List of Croatian sportspeople

This is a partial list of famous Croatian sportspeople.

Individual sports

Alpine Skiing

• Janica Kostelić - Alpine Skier World Cup Champion in 2001, 2003 & 2006 - (Four Olympic Gold & Two Silver Medals)
• Ivica Kostelić - Alpine skier, Olympic Silver Medalist in 2006 & 2010.
• Dalibor Šamšal - Alpine skier,
• Danko Marinelli - Alpine skier,
• Ivan Ratkić - Alpine skier,
• Nika Fleiss - Alpine skier,
• Ana Jelušić - Alpine skier,
• Sofija Novoselić - Alpine skier,
• Antony Sumich

Boxing

• Željko Mavrović - Fmr. European Boxing Champion
• Mate Parlov - Fmr. WBC & European Light Heavyweight Champion
• George Chuvalo - Fmr. Canadian Heavyweight Champion
• Bob Mirović - 8 Times Australian Heavyweight Champion
• Fritzie Živić (The Croat Comet) - Fmr. World Welterweight Champion
• Stjepan Božić - WBF Super Middleweight Champion
• Stipe Drviš - World Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion
• Mario Preskar

Discus Throw

• Sandra Perković - Olympic Gold Medal 2012

Kayaking

• Matija Ljubek

Kickboxing

• Mladen Brestovac - K1 Kickboxer and FFC Heavyweight Champion
• Branko Cikatić - First K-1 Grand Prix Winner
• Igor Jurković - K1 kickboxer
• Stefan Leko - Croatian heritage. German K1 Kickboxer
• Marko Tomasović
• Ivan Stanić

Martial Arts

• Lucija Zaninović - Olympic Bronze Medal 2012
• Sandra Šarić - Olympic Bronze Medal 2008
• Martina Zubčić - Olympic Bronze Medal 2008

MMA

• Pat Miletich (The Croatian Sensation) - Former UFC Champion
• Mirko Filipović (Cro Cop) - Mixed Martial Artist And Kickboxer, PRIDE FC 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix Champion and last K-1 World Grand Prix Champion
• Goran Reljić - UFC Mixed Martial Artist
• Zelg Galešić - Mixed Martial Artist
• Igor Pokrajac - UFC Mixed Martial Artist
• Stipe Miočić - UFC Mixed Martial Artist and current UFC Heavyweight Champion

Motorsport

• Robbie Frančević - NZ Touring car race driver
• Gary Gabelich - American automobile-racing driver
• Paul Radisich - NZ Racing car driver (Son of Frank Radisich)
• Auggie Vidovich – NASCAR Driver

Sailing

• Luka Mratović
• Tonči Stipanović
• Ivan Kljaković Gašpić
• Šime Fantela
• Igor Marenić
• Petar Cupać
• Pavle Kostov
• Tina Mihelić
• Enia Ninčević
• Romana Župan

Shooting

• Giovanni Cernogoraz - Olympic Gold Medal 2012
• Bojan Đurković
• Anton Glasnović
• Petar Gorša
• Snježana Pejčić

Swimming

• Duje Draganja
• Gordan Kožulj
• Miloš Milošević
• Đurđica Bjedov
• Sanja Jovanović
• Mario Todorović
• Kim Daniela Pavlin
• Tomislav Karlo
• Marko Strahija
• Mirna Jukić

Table tennis

• Zoran Primorac
• Dragutin Šurbek
• Antun Stipančić
• Tamara Boroš
• Tian Yuan

Tennis

• Franjo Punčec
• Josip Palada
• Boro Jovanović
• Goran Ivanišević
• Marin Čilić
• Ivan Ljubičić
• Mirjana Lučić
• Mario Ančić
• Ivo Karlović
• Iva Majoli
• Sabrina Goleš
• Nikola Pilić
• Željko Franulović
• Ivan Dodig
• Antonio Veić
• Donna Vekić
• Jelena Kostanić Tošić
• Goran Prpić
• Saša Hiršzon

Triathlon

• Dejan Patrčević

Wrestling

• Jerry Sags
• Josip Peruzović
• Stan Stasiak
• Shawn Stasiak
• Hugo Savinovich
• Victor Jovica
• Nenad Žugaj - Bronze at World Championships 2011
• Neven Žugaj - Bronze at World Championships 2010

Team sports

Football

1998 FIFA World Cup bronze medalists:

• Aljoša Asanović
• Slaven Bilić
• Zvonimir Boban
• Alen Bokšić
• Robert Jarni
• Goran Jurić
• Krunoslav Jurčić
• Ardian Kozniku
• Petar Krpan
• Dražen Ladić
• Zoran Mamić
• Silvio Marić
• Marijan Mrmić
• Robert Prosinečki
• Mario Stanić
• Anthony Šerić
• Dario Šimić
• Davor Šuker - 1998 Golden Boot Winner
• Igor Štimac
• Igor Tudor
• Vladimir Vasilj
• Goran Vlaović
• Miroslav Blažević - Head coach

Current players:

• Milan Badelj
• Andrija Balić
• Jurica Buljat
• Mijo Caktaš
• Ante Ćorić
• Vedran Ćorluka
• Eduardo
• Alen Halilović
• Ivo Iličević
• Nikica Jelavić
• Lovre Kalinić
• Nikola Kalinić
• Ivan Kelava
• Ivan Klasnić
• Mateo Kovačić
• Niko Kranjčar
• Dario Krešić
• Dejan Lovren
• Mario Mandžukić
• Mario Maloča
• Luka Modrić
• Ivica Olić
• Manuel Pamić
• Ivan Perišić
• Mladen Petrić
• Josip Radošević
• Ivan Rakitić
• Sammir
• Gordon Schildenfeld
• Darijo Srna
• Ivan Strinić
• Danijel Subašić
• Josip Šimunić
• Domagoj Vida
• Nikola Vlašić
• Šime Vrsaljko
• Ognjen Vukojević
• Ante Vukušić

Former players:

• Srđan Andrić
• Marko Babić
• Boško Balaban
• Bruno Belin
• Rudolf Belin
• Nenad Bjelica
• Stjepan Bobek
• Ivan Bošnjak
• Miroslav Brozović
• Igor Budan
• Josip Bukal
• Ivan Buljan
• Tomislav Butina
• Zlatko Čajkovski
• Tomislav Crnković
• Hrvoje Ćustić
• Stjepan Deverić
• Joey Didulica
• Tomislav Dujmović
• Mario Galinović
• Franjo Glazer
• Ivan Gudelj
• Ivan Hitrec
• Ivan Horvat
• Tomislav Ivković
• Dražan Jerković - Golden Boot Winner at the EURO 1960 and World Cup 1962.
• Jurica Jerković
• Davor Jozić
• Dario Knežević
• Mirko Kokotović
• Niko Kovač
• Robert Kovač
• Ivica Križanac
• Gustav Lehner
• Ivan Leko
• Jerko Leko
• Vlatko Marković
• Frane Matošić
• Marko Mlinarić
• Ivica Mornar
• Miljenko Mumlek
• Dražen Mužinić
• Mato Neretljak
• Ivica Osim
• Željko Perušić
• Luka Peruzović
• Nikola Pokrivač
• Danijel Pranjić
• Danijel Premerl
• Dado Pršo
• Petar Radaković
• Milan Rapaić
• Đovani Roso
• Vedran Runje
• Daniel Šarić
• Dario Šimić
• Josip Skoblar - European Golden Boot, 1971
• Blaž Slišković
• Tomislav Šokota
• Franjo Šoštarić
• Ivica Šurjak
• Mario Tokić
• Stjepan Tomas
• Hrvoje Vejić
• Franjo Vladić
• Jurica Vranješ
• Davor Vugrinec
• Zlatko Vujović
• Zoran Vujović
• Bernard Vukas
• Zoran Vulić
• Velimir Zajec
• Slaven Zambata
• Ante Žanetić
• Branko Zebec
• Aleksandar Živković (footballer, born 1912)
• Boris Živković

American Football

• Bill Belichick - NFL Coach
• Steve Belichick - Fmr. NFL player & coach
• Brian Billick - NFL Coach
• Tony Butkovich – American football player, 'All-American'
• Pete Carroll - NFL Coach (Irish father, Croatian mother)
• David Diehl - NFL player
• Eddie Erdelatz – American football player
• Elvis Grbac - Fmr. NFL player
• John Jurkovic - Fmr. NFL player
• Joe Kuharich - Fmr. NFL Coach
• Les Horvath – Fmr. NFL player
• John Jurkovic – NFL player
• Tony Mandarich - Fmr. NFL player
• Vic Markov – American football player
• Rob Ninkovich – American football player
• Lou Saban – NFL Coach
• Nick Saban - Fmr. NFL Coach
• Frank Sinkwich - Fmr. NFL player, 1942 winner of the Heisman Trophy
• Paul Skansi – American football player
• Nick Skorich – American football player and coach
• Josef Spudich – American football player
• Joe Stydahar – American football player
• Chris Zorich - Fmr. NFL player (African-American father, Croatian mother)

Australian rules football

• Brent Grgic - Australian rules footballer
• Peter Sumich - Australian rules footballer
• Adrian Barich - Australian rules footballer and Rugby League player
• Alan Didak - Australian rules footballer
• Matthew Pavlich - Australian rules footballer
• Allen Jakovich - Australian rules footballer
• Glen Jakovich - Australian rules footballer
• Darren Gaspar - #1 pick in 1993
• Travis Gaspar - Australian rules footballer
• Ivan Maric - Australian rules footballer
• Craig Starcevich - Australian rules footballer
• Marc Dragicevic - Australian rules footballer
• Ilija Grgic - Australian rules footballer
• John Gerovich - Australian rules footballer
• Steven Salopek - Australian rules footballer
• Jacob Surjan - Australian rules footballer
• Judd Lalich - Australian rules footballer
• Jon Dorotich - Australian rules footballer
• Val Perovic - Australian rules footballer
• Tony Begovich - Australian rules footballer
• Gavin Crosisca - Australian rules footballer
• Ray Gabelich - Australian rules footballer
• George Grljusich - Australian rules footballer
• Addam Maric - Australian rules footballer
• Nick Suban - Australian rules footballer
• Lukas Markovic - Australian rules footballer
• Matthew Liptak - Australian rules footballer
• Tony Modra - Australian rules footballer
• Andrew Ukovic - Australian rules footballer

Baseball

• Johnny Babich - Baseball player
• Reid Brignac – Baseball player
• Ann Cindric - Baseball player
• Tom Haller – Baseball player
• Ed Jurak - Baseball player
• Al Jurisich – Baseball player
• Mike Kreevich – Baseball player
• Curt Leskanic – Baseball player
• Johnny Logan – Baseball player
• Mickey Lolich - Baseball player
• Steve Lubratich – Baseball player
• Roger Maris - Baseball Legend
• Kevin McHale - Baseball player
• Catfish Metkovich – Baseball player
• Erv Palica (Pavlicevich) - Baseball player
• Johnny Pesky - Baseball player
• Dan Plesac – Baseball player
• Matt Skrmetta - baseball player
• Paul Spoljaric - Baseball player
• Bob Zupcic - baseball player

Basketball

• John Abramovic - Fmr. NBA player
• Franjo Arapović - Fmr. NBA Player
• Dalibor Bagarić - Fmr. NBA player
• Andrew Bogut - Australian NBA player, drafted 1st overall in 2005 (both parents Croatian)
• Dražen Petrović - NBA Hall of Famer
• Krešimir Ćosić - NBA Hall of Famer
• Frank Drmic - Australian basketball player
• Gordan Giriček - NBA player
• Vinko Jelovac - basketball player
• Mario Kasun - NBA player
• Toni Kukoč - NBA player (NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 1995-1996 season)
• Jack Marin - Fmr. American NBA Star
• Kevin McHale - NBA Hall of Famer (Croatian mother)
• George Mikan - NBA Hall of Famer
• Dražen Petrović - NBA Hall of Famer
• Zoran Planinić - NBA player
• Gregg Popovich - American Basketball Coach
• Dino Rađa - Fmr. NBA player
• Bruno Šundov - Fmr. NBA player
• Žan Tabak - Fmr. NBA player
• Rudy Tomjanovich - Fmr. NBA player and coach, No.2 pick in 1970 NBA Draft
• Andy Tonkovich - 1948 first NBA pick
• Roko Ukic - Current NBA player, No. 41 pick in 2005 NBA Draft
• Andrew Vlahov - Fmr. Australian NBA player
• Stojan Vranković - Fmr. NBA player
• Antonija Mišura
• Josip Gjergja
• Petar Skansi
• Ratomir Tvrdić
• Damir Šolman
• Nikola Plećaš
• Vinko Jelovac
• Željko Jerkov
• Andro Knego
• Duje Krstulović
• Branko Skroče
• Mihovil Nakić
• Aleksandar "Aco" Petrović
• Ivan Sunara
• Zoran Čutura
• Danko Cvjetičanin
• Arijan Komazec
• Velimir Perasović
• Mirko Novosel

Bojan Bogdanović

Cricketers

• Simon Katich - Australian cricket player
• Anton Devcich - NZ cricket player
• Joseph Yovich - NZ cricket player
• Antony Sumich - NZ cricket player - player for Croatia

Handball

• Hrvoje Horvat - Handball Player
• Mirza Džomba
• Ivano Balić
• Petar Metličić
• Blaženko Lacković
• Vlado Šola
• Slavko Goluža
• Irfan Smajlagić
• Patrik Ćavar
• Albin Vidović
• Zdravko Miljak
• Miroslav Pribanić
• Zdenko Zorko
• Željko Nimš
• Zvonimir Serdarušić
• Ivan Snoj
• Pavle Jurina
• Mirko Bašić
• Zdravko Zovko
• Boris Jarak
• Alvaro Načinović
• Goran Perkovac
• Iztok Puc
• Zlatko Saračević
• Vladimir Jelčić
• Božidar Jović
• Vladimir Šujster
• Bruno Gudelj
• Nenad Kljaić
• Zoran Mikulić
• Venio Losert
• Valner Franković
• Valter Matošević
• Davor Dominiković
• Nikša Kaleb
• Denis Špoljarić
• Goran Šprem
• Igor Vori
• Drago Vuković
• Vedran Zrnić
• Renato Sulić
• Lino Červar
• Velimir Kljaić

Hockey

• Joseph Cattarinich – NHL Hall of Famer
• Jonathan Filewich – ice hockey player
• Mark Fistric – ice hockey player
• Mike Gazdic – ice hockey player
• Travis Hamonic – ice hockey player
• John Hecimovic – ice hockey player
• Tony Hrkac - Fmr. NHL player
• Dan Kordic - Fmr. NHL player
• John Kordic - Fmr. NHL player
• Frank Mahovlich - NHL Hall of Famer (1958 Calder Trophy Winner)
• Peter Mahovlich - Fmr. NHL player, nr. 2 in 1963 NHL Amateur Draft
• Phil Oreskovic – ice hockey player
• Victor Oreskovich – ice hockey player
• Mark Pavelich - Fmr. NHL player (Miracle on Ice)
• Matt Pavelich - first NHL linesman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Marty Pavelich - Fmr. NHL player
• Joel Prpic – ice hockey player
• Borna Rendulić - NHL player
• Cory Sarich - Fmr. NHL player
• Joe Sakic - fmr. NHL player
• Buzz Schneider - ice hockey player
• Adrien Plavsic - (Serb father, Croat mother) Fmr. NHL player
• Joel Prpic - Hockey player (brief appearance in the NHL)
• Rob Valicevic - NHL player
• Marc-Edouard Vlasic - NHL player

Rugby

• Antony Sumich - Rugby Union player
• Frano Botica - Rugby Union player
• Ivan Cleary - Rugby League player and coach
• Ivan Henjak - Rugby League player
• Matt Henjak - Rugby Union player
• Max Krilich - Rugby league player
• Dan Luger - Rugby Union player
• Tony Mestrov - Rugby League player
• James Stosic - NZ Rugby League player
• Anthony Boric - Rugby Union player
• Matthew Cooper - Rugby Union player
• Sean Fitzpatrick - Rugby Union player
• Brendon Winslow - Rugby Union player
• Croatia national rugby union team

Volleyball

• Marcos Milinkovic - Argentine volleyball player
• Alejandro Spajic - Argentine volleyball player
• Igor Omrčen
• Tomislav Čošković
• Barbara Jelić
• Maja Poljak
• Elena Chebukina
• Nataša Osmokrović

Waterpolo

• Veljko Bakašun
• Marko Brainović
• Vladimir Ivković
• Zdravko Ježić
• Zdravko-Ćiro Kovačić
• Ivo Kurtini
• Lovro Radonjić
• Ivo Štakula
• Ivo Cipci
• Tomislav Franjković
• Hrvoje Kačić
• Marijan Žužej
• Ivo Trumbić
• Zoran Janković (water polo)
• Karlo Stipanić
• Zdravko Hebel
• Ronald Lopatni
• Miroslav Poljak
• Deni Lušić
• Božo Vuletić
• Goran Sukno
• Dubravko Šimenc
• Ozren Bonačić - Fmr. water polo player & coach
• Perica Bukić - Water polo player and politician
• Nikša Dobud - Water polo player
• Kristijan Milaković

Other sports

• Sandra Bezic – figure skater, choreographer and television commentator
• Val Bezic – figure skater
• Fred Couples – Golfer (former World number 1)
• Mirko Filipović - K1, UFC, PRIDE fighter
• Gary Gabelich – American automobile-racing driver
• Luka Grubor - UK Olympic Gold Medalist (Rowing)
• Sofia Mulanovich - famous Peruvian surfer
• Franjo Mihalic - Marathon athlete
• Frank Nobilo - NZ Golfer
• Abdon Pamich – race walker
• Snježana Pejčić- shooting player
• Sandra Perković – discus thrower
• The Great Antonio - Strongman and Eccentric
• Blanka Vlašić – High jumper

See also

• List of VFL/AFL players by ethnicity