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Serbia, country of sport: part I

SERBIA, COUNTRY OF SPORT: PART I

If you are a sports lover, you will enjoy Serbian passion for it. It is not rare nor unusual to have big public gatherings just to watch an important match, or to celebrate the victory of a national team on the streets. Sport plays an important part of everyday life in Serbia, and Serbs are very proud of their strong sporting history. The sport has been one of the main promoting tools of Serbia outside of its borders, and Serbs are very proud of many successes Serbia has accomplished in different sports. Here are some highlights of individual Serbian sports. 

Tennis in Serbia

Tennis is one of the most popular sports in Serbia, and the most popular Serbian tennis player is Novak Đoković. Novak Đoković is the most well-known Serbian sportsman in the world. He is considered one of the best tennis players ever due to his achievements. Thanks to him, Serbia became a tennis nation, and he popularized the sport not only in Serbia but also in the region. He is a role model to many children aspiring to become professional sportsmen and sportswomen. He is the world No. with a record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles and 86 ATP singles titles, including 37 Masters events. He also won the Laureus Sportsman of The Year Award four times: in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2019. Apart from his sports accomplishments, he is also very much loved for his humanitarian work, especially in Serbia. He is dedicated to helping children from disadvantaged communities and promoting childhood education in Serbia. Also, he helped build many schools and donated a lot of money to different causes. In August 2015, he was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. So, if you are a tennis lover, interested in tennis professionally, or just for fun, you will meet many like-minded people and will fit right into the Serbian environment. 

 

Athletics – long jump

In athletics, one of the most memorable athletes in recent years is Ivana Španović. Ivana Španović is a long jumper and one of the most successful Serbian female athletes ever. She is the Serbian record holder in the long jump, indoors and outdoors, and also, she is the national indoor record holder in the 60 meters and the pentathlon. Already as a junior, she started winning Championships, only to continue her success as a senior with a new national record, 7.24, that put her as the third all-time indoor performer. In 2013 she became the first Serbian track and field athlete ever to win a medal at IAAF Outdoor World Championships. She is a promoter of female sport and athletics in Serbia and a role model to many little girls aspiring to become professional athletes. Her humanitarian work also did not go unnoticed as she participated in many humanitarian activities and campaigns to help little ones. For all of you who are passionate about athletics, Serbia is a great place to be as these sport disciplines have become even more popular in recent years.

 

Martial Arts – Taekwondo 

Martial arts are quite popular in Serbia, particularly taekwondo, thanks to, among others, Milica Mandić. Milica Mandić is a taekwondo athlete and the two-times Olympic champion, making her the most successful Serbian athlete of the Olympic Games. She has won a gold medal at the OG London 2012 and OG Tokyo 2020. She was included in the Taekwondo Hall of Fame at the 2013 Ceremony in Las Vegas because of her great contribution to the sport in Serbia. In 2012 and 2017, she was voted the best Serbian female athlete. Mandić also won the World Championship in 2017. Apart from her professional accomplishments, she is also appreciated for her humanitarian work, especially with children with severe health conditions. Also, she is involved in the fight against breast cancer. There are martial arts clubs all over the country, so if you are a fan, make sure to take advantage and enroll in one of them! 

Make sure to check out our previous blog posts and contact Study in Serbia via emailFacebook, and Instagram if you have any questions regarding studying in Serbia. We are happy to help!

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