in triple jump, Snežana Pajkić in 1500m and Dragutin Topić in high jump. Nenad Stekić two times was European runner-up in long jump, 5th at the World Championship and European record holder. Silver medals also brought: Petar Šegedin in 3000 metres steeplechase, Stanko Lorger in 110m hurdles, Olga Gere and Biljana Petrović in high jump. Besides Vera Nikolić, bronze medalists were Nataša Urbančič in javelin throw and Borut Bilač in long jump.

At the European Indoor Championships Yugoslavian athletes were very successful. They won total of 26 medals, 6 gold, 7 silver and 13 bronze. Some of notable athletes who competed at these championships are: Jelica Pavličić, Zlatan Saračević, Vladimir Milić, Dragan Zdravković, Josip Alebić, Jože Međumurac, Milovan Savić, Ivan Ivančić, Jovan Lazarević, Slobodanka Čolović...

Yugoslavian athletes won medals in various disciplines at the Mediterranean Games and Summer Universiade.

Yugoslavia hosted European Athletics Championships in 1962 in Belgrade and in 1990 in Split. Yugoslavia was also the host of the 1969 European Indoor Games, competition who is just one year later renames in European Indoor Championships.

Belgrade was two times the host of men's edition of the European Champion Clubs Cup. Athletics club Red Star Belgrade won men's competition in 1989, in 1981 took second place and in 1976 third while women's team was second in 1989 and third in 1988. Athletics club Zajednica ZA was second in women's eidition in 1985, and AC Slavonija was third in 1986.

Swimming

Đurđica Bjedov is the only Yugoslavian swimmer to win an Olympic medal. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City she became Olympic champion in 100m breaststroke and Olympic runner up in 200m breaststroke.

Yugoslavia won only 2 medals at the FINA World Championships. Both medals are won by brothers, Borut and Darjan Petrič in 1500m freestyle.

Yugoslavian swimmers won seventeen medals at the European Championships, one gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals. Besides brothers Petrič, European medalists were: Anton Cerer, Mirjana Šegrt, Marijan Stipetić, Boris Škanata, Esa Ligorio, Matijaž Koželj, Branko Vidović...

Other notable Yugoslavian swimmers are: Nenad Miloš, Hrvoje Barić, Tibor Rezmanj, Vlado Brinovec, Janez Kocmur, Milan Jeger, Mihovil Dorčić, Anton Nardeli, Đuro Radan, Veljko Rogošić, Ana Boban, Predrag Miloš, Aleksandar Pavličević, Višnja Petković, Igor Majcen, Nace Majcen...

Yugoslavia hosted first World Championship in swimming in 1973 in Belgrade. Split hosted 1981 European Championship.

Alpine skiing

Yugoslavia won its first medal at the Winter Olympic Games in alpine skiing. At the 1984 Winter Olympics that were held in Sarajevo, Jure Franko won a silver medal in giant slalom. Four years later, at the Olympic Games in Calgary, Mateja Svet also won a silver medal in the giant slalom. Mateja Svet was the only alpine skier from Yugoslavia, who won a gold medal at the World Championships. At the World Championships, she won a total of five medals, one gold, one silver and three bronze in the three disciplines: slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom. Bojan Križaj was a world runner-up in 1982. in the slalom. That same year, Boris Strel won the bronze medal in the giant slalom. Tomaž Čižman won the bronze medal in super G at the World Championship in 1989 and Nataša Bokal won the silver in 1991 in the slalom.

Mateja Svet was the winner of the World Cup giant slalom in 1988, Rok Petrovič was the slalom winner in 1986. Bojan Križaj repeated his success in 1987.

Yugoslavia organized World Cup races in Kranjska Gora, Maribor and Sarajevo.

Ski jumping

Ski jumping was a very popular individual sport in Yugoslavia. Matjaž Debelak won a bronze medal in individual large hill at the 1988 Winter Olympicss as well as silver medal in team large hill along with Miran Tepeš, Primož Ulaga and Matjaž Zupan. Franci Petek became World champion in 1991.

Other notable ski jumpers are Bogdan Norčič, Danilo Pudgar, Rajko Lotrič, Ludvik Zajc Vasja Bajc, Janez Polda...

Yugoslavia hosted World Cup races in Planica.

Ice hockey

Yugoslavia national ice hockey team five times competed at the Winter Olympic Games. The best placement was achieved in 1968 when Yugoslavia took ninth place. At the World Championships Yugoslavia competed twenty-nine times. In 1974 team came eighth which is the best Yugoslavian result at the World Championships. Yugoslavian team also competed three times at the European Championships. In 1968 came seventh. Team's top scorer is Zvone Šuvak, while Edo Hafner made the most appearances.

Yugoslavia hosted 1966 World Championship in Ljubljana.

Only six teams managed to win Yugoslav Ice Hockey League. The most successful team is Jesenice with 23 titles, followed by Olimpija with 13, Partizan with 7, Medveščak with 3, Mladost with 2 and SD Zagreb with 1, while domestic cup won only 4 teams. Jesenice holds records with 8 titles. Medveščak, Olimpija and Partizan are other three winners of national cup.

Figure skating

Sanda Dubravčić won a silver medal at the 1981 European Championship. At the 1984 Winter Olympics she was the final Olympic torchbearer and won 10th place.

Yugoslavia hosted 1970 World Figure Skating Championships and 4 times European Championship: 1967 in Ljubljana, 1974 and 1979 in Zagreb and 1987 in Sarajevo.

Cross-country skiing

Yugoslavia competed in cross-country skiing at the every Olympic games except in 1972. Country's best finish was in relay, 9th place in both, men's and women's, while the best individual finish was achieved in 1936, 10th place by Franc Smolej.

Yugoslavia hosted World Cup races in Bohinj and Sarajevo.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sarajevo 1984". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Yugoslavia at the Olympics". sports-references.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.

External links

Media related to Sports in Yugoslavia at Wikimedia Commons