Today we introduce Croatian Olympic representatives in athletics, cycling, boxing, gymnastics, and sailing
On Sunday, we brought you the history of Croatian participation at the Olympic games from the past, and on August 2, 2016, it is time to introduce the athletes who will represent Croatia at the Rio Olympic in next three weeks.
Athletics
The Croatian Athletics team will have ten athletes competing in Rio. Andrea Ivančević in the 100 meters sprint and 100 meters hurdles discipline, Sandra Kolak in the javelin, Matea Matošević, and Marija Vrajić in the marathon, Sandra Perković in discus throwing, Blanka Vlašić and Ana Šimić in the high jump, Ivan Horvat in the pole vault, and Filip Mihaljević and Stipe Žunić in the shot putt.
The athletes with the biggest chance for medals are Sandra Perković and Blanka Vlašić, two Croatian athletic stars who already have one gold and one silver in their career. All the others should hope for their best results, and every qualification for the finals would be considered a great success.
The athletic competition starts on the ninth day of the Olympics, and the first disciplines with Croatian athletes competing will be the female marathon and male pole vault on August 14th.
Cycling
Two Croatian cyclists qualified for the Rio Olympics, Matija Kvasina, and Kristijan Đurasek. Any prediction about their success would be a brave one, as there are too many variables regarding race conditions and the current form of the competitors.
The road race starts on the first day of the Olympics, and both Croatian cyclists will hit the road on August 6th.
Boxing
Small in numbers but literally a strong Croatian team will be represented by Filip Hrgović in the super-heavyweight category, and Hrvoje Sep in light-heavyweight category.
As Filip Hrgović is the reigning European champion, a medal is a possibility, and Hrvoje Sep has the bronze from the same competition and is a slight underdog for the medal, but surprises are common in boxing.
Hrvoje Sep will start fighting on the first day of the Olympic Games, August 6th, and Filip Hrgović will start the competition three days later, on August 9th.
Gymnastics
Filip Ude and Ana Đerek will represent the Croatian colors in Rio, and while the young Đerek will be happy to compete at her first Olympic games, without big hopes for high ranking, Filip Ude has a plan to shine at his third games in the row. Eight years ago he won the silver medal in pommel horse discipline at the Beijing Olympics, and as he won the silver at the World Championships two years ago, he is a rightful contender for a medal.
The gymnastics competitions start on the first day of the games, and Filip Ude will hit the pommel horse on August 6th. Ana Đerek starts the qualifiers the day after her male colleague.
Sailing
Croatia has quite a few medals from big sailing competitions but has not won any at the Olympics since its independence. The large and skillful team will try to change that in Rio. Tina Mihelić in Laser Radial, Petar Cupać and Pavle Kostov in 49er, Šime Fantela and Igor Marenić in 470, Ivan Kljaković Gašpić in Finn, Tonči Stipanović in Laser, and Luka Mratović in surfboard RS:X discipline will be representing Croatia at the Olympics.
If we were to pick our favorites for the medals, it should be Fantela and Marenić in 470, and Ivan Kljaković Gašpić in Finn discipline, but once again it has to be said that we would not be surprised if any of the Croatian sailors would be hitting the podium at the end of the competition.
