Sports in Zadar

University of Zadar’s Centre for Gymnastics and Student Sports was founded in 2005 by the decision of the Senate of the University in Zadar in order to organize the teaching of physical and health education and student sport. In addition to regular classes, the Centre offers also a range of optional courses and sports courses. The students are organized in sports clubs of the University, participating in sports events in Croatia and in various international tournaments in Europe. The University of Zadar’s student sports clubs have also participated in the tournament ‘The Friendship Games “in Tel Aviv in 2008, in Pecs in 2010, in Lyon in 2012, Ljubljana in 2013, in the tournament Euroroma in Rome in 2013 and 2014, in Dubrovnik in 2013 and 2015 and in the tournament Moskow Games in Moscow in 2015, where very important trophies were won.
There is a very rich sports tradition in Zadar in various sports like basketball, football, volleyball, rowing, swimming, sailing, chess and in other sports. Since basketball is the most popular sport in Zadar, four international basketball tournaments were organized by the Centre, which gave us the opportunity to welcome the teams from the University of Nebraska (USA), University of Ljubljana (SLO), University of Pécs (HUN), University of Olmouc (CZE), University of Krakow (POL), University of Kaunas (LIT) as well as teams from dozens of local Universities. However, the city of Zadar is not only the city of basketball, but also the city where other sports also have a long tradition, the city of world-class athletes and sports experts, who have made the name of Zadar and Croatia famous in the world and among them there are:
Football:

 Skoblar Josip Skoblar, who won the European Golden Boot in 1971 for 44 goals in Ligue 1, he still remains the best scorer in a season in Ligue 1. He is member of the Hall of Fame of the football club Olimpique from Marseille and in 2016 he was honoured by the title of the Knight of the National Order; 

 

 modric Luka Modrić, Croatian national team football player, player of Real Madrid (Copa del Rey in 2014, 2012 Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup in 2014, Champions League in 2014 and 2016 FIFA Club World Cup). He was declared the best European playmaker for the seasons 2008-2009 and 2013-2014, the best midfielder of the Spanish first league in 2013-2014, the best midfielder of Primera in 2015-2016, the best midfielder of the Spanish first league in 2015. He was elected to the best team of the year in 2015 according to FIFA and to the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) 

 

Basketball:

 

 cosic Krešimir Ćosić, was the first non-American basketball player who was drafted for the NBA. In 1972, the Portland Trail Blazers chose him as number 1. He won one gold medal and two silver medals at the Olympics and two gold, two silver and one bronze medal from the world championships. In 1996 he became the member of the prestigious Basketball Hall of Fame. 

 

 giergia Giuseppe Gjergja, a long time player of the basketball club Zadar and of the Croatian national team, won two silver medals and one bronze medal from the world championships and a bronze medal from the European Championships. He was born in 1937 in Zadar and still plays recreational basketball three times a week in Zadar. 

 

 vrankovic Stojko Vranković, player of the basketball club Zadar and of the Croatian national team, won two silver medals at the Olympic Games, one bronze at the world championships and two bronze medals at the European championships. He played in the NBA for Boston Celtics (1990-1992), for Minnesota Timberwolves (1996-1997) and for Los Angeles Clippers (1997-1999). He won the title of the European champion with the Greek basketball club Panathinaikos in 1993. 

 

 komazec Arijan Komazec, player of the basketball club Zadar and of the Croatian national team, he won one silver Olympic medal, as well as one gold and one bronze medal at the world championship and one gold and two bronze medals from European championships. He played for the Greek basketball clubs Panathinaikos and Olympiacos and Italian basketball club Kinder. 

 

 rezan Marija Režan (nee Vrsaljko), player of the female basketball club Zadar and of the Croatian national team. She played in the Spanish club Avenida, Turkish Gelistirenlea and currently she plays for the Polish club Polkowice.

Sailing:

 fantela Šime Fantela, Croatian professional sailor. Competing in the 470 class with Igor Marenić, he won gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the 2009 World Championships, and three European Championships (2009, 2011 and 2012). At the 470 World Championships in 2009 in Rungsted, Fantela and Marenić became the first Croatians to win a gold medal at the ISAF World Championships.