World Swimming and Water polo Championship - Rome 2009

Milorad Čavić and Nađa Higl - Serbian Heroes

World swimming champions got awards for their success in Rome. Water polo team went through the small door and came back home with the gold. Former European and olympic champions far from medals


By RADOMIR ĐUROVIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


More than 35,000 people gathered in front of the City Hall of Belgrade to welcome world champions in swimming and water polo. And if water polo guys are maybe get used to this reception, for swimmers this was still great news. At the World Championship in Rome Milorad Čavić won the gold medal in 50 meters dolphin style, while in double longer track he was second. The biggest surprise was made by girl from Pančevo - Nađa Higl, who won the gold medal in 200 meters butterfly style. After four years Serbian water polo has returned to the world's throne, as they have beaten Spain in the final, after penalties.

With three golden and one silver medal Serbia is in 8th place for the whole World Championships in Rome. This is a huge success for a small country, because they left behind such water sports forces as Hungary, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada, France and Poland. During Rome event, even 46 new world records have been made, which is the most in one competition so far. However, in the future it won't be so easy to turn down records, because the World Swimming Federation has banned using polyurethane swimming suits from January 1, 2010. These costumes, which need 20 minutes to take on, caused lots of negative comments, because the swimmers are faster in them, and it's easier to beat records.

After several years Serbian water polo team went to the competition without Šapić, Šefik, Vujasinović, Ćirić, Savić and Ikodinović. Therefore they were not in the circle of favorites for the highest position. During group competition Serbia was in second place behind Spain, and for quarterfinals they had to play against home team of Italy. The hosts took the third place in Group D. After Italy, Serbia has beaten triple Olympic champion Hungary, and so-far World Champion of Croatia (in semifinals). The best scorer was Serbian Filip Filipović (20 goals), and the best goalkeeper Italian Stefano Tempesti.

- We did a great thing for Serbia. This is unbelieveable success that makes us happy but also commiting - said the captain of Serbian team and the best water-polo player of the championship Vanja Udovičić.

In addition to Italy, which took 11th place, the biggest disappointment was European champion Montenegro and Olympic champion Hungary. Montenegriners were the second in the group after defeat against Croatia. It seemed like the Montenegriners make tactics in order to avoid Serbia or Hungary in semifinals. However, in the fight for the Quarter-finals Germany won in extratime 9:8. Montenegro had to meet the ninth place.

After 2001 the Hungarians are back from a big competition without medal. Olympic champion was the first in the group, but in quarterfinals defeated by Serbia and at the end had to meet the fifth place. And Hungarians came with younger team, because after Olympic games in Beijing some players retired - Zoltan Seči, Tibor Benedek, Tamas Kasas and Tamas Molnar.

After a long period Serbian swimmers have brought medals from World Championships - three of them. First, Milorad Čavić won gold at the 50m dolphin, and then followed a double longer race. Race to 100m dolphin was replay of the last year finals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing where Čavić fought the best swimmer ever U.S. Michael Phelps. This fight started already through the newspapers. First, Felps said the other swimmers have better costumes, and then Čavić offered to buy him a new costume. And in the pool it was exciting. First Čavić set a new world record in semifinals (50.01 seconds), and then followed the most exciting final of the Championship. It was supposed that the world champion will be the one who beats down the world record. And so it was but the record was thrown down by two swimmers. Čavić had 49.95, and Phelps 49.82. Felps won five "golds" and one "silver" in Rome.

If Čavić was expected to bring a medal, Nađa Higl had the main goal to reach the semifinals. In the final race Higl entered with the fifth time and she was not among favorites for the gold medal. However, young girl from Pančevo did it intelligent. The first 150 meters she was in the fourth and fifth position, and in the last 50 meters she became a world champion.

For the success in Rome Serbian swimmers are awarded with flats. Čavić received a flat (84 square meters) in the Belgrade settlement Bezanijska kosa, and Nadja Higlova in her Pancevo. Nađa Higl can only hope that Pančevo is going to build a swimming pool, so she will not have to travel every day to Belgrade and Tašmajdan for training.


(Published: 20.08.2009.)