President Milanović Decorates Filip Hrgović with the Order of Duke Trpimir with Ribbon and Star for Exceptional Sporting Achievement, His Contribution to Sport and Croatia’s International Standing

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today awarded boxer Filip Hrgović the Order of Duke Trpimir with Ribbon and Star for his exceptional sporting achievement in the history of Croatian boxing – winning the International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight world title – as well as for his contribution to the promotion of sport and the international standing of the Republic of Croatia.

“We are here to mark a brilliant achievement – the winning of a world title in one of the four major versions of professional boxing. Anyone who follows sport or takes an interest in it knows and appreciates this. You achieved this largely on your own, with the support of your inner strength and those closest to you. I am happy because I have followed your career. I have followed it since your amateur and Olympic days. I had high expectations, and I am happy that they have come to fruition. It was a triumph of knowledge and hard work, but also of will,” said President Milanović before presenting Hrgović with the decoration at a ceremony held at the Office of the President of the Republic.

The President also recalled what he described as the “unique match” in which Hrgović won the title. “I remember the words of the British commentator in the final round, when he said: ‘This is Croatian territory now.’ That is not, of course, Croatian territory. We know what is ours; now we are on Croatian territory. And this decoration is a sign of regard and recognition, both in my personal capacity and on behalf of the Republic of Croatia,” the President concluded.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for this great honour. It is a great honour for me. I am honoured that my work and effort have been recognized. We have worked towards this for 20 years. It is an honour to represent Croatia in this way. As I told the President – this is just the beginning; we still have work to do. We will unify those belts. We will bring a world title defense fight to Croatia,” said Filip Hrgović after receiving the decoration.

Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Hrgović said that he had also talked to the President of the Republic about boxing. “We talked – you wouldn’t believe it – about boxing. The President boxed in his youth. I was really surprised by how much he knows about boxing and boxing history. I love talking about boxing most of all – and with the President, no less! What could be better than that? It was a really nice conversation. I am glad to be here,” said Hrgović.

Hrgović was accompanied at the ceremony at the Office of the President of the Republic by his wife, Marinela Hrgović; his mother, Iva Hrgović; and his nephew, Antonio Milić.

Also attending the ceremony alongside the President of the Republic were Bartol Šimunić, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic; Tomislav Paškvalin, the President’s Commissioner for Sports; Dinko Suton, Secretary General of the Office of the President of the Republic; Neven Pelicarić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy; Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society; Jadranka Žarković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education; Nikša Peronja, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Local and Regional Self-Government Relations; and Ivan Mutavdžić, Assistant Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas