Helen Crlenkovich (1921-1955) was one of the most successful athletes in America and the world on the three-meter springboard and the ten-meter platform. She was an American-born Croatian lovingly known as “Klinky.” She was the first female to do a full-twisting 1 1/2 somersault and several other dives that were heretofore only achieved by men.
Category: Sports
Darko Kralj won gold medal for Croatia in China
Darko Kralj won gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paraolympic Games in China. Competing in Men’s Shot Put he broke a new world record at the National Stadium known as Bird’s Nest. He said: “My biggest wish was to listen to the Croatian anthem in Beijing.” Mr. Kralj lost his left leg in 1991 during the Serbian aggression on Croatia (1990-1995).
Branimir Budetić won silver medal for Croatia in China
Branimir Budetić of Croatia celebrates after finishing second during the final of the men’s javelin F11-12 classification event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in Beijing on September 10, 2008.
Antonia Balek won two gold medals for Croatia in China
Antonia Balek two gold medals for Croatia at the 2008 Paraolympic Games in China. The first gold medal has been won in women’s javelin, and the second in women’s Shot Put, both with new world records. The competition was held in the National Stadium known as Bird’s Nest in front of 85,000 spectators. Antonia survived a deep coma which lasted for 3 years.
Cradle Of Football Is Not England, But Dalmatia!
In the 1st ct BC, young Illyrian Delmata tribe warriors, bided their time by passing each other a ball made from leather or bull hair. Sinj-based amateur archaeologist Josip Bepo Britvic dedicated his entire life to proving and providing evidence for this theory. Taking a walk in 1947, in hometown Sinj, he saw a rooted relief on a facade, showing a young man holding…a “football”.
Croatians in America – photo collection by Vladimir Novak, part 3
Mr. Vladimir Novak brings us a new series of exceptionally interesting photos related to life and work of Croatians in America, collected over several decades in the USA. As in previous two presentations, much of this material is presented for the first time, exclusively for the readers of CROWN. On the left Marin Plestina, a famous wrestler.
For retired coach Chuck Mrazovich, keeping fit's a slam dunk
At 84, Chuck Mrazovich has been aging well. The retired EKU basketball coach keeps himself fit and by staying active with multiple hobbies, like antiques, raising grandchildren designing furniture, playing the brac, eating well and working out.
Marin Cilic beats Mardy Fish at Pilot Pen for first ATP victory
Marin Cilic of Croatia won his first ATP Tour event Saturday, beating American Mardy Fish 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 at the Pilot Pen, a U.S. Open tuneup. Despite having the crowd against him, the 19-year-old Cilic broke the hard-serving Fish five times, three times in the final set, to secure the win in his first finals appearance.
Blanka Vlasic wins historic Olympic medal for Croatia at Beijing 2008
Then comes a small “poof” when Vlasic lands in the thick pad, the bar undisturbed. Seven times she did this Saturday night, the obediently motionless bar a little higher each time. The noise inhaled by the gasp of 91,000 fans. The high-jump contest was advertised as the showcase of a legend in this sport, Blanka Vlasic’s 14-month winning streak at 38. A true pride of Croatia.
Filip Ude won silver medal in pommel horse at 2008 Bejing Olympic Games
Filip Ude won the first Croatian medal in gymnastics at Olympic Games. He won silver medal in pommel horse at 2008 Bejing Olympic Games. This is a result of painstaking work, directed by the Russian trainer Igor Kriajimskij. Recently a top quality multipurpose gymnastic center has been opened in Nedelišće on the North of Croatia.
Veljko Rogosic first to swim from Europe to Africa via Sicilia in July 2008
Veljko Rogošić, one of the most famous longdistance swimmers in history, swam from the island of Sicilia to Tunisia at the age of 67! He is thus the first human being to be able to connect Europe and Africa along this way. It took him 50 hours. This is one of the greatest achievements of Croatian sport in history. He is swimming under the motto “With sport against drugs!”
106 Croatian sportswomen and sportsmen at the 2008 Bejing Olympic Games
Croatia sent the record number of 106 representatives to the 2008 Bejing Olympic Games. Some of them are planetary sport stars, like high-jumper Blanka Vlašić who up to now has an amazing series of 34 consecutive wins at international competitions. On the photo is a famous “Croatian worm” composed of CRO handball players, winners at the Olympics in Athens and Atlanta.
Ivo Karlovic beat Roger Federer at Cincinnati Masters 2008
Ivo Karlović, Croatian tennis player known as The King of Aces, beat Roger Federer at Cincinnati Masters 2008, scoring 21 aces. He has the most devastating serve in ATP history. He is the tallest player ever on the ATP Tour at 208 cm (6 ft 10 in). In 2007 he finished the year with 1,318 aces, second all-time behind Goran Ivanišević, who hit 1,477 in 1996.
Charles Billich's Bing Ma Yong cycle of paintings in China
Inspired by the conviction that the Chinese Olympic Committee should adopt a traditional symbol as the official image of the 2008 Beijing Bid, Billich created the Bing Ma Yong cycle of paintings. Charles Billich is Croatian-Australian painter, born in Croatia, and official painter of the 2008 Olympiad in China.
Croatia – China then and now
On the left you can see a postage stamp issued in Zagreb with Croatian name written in Chinese, designed by Boris Ljubičić. Croatian Tales from Long Ago , written by Ivana Brlić Mažuranić, have been published in China already in 1957. Dragutin Šurbek, a famous Croatian ping-pong player, was very popular in China, nicknamed there as Surbeka.
China Radio International in Croatian language on the WWW
The web site croatian.cri.cn was solemnly opened by China Radio International during a nice ceremony held in Zagreb in July 2nd 2008. It was launched in the presence of Chinese ambassador in Croatia His Excellency Mr. Wu Lianqi and other distinguished guests. It represents the first web site in Croatian language in China.
Wimbledon 2008 Intelligent Ancic beats Fernando Verdasco in thriller
The intelligent Croatian, who this time last year was so weak from the after effects of glandular fever that he could barely go for a walk without having to sleep for several hours afterwards, was stoic in his victory. The final set had extended 94 minutes and nerves were clearly at jangling point. However Ancic was sufficiently composed to club his 15th and final ace into quarterfinals.
Thank You Croatia! Spasibo Horvatiya!
Amazing news: Russian web site www.soccer.ru/spasibo invites all Russian fans to Say Thank You to Croatia! or in Russian, Spasibo Horvatiya! Namely, Croatian 2007 win at Wembley in London over England opened the door for the Russian team to appear at the 2008 European Football Championship. Thousands of Russians of all ages responded to the invitation.
Drazen Petrovic, a famous Croatian basketball player, left us 15 years ago
Dražen Petrović, a famous Croatian basketball player, died on June 1993, ie 15 years ago. With all the problems going on in Croatia back then, Dražen gave all of Croatia the joy of Basketball to alleviate their pains. His very nice monument can be seen in front of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Croatia defeats Germany 2-1 at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships
Croatia’s Darijo Srna, left, celebrates with his teammate Danijel Pranjic after scoring the opening goal during the group B match between Croatia and Germany in Klagenfurt, Austria, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland.