Sport in 2009

Bolt moves the borders

The most interesting events in the year behind us, according to WAVE Magazine choice: world records of Usain Bolt, unsportsmanlike way of France's qualification to the World Football Championship, World Championship in water sports, Eurobasket and the Universiade in Belgrade


By RADOMIR ĐUROVIĆ (radomir.djurovic@wavemagazine.net)
from Belgrade, SERBIA
Translation: MILENA OTAŠEVIĆ


Previous year was full of sports events and top results. WAVE magazine has selected for you few the most important that should not be forgotten:

1. A LIGHTNING FROM JAMAICA - The greatest hero on 2009 was definitely Usain Bolt. The athlete from Jamaica broke two of his own and world records on the World Championship in Berlin. First, he set a new world record on 100m (9.58 seconds) and thus impressed the world. The storm hasn't yet calmed down and he won a new gold medal and set a new record. This time the run was twice longer and the result was 19.19 seconds. After the Olympic Games in Beijing when he also broke world records on 100 and 200m everybody was wondering how fast he actually is because it was obvious he didn't give his maximum. The same question arose in Berlin as well. Everybody wanted to discover the secret of his speed then and he gave them different answers. To ones he replied that he regularly eats chicken wings, sleeps a lot and trains a little and to others he said he drinks a mixture of dark beer and Red Bull. Until now, his only worthy opponent was the stopwatch and now there is American Tyson Gay who ran the third best all time result on 100m in the finals (9.71) and won a silver medal.

2. HANDBALL FOR FOOTBALL WORLD CUP - It seemed that the qualifications for the Football World Cup, which is going to be held this year in South African Republic, would be marked by a sensational qualification of Slovenia who defeated Russia in the play-offs. However, the public's attention was drawn by one unsportsmanlike move. In the return match of the play-offs France was losing the game on home field against Ireland when the biggest scandal in last couple of years happened in the additional time. The game was playing and the ball was almost out of the field but then Thierry Henry received it with his hand and then passed it to Gallas who scored. In vain did the Irish signal to the referee that Henry played with his hand - this goal sent the French to South Africa. Immediately, there was a great fuss about everything. The public strongly criticized the unsportsmanlike move of Henry, and the Irish asked for the match to be played again. That was denied to them, and then they requested to participate in the Championship as a 33rd team. That wasn't accepted either. It is sure that the career of the excellent football player Thierry Henry took a completely different turn. No one pays attention to his excellent performances any more but to where his hands are and everybody uses the opportunity to remind us of the unsportsmanlike move of the French national team player.



3. SERBIAN WATER POLO PLAYERS AND SWIMMERS AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD - Even though they came with a younger team and weren't considered one of the favourites for the gold medal, Serbian water polo players won the first place on the World Championship in Rome. Without the experienced Sapic, Ikodinovic, Vujasinovic, Sefik and others, Serbia demonstrated that it has excellent young water polo players. Second place was won by Spain, and the third went to Croatia. The biggest disappointments were the Olympic champions, Hungarians who ended up on the fifth place and the European champions, Montenegrians who rated 9th. Still, the competition in Rome is not memorable only because of the water polo players. The swimmers attracted attention to themselves too. Even though it was expected from Milorad Cavic to get a medal (he won a gold medal in 50m butterfly stroke and a silver medal on a twice as long distance), it certainly wasn't expected from Nadja Higl. Let alone a gold medal. Young citizen of Pancevo has done exactly that. She won in 200m break stroke finals and became the most pleasant surprise. Michael Phelps won five gold and one silver medal. The silver was after he was beaten in 200m free stroke by a German Paul Biedermann what made the best swimmer of today realize that he is not unbeatable. Some 43 world records were broken in Rome and most due to costumes made of polyurethane which were later banned for use.



4. SPANISH EUROBASKET - After six silver and two bronze medals, Spanish basketball players have finally won the gold medal on the European Championship. Even though they didn't play well at the beginning of the Championship in Poland, the Spaniards turned out to be much better towards the end and added the title of European Champion to already owned title of World Champion. Serbia which returned to the top of European basketball after a couple of years, ended second. The biggest credit goes to coach Dusan Ivkovic who created a united team from younger players. The bronze medal was won by the Greeks. The greatest disappointment were the Russians and the Latvians who were far from the winning throne. Even though he came to Poland with an injury, Spanish centre Pau Gasol was the tournament's MVP.

5. STUDENT SPORTSMEN IN BELGRADE - At the beginning of July the 25th Universiade was held in Belgrade. Even though many feared the swine flu some 10,000 sportsplayers from 145 countries participated. Serbia presented itself as a good host and may remember till this day the opening ceremony and the lighting of the flame which has never been seen before. The most successful were the Russian sportsman with 76 medals, followed by Japan (73), China (58) and South Korea (47). Serbia won 19 medals (5 gold, 5 silver and 9 bronze).



Apart from the selected five events there were many other interesting moments. Footballers of Barcelona won 6 trophies (national championship, the national Cup, Spain Super Cup, The Champions League, Europe Super Cup and Club World Cup). Real Madrid is again creating a team of greatest football stars. The biggest reinforcement is Christiano Ronaldo who came to Madrid for $94 million which makes the biggest transfer in the history of football. Rafael Nadal lost his first match on Roland Garros. After 32 won matches and four trophies he was beaten by Robin Soderling. Swiss Roger Federer used this situation and thus became the sixth tennis player to win four grand slams. By winning Wimbledon he won 15th grand slam and set a new record. Briton Janson Button is the winner of Formula 1 Championship and American Lindsey Wan defended the title in Alpine Ski World Cup. Legendary Finn Jahne Ahonen came back to ski jumping and German Michael Schumacher announced that he will sit behind the wheel in F1 again.


(Published: 15.01.2010.)