Filip Hrgović and Moses Itauma in 2026, London (O2 Arena) Filip Hrgović won the IBF heavyweight world title in boxing. He became the world champion in a match organized in London (O2…
Category: Sports
Ivan Rakitić top class Croatian football player
Ivan Rakitić was born in 1988 in Switzerland to Croatian parents. His height is 1.84 m. As a child, he fluently learned Croatian and German languages, and than added Castillian, English, French, and Italian. He played for Croatian national football representation (196 appearances). On the club level, he played for Basel (Switzerland), Shalke 04 (Germany), Sevilla (Spain), Barcelona (capital of Catalonia, in Spain), Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia), and Hajduk (Croatia). With his beautiful wife Raquel Mauri he has two children. According to Jose Mourinho, he is “one of the most underrated players in the world”.
Ping Pong Parkinson World Championship Italy 2025 Lignano Sabbiadoro October 20-26
We build neurons! PingPongParkinson.org
Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia winner of the World Cup slalom 2024/25 in Semmering, Austria
Zrinka Ljutić was the winner of the skiing World Cup slalom in Semmering, Switzerland, for 2024/25. This was the first Croatian victory since legendary Janica Kostelić in 2006. “I felt all over the place and I really didn’t know if I’m fast enough so I tried to push all the way down,” Ljutic said about her all-attacking final run. Except of her native Croatian language, Zrinka is very fluent in English and German.
Nenad Bach speaking at TEDx Zagreb: PingPong vs Parkinson Uncommon Solution, Nov 21, 2024
In 2010, Nenad was diagnosed with Parkinson. In 2017, he launched PingPongParkinson” – a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping as many people as possible find relief from Parkinson symptoms by playing ping pong. This initiative has quickly evolved into a global movement spanning 25 countries and five World Championships. The organization’s story is captured in a recently published book, “PingPongParkinson”: It Started with a Tremor and It’s Shaking Up the World”. On November 21, 2024, Nenad will release his seventh album.
Valentina Cafolla of Croatia smashes two under-ice freediving records
Croatian freediver Valentina Cafolla has set two new world records on consecutive days in February 2024 at Lake Anterselva in South Tyrol, Italy. On 23 February, Cafolla set a new CMAS Dynamic With Fin (DYN) Under Ice With Wetsuit record of 140m (459ft), retaking. The 140m record was set wearing a monofin, however, the next day, on 24 February, Cafolla became the first freediver to set a record using double fins, swimming a distance of 80. Valentina is a student of the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology.
The Metros-Croatia, a Toronto soccer team
Metros-Croatia soccer club was founded in 1956 by Croatian diaspora in Canada. The greatest success was achieved in 1976, when Toronto-Croatia won the Soccer Bowl . This 1976 team was subsequently inducted to the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame . Toronto Croata has been among the most successful Croatian diaspora clubs. There are numerous other Croatian diaspora soccer clubs: New York-Croatia, Frankfurt-Croatia, Frankfurt-Croatia, Munich-Croatia, Stuttgart-Croatia, Sydney-Croatia (Sydney United), etc (more than hundred!).
Croatia is Water Polo Champion of the World in 2024
Croatia is the Water Polo Champion for the third time: in 2007, 2013, and 2024. Congratulations to Marko Bijac, Mate Anic, Josip Vrlic, Luka Loncar, Rino Buric, Matias Biljaka, Konstantin Kharkov, Filip Krzic, Franko Lazic, Zvonimir Butic, Ante Vukicevic, Loren Fatovic, Jerko Marinic Kragic, Ivan Krapic, Marko Zuvela, and Ivica Tucak (coach). Prior to this, also in 2024, Croatia won silver medal at the European Waterpolo Championship (organized in Zagreb), which was also a huge success.
PingPongParkinson World Championship 2023 Wels Austria
The PingPongParkinson World Championship 2023 has come to an end. What a tournament it was! New world champions emerged and former champions re-positioned. This was so far the most competitive world championship and with plenty of surprises. We would like to celebrate all players for their determination and congratulate the medalists who took the podium. Global PingPongParkinson movement was initiated by Nenad Bach, on the photo.
Miroslav Blazevic 1935-2023 legendary Croatian football trainer
Miroslav Ćiro Blažević was a legendary trainer of Croatian football representation. Under his leadership, it won sensational thrid place at the 1998 FIFA World Championship in Paris. Due to his leadership, Croatian football representation became universaly known. Under his baton, his team was composed of world class sportsmen such as Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban, Slaven Bilić, Robert Jarni, Robert Prosinečki, Igor Štimac, and others. His successor Zlatko Dalić, also born in BiH, considers himself to be a student of Ćiro Blažević.
Janica Kostelić eternalized in 2002 at Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
Janica Kostelić is without any doubt the greatest female skier of all times: she won three gold medals and one silver at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, USA. She also won five gold medals at the World Championships. In World Cup competition, she won thirty individual races, three overall titles, three slalom titles, and four combined titles. She is the greatest Croatian sportswoman in history. Her brother Ivica Kostelić is the most successful Croatian skier in history. Their successes are a result of a long-term family project, directed by their father Ante Kostelić.
Croatian football team winning bronze medal of golden glitter at the 2022 World Championship in Qatar
Croatia 2 – Marocco 1 is a result in Qatar which enabled Croatia winning its second bronze medal (in 1998 in France and in 2022), besides silver medal won in 2018 (in the Russian Federation). Continuity of excellent results of Croatian team are due not only to talent, but also to perserverance and hard work, under the baton of Zlatko Dalić, and under the baton of Ćiro Blažević in France. The result is all the more amazing when one sees some truly top quality representations being left behind Croatia: Brazil, England, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Japan, Marocco, Italy, Belgium, etc. (altogether 211 countries).
Croatia 1 (4) – Brazil 1 (2) at the World Football Tournament in Qatar 2022
Croatia, opponents should know by now, does not exit the World Cup without a fight. The Brazilians got a late goal. The Croatians answered with an even later one scored by Bruno Petković (on the photo; born in the city of Metković). The game went to a penalty-kick shootout. And only then, with eight quick kicks breaking a tie after 120 minutes could not, was it over. Croatia was heading to the semifinals. (The New York Times. Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić: “We have a strong character and we do not give up. We were prepared for everything today. We knew that as the game unfolded, our chances would improve.”
Japan 1 (1) – Croatia 1 (3) at the 2022 World Championship in footaball in Qatar
The teams of Japan and Croatia couldn’t be separated in 90 minutes, pushing the match into extra-time for the first time in this edition of the FIFA World Cup. Even in the extra-time, the two teams couldn’t be separated. The Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković (on the photo) stepped up in the shootout as his side secured a 3-1 (1-1) win in the penalty shootout. Dominik Livaković is married to Helena, who is these days with him in Qatar.
George Mikan Lakers Jersey Retirement Ceremony in 2022
The Los Angeles Lakers retired George Mikan’s No. 99 jersey in a ceremony on October 30, 2022, when the Lakers hosted the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. All fans in attendance received a George Mikan replica jersey. The 1948 National Basketball League MVP and four-time All-Star helped lead the then Minneapolis Lakers to five championships (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. Donning a Lakers uniform, Mikan led the league in scoring in three consecutive seasons (1948-51) and was the league’s leading rebounder in back-to-back campaigns (1951-53). He was six-times the All-NBA First Team selection.
Ping Pong Parkinson World Championship in Pula, Croatia 2022
U pulskoj dvorani Mate Parlov započelo je Ping Pong Parkinson World Championship Pula 2022, Svjetsko prvenstvo u stolnom tenisu za osobe s dijagnozom Parkinsonove bolesti. Na svjetskom prvenstvu, koje je trajalo od 12. do 16. listopada 2022., došlo je više od 400 sudionika, članova pratnje i natjecatelja iz 22 države svijeta. Pokretač ovog prvenstva je neprofitna američka zaklada Ping Pong Parkinson, kojoj je na čelu hrvatsko-američki glazbenik Nenad Bach, izvođač, producent i mirovni aktivist, i sam obolio od Parkinsona.
Borna Coric winning Cincinnati Tennis Masters in 2022
Ranked No. 152 and in the tournament via a protected ranking, Čorić capped a remarkable week that included a second round victory over Rafael Nadal with a brilliant final that no doubt marks the 25-year-old Croatian as a dark horse contender at Flushing Meadows. The title was the third of Čorić career but his first since 2018 and will see him jump up the rankings to world No. 29 on Monday and he will be seeded at the U.S. Open. Among Croatian tennis players, Marin Čilić won the Cincinnati ATP Tournament in 2016.
Nenad Bach & PingPongParkinson appearing at ESPN / Princess Zeina Rashid of Jordan, visited the WTTC
ESPN produced segment about Nenad Bach and his journey through diagnosis of Parkinson. ESPN ( Entertainment and Sports Programming Network ) is an American-based global cable and satellite television channel. Her Royal Highness, Princess Zeina Rashid of Jordan, visited the WTTC (World Table Tennis Center) on Sunday, February 6th 2022, as the first stop on her visit to New York metro area to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the global non-profit PingPongParkinson . The purpose of Princess Zeina’s visit to the New York Metro area was to participate in celebrating and promoting the growth of PingPongParkinson .
Werner Ilic and Martin Cruickshank two Croatian defenders paddled across the Atlantic in 2022
Werner Ilić and Martin Cruickshank (right and left), Croatian defendors from 1990s, successfuly paddled across the Atlantic Ocean during 83 days (i.e., almost three months). They travelled 5500 kms from Canari Islands to Barbados (from 15th January to 22nd March 2022). In this way, Croatia has been included into the list of 32 countries which have paddlers accross oceans. Mr. Werner Ilić is a Croatian born in Germany, while Marti Cruickshank is of Scottish provenance, living in Croatia in the town of Velika Gorica near Zagreb, where he is happily married.
Luka Modric has won Champions League 5 times with Real Madrid until 2022
Luka Modric has won Champions League 5 times with Real Madrid (until 2022). Modric is the only one who has stolen the show from Ronaldo & Messi- duel for the Ballon D’or in 2018. He has been picked by many football experts as one of the best midfielders in the football history. In addition to this, each Champions League in the past 10 years (ie., since 2021) had at least one Croatian player in the finals, which servs as a clear indication of the presence of Croatian players in European top football. in the period of 2013-2022, each winning team of Champions League had at least one Croatian player. Luka Modric made a significant conbtribution to the series of titles achieved by Real Madrid.