ATHLETES from Serbia

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Serbian Athletes of all time. This list of famous Serbian Athletes is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Serbian Athletes.

1. Vera Nikolić (1948 - 2021)

With an HPI of 47.90, Vera Nikolić is the most famous Serbian Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages on wikipedia.

Vera Nikolić (Serbian Cyrillic: Вера Николић; 23 September 1948 – 28 June 2021) was a Serbian middle-distance runner, who competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, and later coach. She had her best achievements in the 800 m event, in which she won European titles in 1966 and 1971 and set a world record, 2:00.5, on 20 July 1968 holding it until 11 July 1971. She came to the 1968 Olympics as a favorite, but due to the pressure of being the favorite she gave up her semifinal – after leading it for 300 m she suddenly stepped off the track, walked back to the start, sat down and took off her shoes. She set her personal best for the 800 m in the heats at 1972 Olympics before finishing fifth in the final. Nikolić received a Golden Badge of Sport, award for the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1966.

2. Zvonimir Vujin (1943 - 2019)

With an HPI of 44.17, Zvonimir Vujin is the 2nd most famous Serbian Athlete.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Zvonimir "Zvonko" Vujin (23 July 1943 – 8 December 2019) was a Serbian amateur boxer. He competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics for Yugoslavia and won bronze medals on both occasions. In 1967 he won a silver medal at the European championships and a gold at the Mediterranean Games. He died on 8 December 2019 in his hometown, Zrenjanin.

3. Nenad Stekić (1951 - 2021)

With an HPI of 41.76, Nenad Stekić is the 3rd most famous Serbian Athlete.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Nenad Stekić (Serbian Cyrillic: Ненад Стекић; 7 March 1951 – 18 July 2021) was a Serbian and Yugoslav long jumper, best known for his European record of 8.45 metres, second only to Bob Beamon's world record at the time.

4. Jasna Šekarić (1965 - )

With an HPI of 39.28, Jasna Šekarić is the 4th most famous Serbian Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Jasna Šekarić (Serbian Cyrillic: Јасна Шекарић; born 17 December 1965) is a Serbian sport shooter, considered as one of the most successful female shooters in ISSF history. She has won a total of five Olympic medals: one gold, three silvers and one bronze. She has also won three World Championship gold medals in the 10 m air pistol, in addition to five European Championship gold medals she won in the 10 m air pistol and 25 m pistol. In 1992, she lost the Olympic gold medal to Marina Logvinenko despite having the same score. She is one of only six shooters (by 2012) to compete in at least seven Olympic Games.

5. Ivana Španović (1990 - )

With an HPI of 37.89, Ivana Španović is the 5th most famous Serbian Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Ivana Španović (Serbian Cyrillic: Ивана Шпановић, [ǐʋana ʃpǎːnoʋit͡ɕ]; formerly Vuleta, Serbian Cyrillic: Вулета; born 10 May 1990) is a Serbian long jumper, the 2023 World champion, a two-time World indoor champion, a two-time European champion, a three-time European indoor champion and a five-time Diamond League Trophy Winner. Considering her achievements and longevity, Ivana Španović is regarded as one of the best all-time female long jumpers, with her indoor 7.24m jump ranked 3rd in all-time records. In 2013, Španović became the first Serbian track and field athlete to win a medal at the World Championships in Athletics. In 2018, she became the first Serbian track and field athlete to win a senior gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Athletics. In 2023, she became the first Serbian track and field athlete to win a senior gold medal at the World Outdoor Championship in Athletics. During her 15 years long career, she successfully claimed both outdoor and indoor European and World titles. She is the Serbian record holder in the long jump, indoors and outdoors, and also she is the national indoor record holder in the 60 metres and in the pentathlon. Her coach is Goran Obradović and she is a member of the Vojvodina Athletic Club, based in Novi Sad.

6. Dragutin Topić (1971 - )

With an HPI of 35.19, Dragutin Topić is the 6th most famous Serbian Athlete.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Dragutin Topić (Serbian Cyrillic: Драгутин Топић, born 12 March 1971) is a Serbian former high jumper.

7. Milica Mandić (1991 - )

With an HPI of 32.20, Milica Mandić is the 7th most famous Serbian Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Milica Mandić (Serbian Cyrillic: Милица Мандић, born 6 December 1991) is a Serbian taekwondo athlete. She is a two-time Olympic champion in the +67 kg category, as well as World champion in the same category.

8. Natasa Dusev-Janics (1982 - )

With an HPI of 31.40, Natasa Dusev-Janics is the 8th most famous Serbian Athlete.  Her biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Natasa Dusev-Janics (Serbian: Nataša Dušev-Janić, Serbian Cyrillic: Наташа Душев-Јанић; born 24 June 1982) is a Yugoslavian-Hungarian sprint canoer who has competed for Hungary since 2001 and has won six Olympic medals in the sprint canoe events.

9. Filip Filipović (1987 - )

With an HPI of 30.46, Filip Filipović is the 9th most famous Serbian Athlete.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Filip Filipović (Serbian Cyrillic: Филип Филиповић; born 2 May 1987) is a Serbian professional water polo player widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He was a member of the Serbia men's national water polo teams that won bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and gold medals in 2016 and 2020. He also held the world title in 2009 and 2015 and the European title in 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. He was named Most Valuable Player at the 2011 World Championships. He was also voted as the male water polo "World Player of the Year" in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2021 by the FINA magazine. He played for Pro Recco in Italy and won three LEN Champions League and three LEN Super Cup with them. Currently, he plays for Novi Beograd. Filipović was given the honour to carry the national flag of Serbia at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, becoming the 26th water polo player to be a flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.

10. Duško Pijetlović (1985 - )

With an HPI of 30.37, Duško Pijetlović is the 10th most famous Serbian Athlete.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Duško Pijetlović (Serbian Cyrillic: Душко Пијетловић; born 25 April 1985) is a Serbian water polo center forward for VK Novi Beograd. He was a member of the Serbia men's national water polo teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2016 and 2020, and bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He held the world title in 2009 and 2015 and the European title in 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. Pijetlović won three consecutive Euroleague titles with three teams: in 2011 with Partizan in 2012 with Pro Recco and in 2013 with Crvena Zvezda.