Svetlana Kitić

She is called the queen of the Yugoslavian handball school, and it is said that she managed to surpass the popularity of the sport to which she was so devoted. Today, when you think of women’s handball you cannot help but think of Svetlana Kitić, the best female handball player of all time.

At the age of sixteen Svetlana Kitić already managed to pave the road of success which she will embark upon. She rapidly became one of the key players of the Yugoslavian national team, for which she played a total of 202 matches and scored about 900 goals.

Our best handball player was born in 1960 in Tuzla. She entered into serious handball competitions when she was only fifteen years old and when she came to Belgrade so she could train handball in Radnički. Many claim that she was exceptional when it comes to handball knowledge and her ability, a real virtuoso regarding the technique, and that she proved herself on a daily basis as an individual and as a creator of a collective game. She was declared the best young handball player of the world in women’s category in 1977.

The most beautiful things in life bind her specifically to Belgrade to which she moved when she was very young.

“I grew up in this city, this is where I’ve spent a certain part of my childhood, youth, this is where I’ve developed as a person, as a player and as a woman. While one part of Bosnia still crouches in me, my biggest successes are all related to Belgrade and the national team. “

For years she remained a prominent media figure and a female handball number one and represents an important part of the history of this dynamic sport.

Most significant medals and accompanying titles

World Championship in Hungary in 1982 – bronze medal

Moscow Olympics in 1980 – silver medal

Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 – gold medal

With Radnički she had won the European Championship Cup in 1980 and 1984, and in the 1986 the Winners’ Cup

In 1988 she was declared the World Player of the Year

2010. Best female handball player of all time

Svetlana Kitić for portal Serbia.com says that her biggest successes were that, despite a brilliant career and a beautiful but turbulent life, she has managed to be accomplished in the life’s most beautiful role – motherhood, and that “she keeps both feet firmly on the ground “. Of all the medals she had won, the most cherished is her golden from the Olympics, the one which is coveted by almost every athlete.

“Given the fact that I’m very nostalgic about Yugoslavia, this medal means to me so much more because those were the last Olympic games in which we all participated together, and when many national teams of Yugoslavia have won medals.”

She played in Spain, Italy, and Germany. However, she was always gladly coming back to her Serbia.

“I am a true Balkan type. I love this mentality and this country, this is where I found myself and where I function perfectly.” Svetlana says that Serbia is primarily comprised of people, and that Serbs are specific in many a way. “I love people more than I love the country because they are the ones who are dynamic and noble and who represent the greatest qualities of our country. I love Serbia because I think that there are no people in the whole wide world who are positively crazy as Serbs are.”

Our most famous female handball player believes that the defiance is the distinguishing feature of our nation. “The Serbs are defiant, and when you mix that Serbian defiance with my Bosnian stubbornness then you get Ceca you all know. It helped me a lot in sports. Often, with just defiance, spite and stubbornness have I won some of the crucial matches. “

Although she takes care of her eating habits, she cannot resist the home-made cheese and kajmak, which are, as she says with a smile, the best in the world.

Svetlana believes that our country is extraordinary for its sports achievements, especially if one takes into account the size of our country and our low investments in the sports. “We are recognized as a sports nation and it is the most beautiful picture that can accompany Serbia lately, considering how we have gone through some turbulent times and how turbulent are the times we are going through right now.”

In the International Handball Federation’s poll in 2010, Svetlana Ceca Kitić has been elected for the best handball player of all time, with the 85% of the votes.

“It’s one of the dreams that I haven’t even dreamed of and it was really nice to be Ceca Kitic in those few days. It should be noted that there is no sportswoman in the former Yugoslavia who was declared the sportswoman of all time, and even with that fact in mind, many officials did not partake in congratulations that were in order even though per protocol and procedure that was not supposed to happen. However, I did not play for the officials. I played because I loved this land, because I loved handball. “

This year’s World Handball Championship for Women is held in Serbia. Our most recognized female handball player emphasizes the importance of supporting the Serbian national team.

“At last year’s competition our girls missed a bronze medal by a hair. Girls are now far more mature for a big competition like this, and are sufficiently motivated and I wholeheartedly believe in them. I want to invite all the people to come to the games, fill the hall, cheer for our team and help our girls win a medal.