Sport in Yugoslavia
Team sports such as football, basketball, handball, volleyball and water polo had the biggest popularity.
It came there in the time of Austria-Hungary late 19th century, mostly from Vienna, Budapest and Prague, and first football club was established in Belgrade in 1899.
After World War II and Socialist Yugoslavia many new clubs were formed and new federal league was established to replace old championship.
It developed after the World War II with the influence from Soviet Union, which later became a fierce rival.
Yugoslav First Federal Basketball League was also very strong and the most successful teams were Crvena Zvezda with 12 and Olimpija, Zadar and Jugoplastika with 6 titles each.
In northern parts of the country field handball was introduced in 1929, but found bigger popularity only after the World War II.
In her rich career, she won total of 9 Grand Slam singles titles, making her one of the best female players ever.
Sabrina Goleš won silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics when the tennis was demonstration sport.
The most notable Yugoslavian male tennis players are Željko Franulović, Nikola Pilić, Slobodan Živojinović, Dragutin Mitić, Boro Jovanović, Franjo Punčec, Nikola Špear, Josip Palada, Goran Prpić and Goran Ivanišević.
The biggest success achieved Yugoslavian 4 × 400 m relay at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo when Dejan Jovković, Nenad Đurović, Ismail Mačev and Slobodan Branković won fourth place.
The most notable athlete is Vera Nikolić, two times European champion and once bronze medalist in 800m.
Silver medals also brought: Petar Šegedin in 3000 metres steeplechase, Stanko Lorger in 110m hurdles, Olga Gere and Biljana Petrović in high jump.
Besides Vera Nikolić, bronze medalists were Nataša Urbančič in javelin throw and Borut Bilač in long jump.
Some of notable athletes who competed at these championships are: Jelica Pavličić, Zlatan Saračević, Vladimir Milić, Dragan Zdravković, Josip Alebić, Jože Međumurac, Milovan Savić, Ivan Ivančić, Jovan Lazarević, Slobodanka Čolović... Yugoslavian athletes won medals in various disciplines at the Mediterranean Games and Summer Universiade.
Athletics club Red Star Belgrade won men's competition in 1989, in 1981 took second place and in 1976 third while women's team was second in 1989 and third in 1988.
Other notable Yugoslavian swimmers competed at Olympics include: Nenad Miloš, Hrvoje Barić, Tibor Rezmanj, Vlado Brinovec, Janez Kocmur, Milan Jeger, Mihovil Dorčić, Anton Nardeli, Đuro Radan, Veljko Rogošić, Ana Boban, Predrag Miloš, Aleksandar Pavličević, Višnja Petković, Igor Majcen, Nace Majcen... Yugoslavia won two (2) medals at the FINA World Championships.
At the 1984 Winter Olympics that were held in Sarajevo, Jure Franko won a silver medal in giant slalom.
Four years later, at the Olympic Games in Calgary, Mateja Svet also won a silver medal in the giant slalom.
Mateja Svet was the only alpine skier from Yugoslavia, who won a gold medal at the World Championships.
Matjaž Debelak won a bronze medal in individual large hill at the 1988 Winter Olympics as well as silver medal in team large hill along with Miran Tepeš, Primož Ulaga and Matjaž Zupan.
Other notable ski jumpers are Bogdan Norčič, Danilo Pudgar, Rajko Lotrič, Ludvik Zajc Vasja Bajc, Janez Polda... Yugoslavia hosted World Cup races in Planica.
Yugoslavia national ice hockey team five times competed at the Winter Olympic Games.
