Legendary Bosnian and Herzegovinian (BiH) basketball player and FIBA Hall of Fame member Razija Mujanovic was a guest yesterday at Sarajevo Olympic Week as part of the “Olympic Stories with…” program. Sharing her experiences, values, and motivational stories, she spoke with young people about the importance of perseverance, hard work, and the sporting spirit. Through an inspiring dialogue at the Olympic Museum, Mujanovic highlighted the significance of Olympic values and encouraged those present to follow their dreams, celebrating the Olympic spirit that connects generations of athletes.
Emphasizing that she always strived to be the best – whether as an athlete or a student – Mujanovic stressed the importance of conveying to young people the message that they should always give their best, regardless of what they do. “You have to be yourself. A strong character, perseverance, and never giving up – those are the key qualities needed to succeed in both sports and life. Follow your dreams,” Mujanovic urged the youth.
Speaking about today’s society, Mujanovic said that children should not be pressured or burdened with excessive expectations and that they should be allowed to choose the sport they want to pursue. She also pointed out the importance of hard work compared to talent. “Talent certainly helps in mastering certain skills more easily, but in the long run, hard work beats talent.” Additionally, she believes that young athletes need support and expressed her willingness to help them: “Young athletes need support. The advice of older and more experienced individuals is invaluable. That’s why I am always ready to help them,” Mujanovic said, particularly emphasizing that coaches today must also be psychologists and educators who understand youth.
Finally, Mujanovic stated that good organization and a strong desire are key to balancing sports and private life. “It requires sacrifices, and family support is especially important during difficult times, such as injury periods,” Mujanovic emphasized.
Later today, on Friday, February 21st, the guests of the “Olympic Stories with…” program will be Ismail Barlov, a BiH Paralympic swimmer and young leader in the sports community, along with his coach and promoter of inclusion in sports, Amel Kapo.
Sarajevo Olympic Week 2025 is organized with the support of the City of Sarajevo, the Canton Sarajevo (CS) Tourist Board, the Municipality of Ilidza, the Youth Council of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Culture and Sports of CS, the Ministry of Economy of CS, and numerous international and domestic partners. The special project partner is the Olympic Committee of BiH.
