Sport
Although during the high season Split offers to its guests numerous possibilities for recreational sports, in this text I would like to talk about top-quality sports and the phenomenon of “the most sporty city in the world”, as we like to call it.
I`ll try to explain why Split is Croatian sports shrine and why would I recommend to every young sportsperson, if nothing else, to come and breathe some of this Split air and sporting spirit.
It is not so strange that Michael Phelps is the best swimmer and Usain Bolt the fastest runner when we know just how many experts and material resources stand behind these successes. But, when a town of 200 000 inhabitants, with modest means and short athletics tradition gives the best world high jumper, that is definitely something admirable. Training in inadequate conditions Blanka Vlašić and her team have overcome women`s high jump elite thanks to great efforts, sacrifices, and I would say, Split sporting spirit.
Of course that this one example doesn`t make Split a sporting miracle. In 2001, after three defeats in finals, Wimbledon was won by a player from the town that has no grass tennis courts! Goran Ivanišević made a real sporting accomplishment, but the real miracle of sporting spirit of his town was the welcoming party Split made for its hero. 150 000 people gathered to thank Goran for all the joys and pride his sports career had brought us. Here we should also mention two bronze medals from the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992, singles and couples. But Ivanišević is not the only Split tennis player of success. Mario Ančić, apart from winning the bronze Olympic medal in Athens in 2004, also gave an important contribution in winning the Davis Cup in 2005, when Croatia became the first winner who hadn`t entered the competition as a holder. Conductor`s baton was then in Nikola Pilić`s hands, who is also from Split and who won the US Open in couples and was a Wimbledon couples finalist.
The best world handball player Ivano Balić and his co-player Petar Metličić started from Split parquet after their golden Olympic medal in Athens 2004 and after the title of the world champion in Portugal in 2003. The World Championship in Croatia 2009 showed their sports greatness and will of character when, despite their age and numerous injuries, they led our national team to the silver medal.
That same parquet witnessed magnificent results of Split basketball players, triple club European champions from 1989-1991. Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Velimir Perasović and Žan Tabak won the silver medal in 1992, in Barcelona after the historic finals against the most powerful basketball team ever, the American dream team. After that Perasović was brilliant in Spain, and the others went in the world`s greatest basketball league (NBA). In colors of Chicago Bulls Kukoč won three, and Tabak with his Houston Rockets one NBA championship ring.
If I mentioned all great sportspersons from Split, who gave their contributions in ex-state successes, this page would go beyond sight. That is why I`ll only say the most important thing; there are a lot of kids running around sports grounds even today. So, the story continues! |
