Maro Jokovic (CRO): “I’m still nervous before every match”

Dean Bauer, FINA Aquatics World Magazine Correspondent (CRO)

In water polo superpower Croatia, one man has outdistanced all others. Croatia has produced some of the world’sgreatest players. They include Hall of Fame members Perica Bukic and Milivoj Bebic and the likes of Ozren Bonacic, Goran Sukno, Veselin Djuho, Deni Lusić, Dubravko Simenc, Zoran Roje, Josip Pavic, Sandro Sukno. It’s a long and impressive list but there is one man who has amassed more trophies, medals and titles than any other.He is Maro Jokovic – with 54 medals. And counting.

Maro is still active at 32, still playing, and he certainly will not stop adding to his medal tally. We are convinced he will manage a further two per year for two or three years. Of those 54 medals, he has won 20 with the Croatian national team and 34 with three different clubs. There is only one player who has won more with the national team: Andro Buslje has 23 medals for his country but fewer in his club career.

Besides, Maro Jokovic holds another record. He is 2.03 metres (6ft 8ins) in height, which means that he is the tallestmember of the ‘Barakuda’, as Croats call their national water polo team. Jokovic quickly grew to that height, so it’s no wonder that at an early stage basketball also interested him.

“Honestly, it lasted a very short time. True, I was training basketball for a while, but it’s not worth mentioning, though I still like to watch some basketball matches. After water polo, it’s my favourite sport.”