Organized by 'Nezavisne' and BHRT: Nedžad Husić and Jonquel Jones are the best in 2021.

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has named its best athletes for the 21st time, and 2021 was marked by taekwondo athlete Nedžad Husić and basketball player Jonquel Jones, who were proclaimed the best athletes of BiH tonight in Sarajevo at the event for the selection of the best athlete of BiH, organized by 'Nezavisne novine' and Radio-Television of BiH in Studio A of BHRT.

This year, the jury was chaired by celebrated handball player Jasmin Mrkonja, who, along with the rest of the jury, had a difficult task but ultimately made fair decisions by consensus. According to their rulebook, the jury evaluated the results achieved by athletes from December 1, 2020, to December 1, 2021. Results achieved after December 1, 2021, are eligible for the following year's selection. Husić made history for BiH sports this year. After winning a European silver medal in the senior category in Sofia, he achieved BiH's greatest result at the Olympic Games in Tokyo on the world's biggest stage. A historic medal narrowly eluded him, and he ultimately finished in fifth place, which is the best placement for a BiH athlete at the Olympics. He also won gold at the European Championship for under-21 athletes in Tallinn.

"Thank you all, the impressions are very positive. I am glad to have received this valuable award. I will strive to achieve even better results in the future and, of course, to maintain this throne, which will be a very difficult task. I am glad to make BiH proud and to promote our country in the world in some way," said the laureate for 2021.

Among the top three were also athlete Amel Tuka and tennis player Marko Maksimović. Jonquel Jones also had a dream year. She shone in the BiH jersey at the European Championship, leading the 'Zmajice' (female dragons) to a historic fifth place and qualification for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. In the strongest basketball league in the world, the WNBA, she was chosen as the MVP of the regular season, and in Europe, she won the EuroLeague with Russian club Ekaterinburg.

"I would like to thank everyone who voted for me as the athlete of the year. This award means a lot to me, not only because of my hard work but also because the people in this country have fully accepted me, as if I were born here. Every time I put on this jersey, I wear it with great pride. This award does not belong only to me; all the girls helped me achieve this, as did the coaches, staff, and especially Goran, who brought me here. I am happy to have such teammates who welcomed me wonderfully from day one. This is an honor and a privilege for me," said Jones.

Also in contention were the excellent swimmer Lana Pudar and volleyball player Edina Begić.

Traditionally, awards were presented in a total of 12 categories. The title of the best team went to the BiH women's basketball national team, which achieved a historic result at the European Championship. The award for the best coach, for the second consecutive year, deservedly went to Goran Lojo, the head coach of the BiH women's basketball team. The young swimming star Iman Avdić and the talented taekwondo athlete Ilija Jukić were proclaimed the most promising female and male athletes, respectively. An award for the development of sports was also presented, and this title went to the first swimming club in Bosnia and Herzegovina that works with people with disabilities – Swimming Club Spid.

The jury awarded the fair-play award and the sports role model award to Football Club Čelik from Zenica. Lifetime achievement awards were presented to handball legend Zvonimir Noka Serdarušić, celebrated basketball player Mari Lakić-Brčaninović, and posthumously to Josip Bukal, a symbol of FK Željezničar, and Daka Radošević, a legendary athlete. The award for the best team in sports for people with disabilities went to the BiH sitting volleyball national team, while the recognition for the best athlete with a disability went to Stevan Crnobrnja, a member of the BiH volleyball team. The hearts of the readers of 'Nezavisne novine' and visitors to the portal www.nezavisne.com this year were won by the super-talented tennis player Marko Maksimović.

ALL WINNERS 2001

BEST ATHLETE
Hasan Salihamidžić (football)
2002
BEST ATHLETE
Denis Muhović (karate)
2003
BEST ATHLETE
Lejla Ferhatbegović (karate)
2004
BEST ATHLETE
Đorđe Paštar (bowling)
2005
BEST ATHLETE

Markica Dodig (bocce)
2006
BEST ATHLETE
Enid Tahirović (handball)
2007
BEST ATHLETE
Markica Dodig (bocce)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Arnela Odžaković (karate)
2008
BEST ATHLETE
Memnun Hadžić (boxing)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Lusija Kimani (athletics)
2009
BEST ATHLETE
Edin Džeko (football)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Larisa Cerić (judo)
2010
BEST ATHLETE
Nermin Potur (karate)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Larisa Cerić (judo)
2011
BEST ATHLETE
Amel Mekić (judo)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Dragana Knežević (handball)
2012
BEST ATHLETE
Mirza Teletović (basketball)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE

Ivana Ninković (swimming)
2013
BEST ATHLETE
Zvjezdan Misimović (football)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Larisa Cerić (judo)
2014
BEST ATHLETE
Nikola Prce (handball)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Larisa Cerić (judo)
2015
BEST ATHLETE
Amel Tuka (athletics)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Aleksandra Samardžić (judo)
2016
BEST ATHLETE
Mirsad Terzić (handball)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Ivona Ćavar (karate)
2017
BEST ATHLETE
Damir Džumhur (tennis)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Larisa Cerić (judo)
2018
BEST ATHLETE
Edin Džeko (football)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Larisa Cerić (judo)
2019
BEST ATHLETE

Amel Tuka (athletics)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Larisa Cerić (judo)
2020
BEST ATHLETE
Miralem Pjanić (football)
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Marica Gajić (basketball)