TREBINJE’S YOUNG SPORTS TALENTS SHINE ON THE REGIONAL AND EUROPEAN STAGE

Young athletes from Trebinje are once again writing successful sports stories this year, making their mark both across the region and throughout Europe. Their achievements further confirm the reputation of Herzegovina as a breeding ground for outstanding sporting talent.

STEFAN GUDELJ – A RISING STAR AT RED STAR BELGRADE

Stefan Gudelj, a centre-back who took his first football steps at Trebinje’s Leotar, continues to justify the confidence placed in him by the coaching staff of Red Star Belgrade.

In the Serbian SuperLiga champions’ 3–1 victory over Vojvodina in the second round of the season, the young Trebinje-born defender played the full 90 minutes and delivered a confident performance.

Gudelj came through all of Red Star’s youth categories, wore the captain’s armband and earned his place in the first team through impressive performances for the club’s development side, Grafičar. Earlier this year, he signed a new contract that will keep him at the Belgrade club until 2029.

His increasingly significant role and growing playing time are a clear indication that Red Star’s coaching staff have serious plans for the talented defender.

NATALIJA SULAVAR EARNS A PLACE AT PRESTIGIOUS LES PETITS AS

A remarkable result arrived from Iceland, where Trebinje tennis player Natalija Sulavar finished runner-up at the Icelandic Open U14, a Tennis Europe tournament held in Reykjavik from July 20 to 23.

As the tournament’s second seed, Sulavar reached the final without dropping a set. She was eventually defeated in the title match by top seed Bianca Fagerlund of Sweden, 6–3, 6–1.

Sulavar also claimed third place in the doubles competition, partnering with an Icelandic player.

Perhaps most importantly, the points she earned in Reykjavik secured her qualification for Les Petits As in Tarbes, France – a tournament widely regarded as the unofficial world championship for players under the age of 14.

The prestigious event has previously featured some of the biggest names in tennis, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

MARIJA KURTOVIĆ FINISHES 14TH IN EUROPE

Another result highlighting Trebinje’s sporting potential came from Szeged, Hungary, where Marija Kurtović, a competitor representing the Trebišnjica Kayak Canoe Club, competed at the European Junior and U23 Championships.

Kurtović finished 14th in Europe in the K1 1,000-metre event.

The achievement is particularly impressive considering that Marija is only in her first year of the cadet category. She competed on equal terms with athletes who were two or even three years older than her.

Her next challenge is already on the horizon. Kurtović will compete at the 2026 Olympic Hopes international event, organised by the International Canoe Federation, which will be held in Bratislava from September 17 to 20.

SARA MIJANOVIĆ WINS TWO SENIOR SILVER MEDALS

At the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Senior Championships in Rogatica, Sara Mijanović won two silver medals, finishing second in both the 100 metres and the 100-metre hurdles.

The conditions were far from ideal, with a strong headwind of 3.1 metres per second significantly affecting the races. Despite the challenging circumstances, Mijanović still managed to secure two podium finishes in senior competition.

The performances came as valuable preparation for her next major challenge. From August 5 to 9, Mijanović will compete at the World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

According to her club, the two senior silver medals are an excellent introduction to what awaits her at one of the biggest junior sporting events in the world.

The successes of Stefan Gudelj, Natalija Sulavar, Marija Kurtović and Sara Mijanović once again demonstrate the remarkable sporting potential of Trebinje and the wider Herzegovina region, with a new generation of talented athletes confidently stepping onto the biggest sporting stages.