Vita Barbić receives the 2026 Dražen Petrović Award

First-year undergraduate Psychology student at the Catholic University of Croatia and athlete Vita Barbić is the recipient of the 2026 “Dražen Petrović” Award in the category of most successful young female athlete.

The Croatian Olympic Committee presented this prestigious award on September 10, 2026, as part of the celebrations marking Croatian Olympic Day and the 35th anniversary of the Committee’s establishment. This year marked the 20th edition of the “Dražen Petrović” Award, which recognizes the most successful young Croatian athletes for their achievements on the international sporting stage.

This major recognition comes after Vita’s outstanding sporting achievement, which we previously reported on - winning the silver medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships and becoming the world junior runner-up in the javelin throw. The “Dražen Petrović” Award is yet another recognition of her dedication, talent, and outstanding results, placing her among Croatia’s most successful young athletes.

We are especially delighted that, alongside her successful sporting career, Vita has chosen to pursue her academic journey at the Catholic University of Croatia. We wish her every success in balancing her academic and sporting commitments, as well as many more remarkable achievements in both areas.

Dear Vita, congratulations on this outstanding recognition!