Our best swimmer Lana Pudar has once again been named Athlete of the Year 2024!

Lana Pudar: "In my career so far, I have received many awards and recognitions, but somehow it is always a special honor and pleasure for me to receive recognition from the umbrella house of our sport, the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is an institution that has been with me since the very beginning of my career and it is truly something that I value and that means a lot to me.

Many thanks to the Expert Jury for recognizing and evaluating my results from this year.

I would like to congratulate all other laureates and my sports colleagues on their well-deserved awards. This recognition is an additional motivation for me to continue to work even better and more dedicatedly on myself and to try to achieve even better results in the future!"

In the festive atmosphere of the multimedia hall of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with a live TV broadcast on FACE TV, on December 18, 2024, the 13th event "Selection of the Athlete of the Year" was held, organized by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the special patronage of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The selection of the Athlete of the Year 2024 was held in the presence of the most eminent figures in Bosnian and Herzegovina sports and the sports public.

On behalf of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the attendees were addressed by the member of the Presidency of BiH, H.E. Denis Bećirović, who, among other things, pointed out that he had visited the Olympic team at the Olympic Games in Paris, and that he had hosted and awarded the Olympic and Paralympic delegation after the Games, promising support for top-level sport in the future.

“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we need to recognize the positive effects of sports and sports diplomacy and the creation of a positive image of our country. I would like to express special recognition to our sportsmen and sportswomen for their contribution to and strengthening of the atmosphere of trust and rapprochement. The past testifies that sports have often played a positive role in spreading tolerance, peace, understanding, and friendship between different peoples. Sports are a universal phenomenon that transcends national, ethnic, religious, and other borders.

I congratulate all the awarded athletes on their successes and achieved results. These are our sports heroes that the entire society can look up to. Dear friends, we can all be proud of our sportsmen and sportswomen. They give strength and positive energy to the entire country.”

On behalf of the Olympic family of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Academician Prof. Dr. Izet Rađo, addressed the audience:

“The past Olympic year was marked by the successful performances of our five Olympians in Paris and the elections to the Olympic Committee. My colleagues, Davor Komšić, Vico Zeljković and my little one, have set ambitious plans for the continuation of the work of the OC BiH, aimed at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

The Olympic Committee implemented 123 projects during the last four-year Olympic cycle, worth 5,600,000 KM, investing 70% of the budget in athletes. Although we have invested a lot in the sports system of BiH, financial support from the state remains necessary for competitiveness with European sports systems. The support provided to the sports system of BiH is the maximum that the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a non-budgetary user, can do, but it is not enough to achieve equal status with other European sports systems that have exceptional and multi-million support from their states.

At the moment, the state allocates only 1,342,000 KM per year for sports, which is not enough for successful preparation for Los Angeles 2028.

We proudly highlight the cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an important step towards improving sports and supporting our athletes.

The priority of the BiH Olympic Committee is to define strategic plans for the next Olympic cycle, including a clear determination of the categories of athletes that we will support. We will continue with program activities, but to achieve our common goals, we need minimum annual state support of 5 million KM for the implementation of the support program for athletes and Olympians.

Therefore, the Olympic Committee continues to invest in sports and infrastructure through domestic and international projects, but the state must recognize the importance of additional funding for the development of sports and the promotion of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the international stage.

With pride in our achievements, we are working on the future. We especially highlight the international support for the candidacy of Sarajevo and East Sarajevo for the 2032 Winter Youth Olympic Games. We expect the same support for this project from the relevant BiH ministries and institutions.

By decision of the Assembly of the OK BiH, tonight we proudly promote Marijan Kvesić, Milanko Mučibabić, and posthumously Siniša Kisić to honorary presidents of the OK BiH for their immeasurable contribution to the development of sports.

Thank you to everyone who supports our athletes. Let's continue to create the future of Bosnian and Herzegovina sports together!"

Below is the list of award winners:

Best Young Athlete in the Junior Women's Category: Tea Kovačević, Tennis;

Best Young Athlete in the Junior Men's Category: Benjamin Husić, Taekwondo;

Most Successful Sports Club: Orka Water Sports Club – Mostar;

Most Successful National Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Men's Senior Basketball Team;

Most Successful Coach: Damir Đedović, Swimming;

Special Awards of the OC BiH

For the Promotion of Sports and Olympic Values: Tomislav Cvitanušić and Muhamed Bikić;

Sports Worker, for long-term contribution to the development of sports: Đurđica Šišul, Athletics and Mirsad Tinjić, Gymnastics;

Promoters of Sports of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ismail Barlov Para swimming, and the National Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sitting Volleyball;

Athlete or team from the family of non-Olympic sports: Anes Bostandžić, karate, Emina Sipović, karate, Marina Kurteš, karate and the BiH Moto National Team, motorcycling;

Special award for outstanding sports results: Aleksandra Samardži, judo, Ada Avdagić, taekwondo, the BiH Muay Thai National Team, Thai boxing and Muhamed Đonko, taekwondo;

Award for support in the work of the BiH Olympic Committee - Sponsors of the BiH Olympic Committee: Coca-Cola, BH Telecom, Lottery of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Number 1

Award for media promotion of Olympic values: Aleksandra Babić, BHT1, and Velid Spaho, BHT1;

For successful long-term coaching work: Denis Muhović, karate;

Sports Ambassador: Edin Džeko, football/soccer;

Best female athlete in senior competition: Lana Pudar, swimming;

Best male athlete in senior competition: Nedžad Husić, taekwondo;

Athlete of the year: LANA PUDAR.