Nikita Glasnović has decided to replace her native Sweden with Croatia to compete for a spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
While the Swedish taekwondo team mourns, the Croatian team has every reason to celebrate as Nikita Glasnović, a 22-year-old born in Malmo, will now represent the colors of Croatia, reports Gol.hr on January 31, 2018.
A medalist at the last World and European Championship and a semi-finalist at the Olympic Games in Rio, Glasnović will continue to train at the celebrated Split Marjan Club.
"In a situation where thousands of young people from Croatia flee to other European Union countries in search of better conditions over the last few years, a top athlete who is only 22-years-old and is full affirmation comes to Croatia, to the Split Taekwondo Club Marjan,” says an official letter announcing tomorrow's press conference at noon.
If you recall, Nikita’s father and coach Mario recently regretted the poor conditions and weak financial support in Sweden and had announced his return to Croatia.
Nikita Glasnović is currently third in the Olympic ranking list, of which the top six best will be confirmed next year for the Olympic standard.
At the European Championship in Baku in 2014, Niki won the bronze medal, and in Montreux in 2016, she progressed to winning the silver. In the last World Championship in 2017, Nikita won the bronze. Nikita competes in the 57kg category where the biggest taekwondo star of today, Jade Jones of Wales, has two Olympic golds from London and Rio.
This year, Nikita will perform at the Senior European Championship, four Grand Prix tournaments, the President Cup, and a few other G1 and G2 tournaments, where she can further strengthen her third-place ranking to secure a spot at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo!
Translated from Gol.hr
