All 23 Croatian representatives completed their performance at the 28th Summer Universiade. The closing ceremony was in the city of Gwangju in South Korea. This Universiade gathered over 14 thousand competitors what was the record of all Universiades.
Our athletes won three silver medals and achieved personal successes, as well as enriched the Croatian sport in general. Croatian athletes participated in five sports – athletics, gymnastics, rowing, judo and taekwondo. They won one medal in judo and two in taekwondo.
Andrea Bekic won the first silver medal for Croatia in judo in category under 57 kg. After a convincing domination through the entire tournament, she ended 2nd after unfortunate defeat in the final.
Croatian taekwondo delegation had the most representatives, nine of total 23 athletes. Two of our athletes brought us silver medals. Lucia Zaninovic won the first silver medal in the category under 49kg. A few days later, Iva Rados won the same medal in the category under 73kg.
A nineteen-year gymnast Andrej Korosteljev from Osijek also showed a huge talent. The judges recognized his newly-designed gymnastic element on floor. As soon as he successfully carries out this element on the next big competition, it will carry his name. In that case, he will be standing shoulder to shoulder with Tina Erceg and Marijo Moznik who already have elements named in their honor.
A large number of our competitors at this year’s Universiade are at the beginning of their sports carier. Gaining experience as participants at the World University Games is already a victory itself. Given that this is the second largest multi-sport event, there is no doubt they will redirect this experience for further progress in sport.
And let’s not forget that our small delegation of 24 athletes returned home with three silver medals. Some countries with even more representatives were not so successful. The whole country should be the proud of them, as well as the Croatian sport in general.
