Our best swimmer, Lana Pudar, was declared the athlete of the year 2023!

Lana Pudar: "A very successful year is behind me and I am especially glad that I can say that I am maintaining some continuity of results. A big thank you to the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because it is truly a house that is always there for me, to which I can always turn to..."

In the festive atmosphere of the multimedia hall of the BiH Olympic Committee and with a live TV broadcast on FACE TV, on 14.12.2023., the 12th "Athlete Of The Year" event was held, organized by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The selection of the 2023 athlete was held in the presence of the most eminent persons of Bosnian sports and the sports public.

In front of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President of the OC BiH, prof. Dr. Izet Rađo, who sublimated the events of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointed out:

"The Olympic Committee is a harmonious, umbrella sports organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina. People cannot believe that a team of 6 people, with a very creative leader, doc. Dr. Said Fazlagić, is doing such great things. Athletes, representatives of sports associations know very well how dedicated these people are, how they do their work. We are an organization that looks to the future, an organization that dreams and an organization that has a vision. In less than two months, the Olympic Committee managed to get international support for the organization of the new Olympic competition "World Olympic Games youth" (YOG). We are moving towards February, the 40th anniversary of the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, all important representatives from the International Olympic Committee, the European Olympic Committee are coming, and this is an opportunity for our representatives from the political life of Bosnia and Herzegovina to recognize the chance and exceptional idea for the future, for young people, for Bosnia and Herzegovina, to talk about it as a safe country, a country where youth will come, where the Olympic Games took place, and that will be the best message which we will be able to send."

Lana Pudar was officially declared the best athlete of 2023, and she personally accepted this great award, and thanked everyone for the great support, expressing the hope that she will join in the same place at a similar time next year and celebrate new successes.

In 2023, our Lana won 9 European and world medals, of which five gold, two silver and two bronze medals. She participated in 12 major finals, achieved two Olympic standards for participation in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, and achieved 6 records, two European junior records, three junior championship records, one world championship record and won the cup for the best female swimmer of the world junior championship. Thanks to our siren from Mostar, the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina has become a common melody at all important swimming competitions in Europe and the world.

The Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue with its dedicated work in strengthening BiH sports and the sports system, and this year's organization of the 12th edition of the Sportsperson of the Year Award gives an additional incentive to BiH athletes and sports workers, through the promotion of their results and life's work.

Below is the list of winners of other awards:

The best young athlete in the junior category:

• Sara Pidro - taekwondo

The best young athlete in the junior category:

• Benjamin Husić – taekwondo
• Tarik Kunovac - boxing

The most successful sports club:

• TKD Novi Grad Sarajevo – taekwondo

The most successful national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• BiH men's senior handball team

The most successful coach:

• Goran Grahovac - coach of Lana Pudar

Special awards of OK BiH

To promote sports and Olympic values:

• Ismail Barlov – para swimming
• Ljiljana Stjepanović and Medina Karić – Football school for girls and boys from Srebrenica

Sports worker, for long-term contribution to the development of sports:

• Zoran Divčić – athletics

Sports promoters of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• Junior rhythmic gymnastics team of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• BiH U15 water polo selection

Athlete or team from the family of non-Olympic sports:

• Anes Bostandžić – karate
• Nejra Sipović – karate
• Men's senior national team in sitting volleyball of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Sambo club "Neretva" Mostar
• Junior kickboxing team of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Special award for outstanding sports result:

• Adnan Redžović - kickboxing

Award for support and development of top sports in BiH:

• prof. Dr. Dalibor Stević
• Ante Šimović
• Samir Šarić

Award for media promotion of Olympic values:

• Medina Šehić – sports editor of BHT1
• Bakir Tiro – sports editor of Anadolu Agency (AA)

For successful long-term coaching:

• Fuad Mešić – athletics
• Nebojša Matijević – athletics
• Haris Durak – weightlifting

Sports Ambassador:

• Elvedina Muzaferia - skiing
• Lejla Njemčević – cycling

Top individual result in team sports:

• Edin Džeko - football/soccer
• Džanan Musa - basketball

The best female athlete in the senior competition:

• Lana Pudar - swimming

The best athlete in the senior competition:

• Nedžad Husić - taekwondo

Athlete of the year:

• Lana Pudar - swimming

Link for the photo album "Athlete of the Year 2023":
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0AkmASpaKUQGqYWo9y3DwdTb7Nbhge4KNtynz8StTAcHGg9qJvUygY5Zz4wV6cDgzl&id=100064823495491&mibextid=CDWPTG