Tijana Bošković, the best in the world For pride, for history, for Serbia Tijana played masterfully at the World Championship, where she defended her throne and was once again decorated with gold, while her form earned her recognition as the world volleyball championship MVP
lona Olympics, leading to the creation of the term “Dream Team”. That was the time of the dominance of America’s NBA basketball players, who won gold following eight consecutive victories, beating their rivals by an average mar- gin of 44 points. Those players includ- ed Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Magic Johnson, while today’s dream team includes Tijana Bošković, Bianka Buša, Jovana Stevanović, along with the rest of the players selected by coach Daniele Santarelli. Tijana, or Tića – as she is affec- tionately called by everyone – stamped her mark on volleyball the very first time she appeared on court. It was more than a decade ago, when she was just beginning her career at the Vizura club, that it was being said in volleyball circles “there is a little girl from Herzegovina who will become the best in the world”. She was still a teenage junior when she debuted for Serbia’s senior national team at the 2014 World Championship in Italy. And what a debut it was: she scored the team’s most points... in her first match! Even back then, her rivals couldn’t comprehend how this girl, who was born on 8 th March 1997 in
Trebinje, was playing like a top pro- fessional twice her age. She became a source of fear and trepidation for Italian, American and Brazilian play- ers at the tender age of 17, and re- mains so to this day... She’s already won everything that she could possibly win in her career, both with the national team and the clubs she’s played for, while she was de- clared tournament MVP at the recent World Championship jointly hosted by Poland and the Netherlands, repeat- ing her personal success from Tokyo four years ago. However, Tijana has avoided being the focus of attention from the first trophy she lifted, which is a reflection of her upbringing... The team wins and the team loses. And, as she tells Elevate, she can’t celebrate anything without the family: her sis- ter Dajana, who plays volleyball for Red Star, and her brother Vuk, who plays basketball... “It’s always easier when you have your family with you. However, I’m quite emotional after a game. I’m fortu- nate and grateful that I have this kind of support, with a family that’s been beside me since day one. All of this wouldn’t be possible without them,
There is no waning of the sense of euphoria in Serbia ... The women’s national volleyball team repeated its success from Japan in 2018 – with the suc- cessful defence of its world champi- on title. And the team did so in a way that ensures it will remain remem- bered forever. Over the course of 20 days, the “Blue Ladies” recorded 12 victories from 12 matches, losing on- ly five sets along the way. Something similar first happened three decades ago, at the 1992 Barce-
Volleyball » Odbojka | 23
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