An incredible act of kindness by Split luger Daria Obratov has been nominated for the European Fair Play Award.
The Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) and the Croatian Fair Play Board (HFPO) have officially nominated Olympic luger Daria Obratov for the prestigious European Fair Play Award, which is awarded each year during the European Fair Play Movement (EFPP) autumn congress, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on April 27, 2018.
Split native Daria Obratov is being recognized for her act of kindness at the World Cup in Canada in December 2017 where she lent male luger, India’s Shiva Keshavan, her luge. Daria’s fair play was said best in the explanation of her candidacy, signed by the Secretary-General of the HOO, Josip Čop, and HFPO President Danira Bilić:
“At the start of the Cup in Calgary, Canada on December 7, 2017, Indian luger Shiva Keshavan (36) realized that he would not be able to compete because of his broken luge from a previous performance. Since this competition was the Olympic qualification for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Keshavan was left to give up on his dreams and bid farewell to his ambitions in his sixth trip to the Winter Olympics. But, the Indian luger was then approached by Croatian luger Daria Obratov who offered her luge for the competition. Although the female luge is smaller and fairly inadequate, Keshavan accepted the offer. He descended on Daria’s luge, placed 41st out of 43 competitors, and the winning point helped him on his way to his sixth Olympic appearance. Daria performed shortly after him – and lending her luge directly jeopardized her fight for her first appearance at the Winter Olympics. Daria took 25th place in the Cup and later – in Pyeongchang – became an Olympic debutant. This is the successful outcome of a great fair play story and proof that the Olympic spirit knows no boundaries, nationality and differences between civilizations.”
Along with Daria’s candidacy, the HOO and the HFPO submitted a thank you letter from the six-time Indian Olympian and the letter of support from Croatia and the International Luging Association. In January this year, Obratov was also nominated for the HOO Fair Play Award which is given at the Great Day of Croatian Sports at the end of the year.
