“That which our women volley- ball players have is something that’s really never been seen before when it comes to Serbian sport. There’s no competition they haven’t returned home from without medals. I view our rivalry, as I call it, as being some- thing extremely positive and their success represents a great source of motivation for all of us. They com- pel us try to reach the kind of heights and results that they achieve. I be- lieve we can do that.” Athletes travel often and spend a lot of their time in airports, between flights. What do you do to while away the time? “I usually watch some film or read a book. I’m used to travelling often, primarily with the national team, and that has become an everyday thing for me. I don’t struggle with breaks at airports, because in the national team we have an incredible atmos- phere that has marked us for years. We hang out and try to enjoy every moment, whether we’re aboard a plane, at an airport, in a hotel etc.” We’re certain there’s pret- ty much no city you haven’t seen. Where did you feel the most pleasant and where do you always like to return? “For me, the most beautiful city is Vienna. I had an opportunity to play there in 2011 and I like to re- turn to it often, whenever I have the time. It was also in Vienna that I met my wife Elitsa, so it really holds spe- cial meaning for me. I’m glad that we will soon have an opportunity to travel to Chicago again, for match- es in the Nations League. I’ve been to Chicago twice, but I didn’t have time to familiarise myself with the city that’s home to a lot of Serbs. I hope that now, when Air Serbia has direct flights, I will manage to visit it and enjoy myself.” And to conclude, where would you like to live one day in the future, after you finish your career? “Honestly, only in Belgrade. I love my hometown and really can’t im- agine living with my family in some other city or country.”
world’s biggest event since London 2012? Will we watch you compete at the next one in the French capital? “I played in London back then and I’m very well aware of what the Olympic Games mean to every ath- lete. It’s correct that we haven’t been there for a long time, but this gen- eration has an opportunity to again launch an assault on a medal. That’s why it’s important for us to collect as many points as possible in the Na- tions League and to get ourselves ready for October, which will be the most important month in 2023. That’s when the Olympic qualifiers will be played, and I believe we will qualify for Paris. We all want that as the crowning glory of our careers.” Apart from the Serbia na- tional team, you also have big plans on the club scene. You ended the season at Po- land’s Skra Bełchatów? “At this moment, Serbia is my top priority, but of course I also have big club ambitions. We’ll see what will be; there’s still plenty of time to choose the right environment. I certainly want to win trophies with my club in all the competitions we’ll play in.” We saw you at the Belgrade Arena recently, at the bas- ketball EuroLeague quarter- final match between Parti- zan and Real Madrid?
To što naše odbojkašice imaju je nešto što zaista nikada nije viđeno That which our women volleyball players have is something that’s really never been seen before
“To be honest, I dream of that kind of atmosphere at some volley- ball match; for us to play in front of full stands, 20,000 people... And tru- ly, the Partizan basketball club and its fans have that special something that every athlete dreams about. The atmosphere of the Belgrade Arena is already sufficiently well-known across Europe, everyone talks about it and I believe everyone would like to feel part of that energy, even if only mo- mentarily.” We should also discuss Ser- bia’s women’s volleyball team, which regularly wins medals and trophies at all major competitions, from the Nations League, via the European and world cham- pionships, to the Olympic Games...
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