Judoist Larica Cerić and football player Zvjezdan Misimović were named athletes of the year in B&H for 2013 and were chosen by Nezavisne Novine and Radio Television B&H.
The winners were presented with their award last night at the traditional selection of the best athletes in B&H, which was held in Sarajevo and is taking place for 13 years in a row and organized by Nezavisne Novine.
Misimović won the award thanks to the successes of the B&H football team, which will find itself next year among the best teams in the world at the Mundial in Brazil. Many have classified him as the ‘brain’ of the B&H team. His creativity in the game has often left people breathless. He ended the qualifying cycle for the World Championship with five goals and four assists. He played nine games and spent 773 minutes on the field. He has a record in the number of appearances for the B&H team with the number 80 jersey, and he made 26 goals and is in second place of the top scorers of the team, after Edin Džeko.
Larisa Cerić was chosen as the best female athlete for the third time. She won her first title in 2009 and then in 2010, and in 2013 she won medals at almost all competitions in which she participated in the judo category over 78 kg. She won the bronze medal at the Mediterranean Games in Mersin and the Grand Prix in Rijeka, and won the gold medal at the European Cups in Sarajevo and Belgrade. She won gold at the European University Championship in Portugal.
The best trainer was Safet Sušić, coach of the B&H football team, which was named the best team of the year.
The motto for the selection of the best athletes in B&H is ‘Support to Athletes’, and in accordance with this, awards were given this year to the most promising athletes, which were athlete Ivana Macanović and judoist Harun Sadiković.
The award for fair play this year went to the Handball Association of B&H, and at the World Championship for Juniors in the B&H selection transferred the equipment and helped with visas and money for transportation to B&H. The award for development of sport in B&H was also given to the B&H Handball Association because of the excellent organization of the Junior World Championship.
The B&H team in sitting volleyball was named the best team for the 12th time in sports for the disabled, thanks to their defending the gold medals at the European Championship, and member of the team Safet Alibašić was named the best athlete in sport for the disabled.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Boro Spasojević and posthumously to Alojz Renić.
B&H athlete Hamza Alić, who won the bronze medal in Göteborg in the shot put, is this year’s winner of the Audience Award.
(Source: Fena)
