OTHER SPORTS
GRAND SLAM SUCCESS, DAVIS CUP TITLE
Croatia have done even better in tennis than football. In 2005, they won the Davis Cup, the team competition, which features 160 counties and could be considered the World Cup of tennis. They also finished runners-up in 2016.
Goran Ivanisevic (left) was their first big tennis star and won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon in 2001, scripting a fairytale ending as a wild card entrant. Iva Majoli was the first to achieve Grand Slam singles success for Croatia when she stunned Martina Hingis to win the women's singles title at the French Open in 1997. Current star Marin Cilic clinched men’s singles crown at the US Open in 2014.
In doubles, Mate Pavic is their most decorated tennis player, winning as many as three Grand Slam men’s doubles titles. He also holds the distinction of becoming the first player from Croatia to rise to No 1 in ATP rankings. OLYMPIC SUCCESS Since declaring independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, Croatia has won 11 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals in seven summer Olympics. Besides tennis, handball and water polo, their sportspersons have done well in weightlifting, athletics, shooting and rowing. Croatia are placed 49th in the all-time medals table for Summer Olympic Games. WATER POLO KINGS They have a highly successful water polo programme with the men’s team winning gold in 2012 London Olympics and silver medals in 1996 Atlanta and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The country won the World Championships in 2002 and 2017 and many medals in European Championships, World Cup and World League.
SUCCESSFUL LEGACY IN HANDBALL
Croatia made a grand start in their Olympic campaign when their men’s team won the gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It was only their second appearance at the Olympics as independent nation, the gold medal coming despite poor preparation due to factionalism in the team. Having inherited the handball tradition of Yugoslavia, they regained the gold in 2004 Olympics Games after winning the World Championships in 2003. They have won other medals in Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and Mediterranean Games.