The Vecernje Novosti paper chooses Water Polo Player (VI)

We are slowly starting to count down the hours until the award ceremony "Waterpolo Player of the Year", the traditional annual selection by Večernji list for the best among the best in Croatia's most trophy-laden team sport. Fortunately, we have many candidates for the prestigious trophy and the statue "Waterpolo Player", created by the academic sculptor Stipe Sikirica. In the past days, we have introduced some of the favorites. Today, in the sixth installment, we introduce another center, a master at 2 meters, and he is...

Luka Lončar

Every one of the representatives will tell you that Luka Lončar is the foundation of a good, brilliant, relaxed atmosphere. Ever smiling. Never grumpy, always ready for a joke, but only when it's time for it. Otherwise, he is a deeply solid professional. When it comes to work, there is no slacking off. He doesn't tolerate that in himself, let alone in the younger teammates. He is not only a guarantee of seriousness and top-notch concentration but also one of the reasons why the coach Ivica Tucak convinced him to return to the national team at the end of 2023. After not being part of it for two and a half years, following the Olympics in Tokyo 2021.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that Lončar's journey with the national team is inseparable from Coach Tucak. Since the current coach became the head of the Croatian team, Lončar has been by his side at 2 meters. Other centers have changed – from Paškvalin, Dobud, Krapić, to Vrlić, but Lonac, as he is called, was a constant from 2013 to 2021. When his child was seriously ill in the hospital in 2015, he declined an offer to leave the World League tournament in Bergamo for Zagreb and stayed with the team until the end of the competition. All this speaks volumes.

Tucak's call in the autumn of 2023 and Lončar's agreement were one of our aces for the triumphant 2024. With the tandem of centers Lončar - Vrlić (although we must not overlook Krapić's contributions in Doha), Croatia had the strength, power, attacking depth, and the most potent center duo in the world. Without a doubt.

In Doha at the World Championships, he only missed playing against South Africa. In the final against Italy, he had 6 shots, 1 block. It was hard to imagine winning medals at the European Championships and Olympics without his participation. Ultimately, Lončar has become one of the most successful Barakudas. Currently, he has 15 medals.

He has already been named Waterpolo Player of the Year once. It was in 2018 when he shared the award with Andro Bušlja. Today, they share the same club dressing room at Olympiacos.

Medals with the national team:

• - Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 - silver
• - Olympic Games in Paris 2024 - silver
• - World Championships in Budapest 2017 - gold
• - World Championships in Doha 2024 - gold
• - World Championships in Kazan 2015 - silver
• - World Championships in Barcelona 2013 - bronze
• - World Championships in Gwangju 2019 - bronze
• - European Championships in Dubrovnik and Zagreb 2024 - silver
• - European Championships in Barcelona 2018 - bronze
• - World League in Bergamo 2015 - silver
• - World League in Belgrade 2019 - silver
• - World League in Ruza 2017 - bronze
• - Europa Cup in Rijeka 2018 - gold
• - Europa Cup in Zagreb 2019 - silver
• - Mediterranean Games in Mersin 2013 - gold