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Home , LEN, LEN Champions League, Pro Recco (women)

INTERVIEW

Sportsmen and women are role 2013 Appointed Minister of Youth and Sports in the Serbian Government models for an active, healthy 2012 Won bronze medal at the Olympic lifestyle. While many work to Games in London promote these values, few have had 2012 Won gold at the European such a hand in shaping the policy Championship in Eindhoven with the of a nation as former Serbian water Serbian National team polo star Vanja Udovicic, who retired 2010 Named world player of the year by FINA magazine and European as an athlete to join the Serbian player of the year by LEN magazine Government as Minister of Youth 2010 Won a second LEN Champions League and Sports. title with Pro 2009 Took gold in the FINA World Aquatic His illustrious career in the pool saw Championships in Rome with the him play in four countries, winning Serbian National team six domestic league titles and six 2008 Won the LEN Champions League with domestic cups. He is also a two- 2008 Won bronze medal at the Beijing time winner of the LEN Champions Olympic men’s water polo League – ’s premier club competition competition for water polo. 2006 Gold in the in with the Serbian National Internationally, due to the team restructuring of the Balkan states, Gold medal at the FINA World 2005 Aquatic Championships in Montreal Udovicic played for three national with and teams (, Serbia and 2004 Won silver medal at the Olympic Montenegro, and Serbia), winning Games in Athens gold twice at the FINA World 2003 Took gold with the national team at the Aquatic Championships and three European Championship in Kranj times at the European Water Polo CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Championship. He also won the Water polo is a sport with a lot of contact. Do you think this FINA World League a staggering increases the risk of injuries? seven times and the World Cup Every sport is specific and every carries a specific risk of injury. I wouldn’t say water polo is rougher than other contact sports. twice. Do lots of things happen under the water that spectators might not be able to see? After captaining the Serbian That might be the appeal of water polo – it is the only national team since 2009, Udovicic where the spectators and the referees cannot see absolutely everything that is going on. Things happen underwater, of course became a national leader for all both intentionally and unintentionally. sport after accepting an invitation What are the most common injuries for water polo players? to become a cabinet minister. Shoulder and finger injuries are the most common.

272 Did you ever use injury prevention strategies, either as part of a still train in the pool, but without contact with the ball and other team or individually? players. Proper warm ups are the best injury prevention strategy. It is essential to prepare the muscles for the huge efforts the body has What medical staff do professional water polo teams generally to endure. have? A team doctor, two physios and a psychologist. What is the worst injury you had in your career? I’ve broken my fingers, toes and nose, and had a ruptured shoulder What characteristics do you think medical staff need in order to tendon. Fingers are the worst because, obviously, they are essential be successful working with athletes? to the game, and the recovery takes longer than in other injuries. They have to have full insight into all the specifics of the sport of the When my nose was broken I was out for a week. For the fingers and athlete they are working with. The other equally important thing shoulder recovery took two weeks. But being out doesn’t mean that is great interpersonal skills. Doctors are considered to be the best you don’t train, only that the training is different, so that it does not friends of athletes, with one of the key roles in bringing the tension affect the injured area. For instance, with a broken finger you will down before big games.

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Image: Vanja Udovicic playing for Pro Recco in the Italian Water Polo Final.

You have played for clubs in Serbia, Montenegro, and . What were the differences in the approach of the medical teams in these countries? They all have more or less the same approach, differing in the equipment they have at their disposal. Out of the mentioned countries, Serbia has the longest tradition in sports medicine, and I am proud that the athletes from other countries are coming to Serbia to be treated by our professionals.

Water polo is a skills-based game, but also demands great strength and endurance in the pool. How much time is spent doing and physical training compared to skills training? Equal amounts of time. Strength and skills are what makes the game, but you can never be a complete player if you don’t have both.

How much time on average would you spent in the pool each week for training? Our daily routine consists of gym once a day and training in the

pool twice a day. The daily training used to last for 7 hours, now they © Massimo Cebrelli / Getty Images are 4 and a half to 5 hours long. As for the time spent in the pool, in addition to regular training sessions, there is pre-game training and, of course, the game itself. Your career as an athlete spanned 15 years, did you notice a Spending a lot of time in the pool can increase the risk of illness progression in how sport science was used in water polo over or infections. Is this a problem that is common among water that time? polo players? The sport has changed over the past 15 years and medicine has Yes, all athletes in water disciplines have a higher risk of followed. The sport got faster, rougher and more intense, so the infections and most have had an infection because we are medical routines had to be adjusted to these new demands. Also, changing pools all the time. This is why building a strong because of all the money in professional sport now it has become immunity is so important to us. necessary to shorten the recovery time without harming the athlete.

Doctors are considered to be the best friends of athletes, with one of the big roles in bringing the tension down before big games

274 Image: Udovicic celebrating in Belgrade, after winning FINA World Aquatic Championships in Rome in 2009.

Did you ever follow a nutrition programme or use supplements Have you ever worked with a sports psychologist? as an athlete? How important do you think these are? My colleagues and friends have, and they had very good experiences Following a nutrition programme and using the supplements is and results. There are moments in the career of an athlete when a something an athlete cannot do without. The right programme psychologist’s advice can push you towards greater success. improves performance. What made you decide to go into politics after your water polo You won many medals at both club and international level, career? Was it something you had planned to do? what was your proudest moment as a player? I did make a transfer from one career to another, but I wouldn't call I am proud to say that there were many moments and milestones my current one politics. I am a member of Serbian Government I’ll never forget and that will always bring smile to my face. Joining with the duty of maintaining the good image of Serbian sports, the Serbian national team, becoming the captain, winning my first promoting good values that sports bring to the nation and World Championship, playing in the Olympic Games final... are just further developing policies in sport that will, hopefully, earn our some of the great moments I’ve shared with my teammates. athletes even more success in the global sports arena. We are not a big country with huge population, we are not a rich country, You played in many finals, how did you mentally prepare but we certainly are the nation that gave the world many, many, yourself for these? great athletes, more than one would expect just by looking at the Every athlete has his own special mental preparation. It is a habit territory and the number of the citizens. Through our history we've and a process during which, in my case, I tried to clear my mind been among the best in all the most popular team sports, we've of all the problems and issues that might burden me. Music helps held the world champion titles in , , , many athletes achieve that total relaxation. The other thing that I water polo, we have numerous Olympic medals in both team found extremely helpful was an active massage warming up. I felt and individual sports. Our players have been and are essential to that these 15 minutes were what most helped me to prepare for the globally renowned teams in the most popular leagues; including game. the top football leagues in , England, and Italy, as

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well as the NBA. I see it as my task to be a part of continuing this great tradition, one that we are very proud of.

What was it like making that career change? It certainly has been a big decision. You could say that one day I was playing, the next day I was in an office. But, as a responsible person, I gave it a lot of thought, and realizing that I could contribute to making a positive change, the decision to put all my efforts into helping Serbian sport be even better was a logical one. As an athlete I have a strong belief that every individual has to push one’s limits, has to try to achieve what might seem impossible. Without effort and hard work, status quo reigns and status quo is enemy of progress. I always play to win.

Which of these careers do you think is more challenging? Life in public administration is different to one of the athlete in terms of the daily routine, but looking at the bigger picture, many same principles apply be the best you can, motivate your team to be the best they can, work to succeed. That was my motto as the captain of the Serbian water polo team, and that's my motto now I am in charge of the whole sports system of Serbia. I must say I am very pleased and proud that we are making progress in all the fields, especially in individual sports. Image below: Udovicic takes a shot at goal during a game against Japan at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Melbourne. © Kristian Dowling / Getty Images © Kristian Dowling

276 INTERVIEW © Fabrice Coffrini/AFP / Getty Images © Fabrice

Image above: Vanja Udovicic scores against Romanian Dragos As a minister of Sport, how do you think sport sector can promote Stoenescu at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona. a culture of physical activity and exercise in the community? Physical activity and exercise are prerequisites for the health of the population, so it is obvious that promoting the benefits they bring should be high on the global agenda. Every penny invested in sport schemes pays itself back through building a healthy society. So, it is quite clear that the sport sector has an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles, but the media and creative industries also have an obligation to use their huge influence towards making people, especially parents, realise how important physical activity is for all the segments of theirs and their children’s lives. It's all summed up in the centuries-old Roman saying "mens sana in corpore sano".

How could elite athletes help in promoting physical activity among the public? Elite athletes, before they became professional competitors, were all children interested in sports at a basic level. By building a wide base of recreational athletes, you also build a strong base of future champions. And once they become elite and earn recognition in the public, they have a strong role in promoting exercise as a desirable lifestyle. Athletes are always heroes of their nations the best role models to the general population. Their influence on children and young people is an advantage that every country uses to promote the benefits of physical activity.

Image: Vanja Udovicic carrying out his duties as Minister of Youth and Sports in Serbia. Jake Bambrough

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