Jovana Preković
Olympic champion who asked her podium rivals to join hands
- Born
- January 20, 1996, Switzerland
- Nationality
Serbia- Style
- Attacking kumite fighter
- Weight
- 61 kg
- Active
- 2014–2022
- Status
- Retired · age 30
The medals
Olympic gold (2020); 2 world titles
The story
ovana Preković was born in Switzerland, where her parents had moved for work, and grew up in Aranđelovac, Serbia. Her grandfather took her to her first karate class at five because she loved Dragon Ball, and she stayed with her first coach, Roksanda Atanasov, for more than 20 years. At the 2018 World Championships she beat defending champion Giana Lotfy 5-0 in the pool and China's Yin Xiaoyan 8-5 in the final. In Tokyo she met Yin again for gold; the bout ended 0-0, the judges gave it to Preković, and on the podium she asked her fellow medallists to join hands. She kept her world title in Dubai that autumn, was named Serbia's sportswoman of the year and retired in 2022.
- Olympic champion, kumite −61 kg (2020)
- World champion, kumite −61 kg (2018, 2021)
- European champion, −61 kg (2017, 2021)
- Serbian Sportswoman of the Year (2021)
- Serbia's flag bearer at the Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony
Defining matches
- 2018WINvs Giana Lotfy (World Championships −61 kg pool, Madrid, 5-0 over the defending champion)
- 2018WINvs Yin Xiaoyan (World Championships −61 kg final, Madrid, 8-5)
- 2021WINvs Merve Çoban (Tokyo Olympic −61 kg semi-final, 2-0)
- 2021WINvs Yin Xiaoyan (Tokyo Olympic −61 kg final, 0-0, judges' decision)
- 2021WINvs Anita Serogina (World Championships −61 kg final, Dubai, 2-1)
Keep attacking when the score is level: Preković's Olympic final finished 0-0 and was settled by the judges, so the last 30 seconds of initiative can decide a title. Spar rounds where you must start every exchange.
2002–2016
