President Milanović Receives European Championship Medallists in Gymnastics, Athletics, and Swimming
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received Croatian athletes today who achieved historic success and won medals at this year’s European Championships in gymnastics, athletics, and swimming. The meeting was attended by Illia Kovtun, winner of two gold medals at the Zagreb 2026 European Championships; Marino Bloudek, silver medallist in the 800-meter event at the European Athletics Championships; and Vlaho Nenadić, a member of the relay team that won a bronze medal at the European Championships.
The 2026 European Championships in men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics for seniors and juniors were held from 13 to 23 August 2026, at Arena Zagreb, marking the first time in history that Zagreb hosted this major gymnastics event. Among the Croatian competitors, Illia Kovtun stood out by winning Croatia’s first-ever gold medal in the all-around, as well as a gold medal on the parallel bars.
Croatian athlete Marino Bloudek, a native of Virovitica, won the silver medal in the 800-meter event at the 27th European Athletics Championships, held in Birmingham from 10 to 16 August 2026. The European Athletics Championships are held every two years and represent the pinnacle of the athletics season. Bloudek achieved the greatest success of his career, becoming only the third Croatian runner and the fifth Croatian athlete overall to win a medal at the European Athletics Championships. In addition to Bloudek, Croatian javelin thrower Sara Kolak also achieved a major success in Birmingham, winning the gold medal.
Swimmer Vlaho Nenadić attended the meeting on behalf of the Croatian national swimming team, which won a bronze medal in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, setting a new national record, at the 38th European Aquatics Championships in Paris. One of the world’s oldest and most prestigious international aquatics competitions was held in Paris from 31 July to 16 August 2026. The Croatian men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team won the bronze medal, with Jere Hribar, Vlaho Nenadić, Vili Sivec, and Toni Dragoja making history in Croatian swimming by setting a new national record. This was also Croatia’s first swimming medal at a European Championship in a 50-meter pool in ten years.
In addition to the athletes, the meeting at the Office of the President of the Republic was attended by their coaches and representatives of the federations of the three core sports: the Croatian Gymnastics Federation, the Croatian Athletics Federation, and the Croatian Swimming Federation. The meeting focused on the conditions in which Croatian athletes train and the importance of continued investment in sports infrastructure to ensure the continuity of such outstanding results at major competitions.
Congratulating the Croatian athletes on their medals, President Milanović said that this was a major success for Croatian sport and told them: “It is harder to achieve results in the sports you compete in, so your successes are great individual stories.” He also wished them continued success in future competitions. “I believe in your future successes, which we will celebrate just as we celebrate these,” the President said.
Accompanying Illia Kovtun, winner of two gold medals at the Zagreb 2026 European Championships, were his coach, Iryna Gorbacheva, and the President of the Croatian Gymnastics Federation, Dr. Marijo Možnik. Accompanying Marino Bloudek, silver medallist in the 800-meter event at the European Athletics Championships, were his coach, Mladen Kršek, the President of the Croatian Athletics Federation, Ivan Veštić, and the Federation’s Sports Director, Mladen Katalinić. Accompanying Vlaho Nenadić, a member of the relay team that won a bronze medal at the European Championships, was his coach, Frane Ćirak; Jakša Arambašić, coach of relay bronze medallist Jere Hribar; Goran Kežman, coach of relay bronze medallist Toni Dragoja; and members of the Executive Board of the Croatian Swimming Federation Davor Brdar, President of the Zagreb Swimming Federation, and David Pavlinić.
President Milanović was accompanied by Tomislav Paškvalin, Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta