'Ljeto na Vrbasu': Đorđe Gajić is the 'Banja Luka Swallow'

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Đorđe Gajić from Banja Luka performed the most beautiful 'Banja Luka Swallow' during the jumps from the city bridge in Banja Luka, as part of the 'Ljeto na Vrbasu' (Summer on the Vrbas) event.

This is his tenth participation in the competition, and with this victory, he confirmed last year's result, BN reports.

'These are perhaps the most difficult jumps, because I had to defend last year's title. It is difficult to defend a title in your own city, I think it is a big deal, especially in your own city and in the sport that I love and have been doing for so many years,' says Gajić.

Second place went to Danko Dangubić from Konjic, while the third-placed was Igor Arsenić from Banja Luka. Given that this is the only diving board where participants must perform the 'Vrbas Swallow' according to gymnastics criteria, this was an additional challenge for them to show their skills and win titles. 

'I am glad that everything went well, that no one got injured and that next year we will be in even greater numbers and with stronger and better competition,' says Danko Dangubić, who won second place. 

'This is my tenth participation in the jumps from the city bridge. I would like to thank the Tourist Organization for the successfully organized jumps. I came in third place. Am I satisfied? No,' says Igor Arsenić.

The Tourist Organization of Banja Luka says they are satisfied with the turnout of participants, as well as the citizens who came to support all the competitors. 

'This year is the 66th event on the Vrbas. I can say that I am satisfied, because there are many more visitors than in previous years, and the goal is for the number to be ever-increasing,' states Irena Radojević, director of the Tourist Organization of Banja Luka.

This year's winner, in addition to the trophy, also received a cash prize of 700 marks, while the second and third place winners received a medal and a cash prize of 500 and 300 marks, respectively. 

The event on the Vrbas was first organized in 1953 under the name 'Carnival on the Vrbas'. In the late seventies of the last century, the event was renamed 'Encounters on the Vrbas', and in 1995 it received its current name - 'Ljeto na Vrbasu' (Summer on the Vrbas).