Croatia makes water polo history with three world and European youth titles in one summer
<a href="https://zagreb.today/croatian-wines-score-superb-points-in-wine-enthusiast/” title=”Croatian wines score superb points in Wine Enthusiast”>Croatian water polo has written another remarkable chapter in its history after the country’s youth national teams won three major titles across three age categories in just 43 days this summer.
Croatia became world champions at U16 and U18 level, while the U20 national team won the European Championship in Varna. According to Croatian Water Polo Federation (HVS) executive vice-president Perica Bukić, such a clean sweep has never previously been achieved in men’s water polo.
The success follows an extraordinary period for Croatian water polo at senior level. In 2024, Croatia reached the final of all three major international competitions for national teams within six to seven months.
Croatia won silver at the European Championship in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, followed by gold at the World Championship in Doha, before taking silver at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Bukić said the achievements of the younger generations were evidence of continuity rather than an isolated success.
He pointed to Croatia’s results over the past two decades, beginning with the 2007 World Championship title in Melbourne under Ratko Rudić, followed by European gold in Zagreb in 2010 and Olympic gold in London in 2012.
Under head coach Ivica Tucak, Croatia subsequently won two world titles, in 2017 and 2024, and the European Championship in 2022. The senior team also reached Olympic finals in Rio in 2016 and Paris in 2024.
Bukić said maintaining that level required sustained investment in younger players and close cooperation between the HVS and Croatian clubs.
The federation has developed national programmes and camps for players from the youngest age groups through to the U15 and older national teams. Work with the younger women’s teams is also being expanded.
“The foundation of everything is, of course, the clubs,” Bukić said, stressing that the success of Croatian water polo was the result of cooperation between the federation, clubs, coaches and players.
He also highlighted two priorities for the future: establishing a dedicated Croatian water polo centre with facilities for training, preparation and competition, and improving the financial position of clubs.
Bukić said the federation was working with the Croatian Government and local authorities on these objectives, with cities including Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, Rijeka, Šibenik, Korčula and Zadar playing important roles in Croatian water polo.
He concluded by expressing the hope that the players who won titles this summer would go on to experience similar success with the senior national team.
Source: www.croatiaweek.com
