In the presence of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina, and representatives of the President of the Republic and the Croatian parliament, the COC presented a total of 13 awards and recognitions, including the prestigious ‘Matija Ljubek’ lifetime achievement award.
The title of Athlete of the Year was awarded to judoka Lara Cvjetko, currently ranked world number one. Cvjetko enjoyed an exceptional 2025 season, winning silver at the World Championships and bronze at the European Championships, as well as finishing the year at the top of the world rankings.
Speaking at the ceremony, the 24-year-old described the award as a dream come true. She highlighted the significance of receiving the honour on the same evening as her coach, calling it a powerful motivation for future success. Cvjetko also expressed gratitude to her family and her teammates from Judo Club Solin, who supported her throughout the season.
Looking ahead, Cvjetko made it clear that her ambitions remain high. Having narrowly missed the world title twice in recent years, her next major goals are to become world champion and to win an Olympic medal.
The selection of Coach of the Year proved challenging due to an abundance of sporting achievements in 2025. The award ultimately went to Dragan Crnov, who was recognised for his contribution to Croatian judo. Modestly, Crnov described the honour as recognition of the work being done by the Croatian Judo Federation and its new generation of coaches.
COC President Zlatko Mateša and Secretary General Siniša Krajač expressed great satisfaction with the performances of Croatian athletes throughout the year. Their success was reflected in an impressive medal tally, with Croatian competitors winning a total of 577 medals at major international events. Senior athletes accounted for 311 medals, while juniors won 200 and cadets 66, confirming the strength and depth of Croatian sport.
Source: Croatian Judo Federation • Photos: Jozo ČABRAJA (COO)