Ana is calm and always thinks first befo- re saying something, while I always bang my head. How do you handle defeats? I almost can’t handle them at all. I cry, get upset. But that’s life. Both defeat and victory. I have been writing my auto- biography for a long time, I’ll publish it when I retire from basketball. In November you’ll play your last match in the national team jer- sey. That will be a qualifying mat- ch for the European Champions- hips. Why? I don’t worry about that. In five mon- ths I will turn 35. I know that my ca- reer is almost over and now I just want to enjoy basketball... I want to go whe- re I can transfer my knowledge to so- mebody, somewhere where I can be ha- ppy... I spent the last three seasons in France and I couldn’t do that anymore. Soon I will go to Beirut, where they ca- lled me to play a few games... If I like it, they would like me to stay until the end of the season. Last year you spoke about wanting to open a camp for girls, for future basketball players. How is this idea of yours progressing? My heart is full when I see how many kids want to play basketball in the last two years. I am proud of that. Among ot- her things, this bronze medal means no- thing to me compared to what it means that girls have opted for the sport that has marked my life. I will visit Divčibare and our other mountains and, depending on where they have the best conditions, that camp will spring up there somewhe- re one day... Journalists write a lot about your private life, about your relations- hip with Simon. What is the truth about all of that? The truth is that everything started going better for me when I met him. He brought me emotional and professio- nal happiness. What more than that co- uld you want? In fact, I do not seek more from God. Not everything is about mo- ney; the essence lies in faith and in the goal. If you grow up as a good person, you will certainly succeed. Apart from being famous for your bold play, people also comment about your passion for tattoos. Are there any empty places on your body? I’m like a picture book, and I enjoy that. I have no other vices, I don’t drink, don’t smoke... Simply, tattoos are my need. I recently tattooed the hands and feet of my Mia, that is my adorable niece.
Why was that? I don’t know... The atmosphere was poor. It wasn’t like last year or the year before. You could see that already du- ring preparations on Zlatibor. Some girls were arguing. I tried talking to them, but that didn’t help. You can’t play well if everything bothers you... I da- ren’t say anything to anyone. Everyt- hing was taken personally, as though I was insulting someone. It was really to- ugh for me. I wanted, at the age of 34, to leave the national team happy and sa- tisfied... We know that almost all great at- hletes are superstitious. What do you always take on the court? Half an hour before the game I drink tea; I have to be the last to warm up; I always take chewing gum from the same girls; 15 minutes before the start I go to the toilet. If I don’t do any of that, it’s the end of the world. And, yes, I always play in the same underwe- ar, and on my head I always have the same hairband. How is it even possible for you and Ana [Dabović] to be sisters on the court? For me, Ana was a key figure in the Olympics. Your sister is always your ri- ght hand. When you’re with your sister, everything is easier, when you suffer and when you celebrate, when it is difficult and when all spears break on your back... The two of us are two different worlds.
made a historic success. After a break of 12 years, Serbia was ranked among the four best teams in Europe. And at the Rio Olympics they again inscribed their na- mes in history. How are you living now, a month after winning bronze? Like a queen, a goddess, an empre- ss... In two weeks I was added by 50,000 people on Instagram. What can I say, I’m enjoying my fifteen minutes ... I have energy for everything. The whole nation celebrated the medal, but what happened on the court? We went from one extreme to the ot- her. We lost the first three games, and then we won three. We beat Australia, which was unbelievable, as they have been the vice-champions for the last 20 years... Honestly, in the changing room we said to one another, “Now we are in Brazil, and who knows when again. If we lose, we will go to Copacabana, tour the city, cheer for our other teams... And we will take what God gives us.” And, then, the impossible happened. We won. Those emotions were the pinnacle. So, what happened? Ana woke us up, and with her all of the other girls. We all gave our contributi- on, all 12 players played. That’s what hap- pened. Until then, and even after that, that was not the case. For example, I almost didn’t even play; of the 120 minutes on the court I spent only 30.
| 97
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator