# Sportske novosti awards

Sportske novosti awards (Croatian: Nagrade Sportskih novosti) refer to annual sports awards given by Sportske novosti, a Croatian sports newspaper based in Zagreb. The awards originated in the early 1950s and went on to become one of the most prestigious Croatian sports awards. The winners are decided by polling sports journalists from around the country.

## History

Sportske novosti ("Sports News"; sometimes referred to by initials SN) is a Croatian sports daily established in 1945 and based in Zagreb. It first began awarding the Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year awards in 1950, honoring greatest achievements in Yugoslav sports. The award, one of several Yugoslav national-level sporting honors, was given every year for the next four decades, until 1990, when it was discontinued due to the breakup of Yugoslavia and Croatia's independence.
Before independence, in 1952 the newspaper had launched a parallel award for Croatian athletes, which honored best sporting achievements by any athlete hailing from SR Croatia, then a republic within Yugoslavia. After Croatia's independence in 1991 the Yugoslav category was discontinued, while the Croatian category continued to the present day. In 1966 a separate Best Yugoslav Sports Team was introduced, for achievements in team sports, and in 1973 the award was split into separate categories for men's and women's teams.
Since inception, all awards are selected through a poll of sports journalists from around the country who are members of the Croatian Association of Sports Journalists (Hrvatski zbor sportskih novinara, HZSN), the national professional association for sports writers established in 1949.

## Winners

Award winners in all categories are collectively referred to as the "Golden Roll" (Zlatna lista), and the winners for the preceding year are usually announced in early January. Since SN remains the only specialized sports daily in the country, the prize is regarded as one of the two most prestigious sports awards in Croatia, on par with the annual awards handed out by the Croatian Olympic Committee.
Among men, winners with most individual Croatian awards include the table tennis player Dragutin Šurbek (five wins in 1968–83), tennis star and Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanišević (five wins in 1992–2001), and alpine skier Ivica Kostelić (five wins in 2002–11). Other notable multiple winners include tennis player Nikola Pilić (three wins in 1962–67), boxer Mate Parlov (three wins in 1971–73), basketball player and three-time NBA champion Toni Kukoč (1989–91), and the Olympic gymnast Tin Srbić (four wins in 2017–23).
In the women's category, the all-time record holder is discus thrower Sandra Perković with nine wins (2012–22), followed by alpine skier Janica Kostelić with eight (1998–2006), and high jumper Blanka Vlašić with six (2004–11). Other notable multiple winners include tennis player and Roland Garros winner Iva Majoli (four wins in 1994–97), Olympic sports shooter Jasna Šekarić (four wins in 1986–89), bowling champion Biserka Perman (three wins in 1982–92) and sprinter Milka Babović (three wins in 1952–55).
In the Yugoslav era, multiple winners of the national award include long-distance runner Franjo Mihalić (three wins in 1952–57), Slovenian gymnast Miroslav Cerar (eight wins in 1961–70), Serbian middle-distance runner Vera Nikolić (four wins in 1966–72), and Slovenian skiers Bojan Križaj (three wins in 1979–87) and Mateja Svet (three wins in 1986–89).
In team sports, the Yugoslavia men's national basketball team holds the record for most wins, with 13 awards won from 1966 to 1990, followed by the women's handball team with four (1973–84), the men's water polo team with three (1968–88) and the women's basketball team (three wins in 1987–90).

## Athlete of the Year
### Yugoslav competition (1950–1990)

    Athlete also won the Croatian Sportsperson of the Year award.
SFR Yugoslavia competition (1950–1990) :
| Year | Sportsman of the Year | Sportsman of the Year | Sportswoman of the Year | Sportswoman of the Year |
| Year | Winner (titles) | Sport | Winner (titles) | Sport |
| 1950 | Petar Šegedin | Athletics (track and field) | Branka Loparić | Swimming |
| 1951 | Andrija Otenheimer | Athletics (track and field) | Milica Šumak | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1952 | Franjo Mihalić | Athletics (track and field) | Marija Radosavljević | Athletics (shot put) |
| 1953 | Perica Vlašić | Rowing | Milka Babović | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1954 | Žarko Dolinar | Table tennis | Eša Ligorio | Swimming |
| 1955 | Bernard Vukas | Association football | Milka Babović (2) | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1956 | Franjo Mihalić (2) | Athletics (track and field) | Vinka Jeričević | Swimming |
| 1957 | Franjo Mihalić (3) | Athletics (track and field) | Nada Vučković | Handball |
| 1958 | Stanko Lorger | Athletics (track and field) | Slava Zupančič | Alpine skiing |
| 1959 | Stanko Lorger (2) | Athletics (track and field) | Draga Stamejčič | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1960 | Radivoj Korać | Basketball | Olga Gere | Athletics (high jump) |
| 1961 | Miroslav Cerar | Gymnastics | Hilda Zeier | Swimming |
| 1962 | Miroslav Cerar (2) | Gymnastics | Olga Gere (2) | Athletics (high jump) |
| 1963 | Miroslav Cerar (3) | Gymnastics | Natalija Stefanović | Parachuting |
| 1964 | Miroslav Cerar (4) | Gymnastics | Draga Stamejčič (2) | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1965 | Branislav Lončar | Sports shooting | Ružica Miladinović | Handball |
| 1966 | Miroslav Cerar (5) | Gymnastics | Vera Nikolić | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1967 | Ivo Daneu | Basketball | Vera Nikolić (2) | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1968 | Miroslav Cerar (6) | Gymnastics | Đurđica Bjedov | Swimming |
| 1969 | Miroslav Cerar (7) | Gymnastics | Ana Boban | Swimming |
| 1970 | Miroslav Cerar (8) | Gymnastics | Desanka Perović | Sports shooting |
| 1971 | Mate Parlov | Boxing | Vera Nikolić (3) | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1972 | Mate Parlov (2) | Boxing | Vera Nikolić (4) | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1973 | Marijan Beneš | Boxing | Jelica Pavličić | Athletics (track and field) |
| 1974 | Mate Parlov (3) | Boxing | Nataša Urbančič | Athletics (javelin throw) |
| 1975 | Nenad Stekić | Athletics (long jump) | Branka Batinić | Table tennis |
| 1976 | Matija Ljubek | Canoeing | Mima Jaušovec | Tennis |
| 1977 | Šaban Sejdi | Wrestling | Mima Jaušovec (2) | Tennis |
| 1978 | Dražen Dalipagić | Basketball | Bojana Šumonja | Karate |
| 1979 | Bojan Križaj | Alpine skiing | Gordana Perkučin | Table tennis |
| 1980 | Slobodan Kačar | Boxing | Štefica Krištof | Bowling |
| 1981 | Borut Petrič | Swimming | Sanda Dubravčić | Figure skating |
| 1982 | Bojan Križaj (2) | Alpine skiing | Biserka Perman | Bowling |
| 1983 | Dragutin Šurbek | Table tennis | Mirjana Jovović | Sports shooting |
| 1984 | Jure Franko | Alpine skiing | Svetlana Kitić | Handball |
| 1985 | Dražen Petrović | Basketball | Monica Seleš | Tennis |
| 1986 | Rok Petrovič | Alpine skiing | Mateja Svet | Alpine skiing |
| 1987 | Bojan Križaj (3) | Alpine skiing | Mateja Svet (2) | Alpine skiing |
| 1988 | Goran Maksimović | Sports shooting | Jasna Šekarić | Sports shooting |
| 1989 | Dragomir Bečanović | Judo | Mateja Svet (3) | Alpine skiing |
| 1990 | Toni Kukoč | Basketball | Monica Seleš (2) | Tennis |

### Croatian competition (1952–present)
#### Sportsman of the Year

| Year | Winner | Sport |
| 1952 (s) | Duje Bonačić | Rowing |
| 1952 (s) | Petar Šegvić | Rowing |
| 1952 (s) | Mate Trojanović | Rowing |
| 1952 (s) | Velimir Valenta | Rowing |
| 1953 | Perica Vlašić | Rowing |
| 1954 | Žarko Dolinar | Table tennis |
| 1955 | Bernard Vukas | Association football |
| 1956 | Krešo Račić | Athletics |
| 1957 | Hrvoje Kačić | Water polo |
| 1958 | Joško Murat | Athletics |
| 1959 | Duje Smoljanović | Bowling |
| 1960 | Željko Perušić | Association football |
| 1961 | Boro Jovanović | Tennis |
| 1962 (s) | Boro Jovanović (2) | Tennis |
| 1962 (s) | Nikola Pilić | Tennis |
| 1963 | Josip Gjergja | Basketball |
| 1964 | Nikola Pilić (2) | Tennis |
| 1965 | Andro Depolo | Swimming |
| 1966 | Cvjetko Bilić | Bicycle racing |
| 1967 | Nikola Pilić (3) | Tennis |
| 1968 | Dragutin Šurbek | Table tennis |
| 1969 | Dragutin Šurbek (2) | Table tennis |
| 1970 | Petar Skansi | Basketball |
| 1971 | Mate Parlov | Boxing |
| 1972 | Mate Parlov (2) | Boxing |
| 1973 | Mate Parlov (3) | Boxing |
| 1974 | Luciano Sušanj | Athletics |
| 1975 | Anton Stipančić | Table tennis |
| 1976 | Matija Ljubek | Canoeing |
| 1977 | Joško Alebić | Athletics |
| 1978 | Milan Janić | Kayaking |
| 1979 | Dragutin Šurbek (3) | Table tennis |
| 1980 | Krešimir Ćosić | Basketball |
| 1981 | Dragutin Šurbek (4) | Table tennis |
| 1982 | Matija Ljubek (2) | Canoeing |
| 1983 | Dragutin Šurbek (5) | Table tennis |
| 1984 | Vlado Lisjak | Wrestling |
| 1985 | Dražen Petrović | Basketball |
| 1986 | Dražen Petrović (2) | Basketball |
| 1987 | Ivan Šabjan | Canoeing |
| 1988 | Zoran Primorac | Table tennis |
| 1989 | Toni Kukoč | Basketball |
| 1990 | Toni Kukoč (2) | Basketball |
| 1991 | Toni Kukoč (3) | Basketball |
| 1992 | Goran Ivanišević | Tennis |
| 1993 | Goran Ivanišević (2) | Tennis |
| 1994 | Goran Ivanišević (3) | Tennis |
| 1995 | Željko Mavrović | Boxing |
| 1996 | Goran Ivanišević (4) | Tennis |
| 1997 | Željko Mavrović (2) | Boxing |
| 1998 | Davor Šuker | Association football |
| 1999 | Gordan Kožulj | Swimming |
| 2000 | Nikolaj Pešalov | Weightlifting |
| 2001 | Goran Ivanišević (5) | Tennis |
| 2002 | Ivica Kostelić | Alpine skiing |
| 2003 | Ivica Kostelić (2) | Alpine skiing |
| 2004 | Duje Draganja | Swimming |
| 2005 | Ivan Ljubičić | Tennis |
| 2006 | Ivan Ljubičić (2) | Tennis |
| 2007 | Ivano Balić | Handball |
| 2008 | Filip Ude | Gymnastics |
| 2009 | Ivica Kostelić (3) | Alpine skiing |
| 2010 | Ivica Kostelić (4) | Alpine skiing |
| 2011 | Ivica Kostelić (5) | Alpine skiing |
| 2012 | Giovanni Cernogoraz | Trap |
| 2013 | Mario Mandžukić | Association football |
| 2014 | Marin Čilić | Tennis |
| 2015 | Ivan Rakitić | Association football |
| 2016 | Damir Martin | Rowing |
| 2017 | Tin Srbić | Gymnastics |
| 2018 | Luka Modrić | Association football |
| 2019 | Tin Srbić (2) | Gymnastics |
| 2020 | Domagoj Duvnjak | Handball |
| 2021 | Tin Srbić (3) | Gymnastics |
| 2022 | Luka Modrić (2) | Association football |
| 2023 | Tin Srbić (4) | Gymnastics |
| 2024 | Miran Maričić | Shooting sports |

#### Sportswoman of the Year

| Year | Winner | Sport |
| 1952 | Milka Babović | Athletics (running) |
| 1953 | Milka Babović (2) | Athletics (running) |
| 1954 | Eša Ligorio | Swimming |
| 1955 | Milka Babović (3) | Athletics (running) |
| 1956 | Vinka Jeričević | Swimming |
| 1957 | Nada Vučković | Handball |
| 1958 | Hilda Zeier | Swimming |
| 1959 | Tanja Zoković | Basketball |
| 1960 | Tanja Kokeza | Tennis |
| 1961 | Hilda Zeier (2) | Swimming |
| 1962 | Olga Šikovec | Athletics (running) |
| 1963 | Olga Šikovec (2) | Athletics (running) |
| 1964 | Nada Vučković (2) | Handball |
| 1965 | Ljiljana Petnjarić | Athletics (running) |
| 1966 | Ljiljana Petnjarić (2) | Athletics (running) |
| 1967 | Mirjana Resler | Table tennis |
| 1968 | Đurđica Bjedov | Swimming |
| 1969 | Ana Boban | Swimming |
| 1970 | Ružica Meglaj | Basketball |
| 1971 | Vera Nikolić | Athletics (running) |
| 1972 | Vera Nikolić (2) | Athletics (running) |
| 1973 | Mara Torti | Handball |
| 1974 | Jelica Pavličić | Athletics (running) |
| 1975 | Branka Batinić | Table tennis |
| 1976 | Štefica Krištof | Bowling |
| 1977 | Jelica Pavličić (2) | Athletics (running) |
| 1978 | Pavica Galošević | Bowling |
| 1979 | Sanda Dubravčić | Figure skating |
| 1980 | Štefica Krištof (2) | Bowling |
| 1981 | Sanda Dubravčić (2) | Figure skating |
| 1982 | Biserka Perman | Bowling |
| 1983 | Renata Šašak | Tennis |
| 1984 | Branka Batinić (2) | Table tennis |
| 1985 | Biserka Perman (2) | Bowling |
| 1986 | Jasna Šekarić | Sports shooting |
| 1987 | Jasna Šekarić (2) | Sports shooting |
| 1988 | Jasna Šekarić (3) | Sports shooting |
| 1989 | Jasna Šekarić (4) | Sports shooting |
| 1990 | Biljana Petrović | Athletics (high jump) |
| 1991 | Danira Nakić | Basketball |
| 1992 | Biserka Perman (3) | Bowling |
| 1993 | Suzana Skoko | Sports shooting |
| 1994 | Iva Majoli | Tennis |
| 1995 | Iva Majoli (2) | Tennis |
| 1996 | Iva Majoli (3) | Tennis |
| 1997 | Iva Majoli (4) | Tennis |
| 1998 | Janica Kostelić | Alpine skiing |
| 1999 | Janica Kostelić (2) | Alpine skiing |
| 2000 | Janica Kostelić (3) | Alpine skiing |
| 2001 | Janica Kostelić (4) | Alpine skiing |
| 2002 | Janica Kostelić (5) | Alpine skiing |
| 2003 | Janica Kostelić (6) | Alpine skiing |
| 2004 | Blanka Vlašić | Athletics (high jump) |
| 2005 | Janica Kostelić (7) | Alpine skiing |
| 2006 | Janica Kostelić (8) | Alpine skiing |
| 2007 | Blanka Vlašić (2) | Athletics (high jump) |
| 2008 | Blanka Vlašić (3) | Athletics (high jump) |
| 2009 | Blanka Vlašić (4) | Athletics (high jump) |
| 2010 | Blanka Vlašić (5) | Athletics (high jump) |
| 2011 | Blanka Vlašić (6) | Athletics (high jump) |
| 2012 | Sandra Perković | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2013 | Sandra Perković (2) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2014 | Sandra Perković (3) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2015 | Sandra Perković (4) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2016 | Sandra Perković (5) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2017 | Sandra Perković (6) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2018 | Sandra Perković (7) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2019 | Sandra Perković (8) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2020 | Barbara Matić | Judo |
| 2021 | Matea Jelić | Taekwondo |
| 2022 | Sandra Perković (9) | Athletics (discus throw) |
| 2023 | Lena Stojković | Taekwondo |
| 2024 | Barbara Matić | Judo (2) |

##### By sport

This table lists the total number of awards for individual sportsmen and sportswomen by recipients' sporting profession.
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
| Athletics | 4 | 27 | 31 |
| Tennis | 13 | 6 | 19 |
| Alpine skiing | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| Basketball | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| Table tennis | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| Swimming | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Bowling | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Sports shooting | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Association football | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Rowing | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Boxing | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Handball | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Gymnastics | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Canoeing | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Figure skating | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Taekwondo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Judo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Bicycle racing | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kayaking | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Water Polo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Weightlifting | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Wrestling | 1 | 0 | 1 |

## Team of the Year
### 1966–1990

| Year | Men's | Women's |
| 1966 | Men's national basketball team | Men's national basketball team |
| 1967 | Men's national basketball team (2) | Men's national basketball team (2) |
| 1968 | Men's national water polo team | Men's national water polo team |
| 1969 | Men's national basketball team (3) | Men's national basketball team (3) |
| 1970 | Men's national basketball team (4) | Men's national basketball team (4) |
| 1971 | VK Mladost | VK Mladost |
| 1972 | Men's national handball team | Men's national handball team |
| 1973 | National basketball team (5) | National handball team |
| 1974 | National basketball team (6) | National sports shooting team |
| 1975 | National basketball team (7) | N/A |
| 1976 | National basketball team (8) | ŽRK Radnički Belgrade |
| 1977 | National basketball team (9) | National youth handball team |
| 1978 | National basketball team (10) | Bowling pair Tkalčić-Galošević |
| 1979 | "Everest '79" mountaineering expedition | ŽKK Crvena zvezda |
| 1980 | National basketball team (11) | National handball team (2) |
| 1981 | National football team | National youth handball team (2) |
| 1982 | National handball team (2) | National handball team (3) |
| 1983 | Table tennis pair Šurbek-Kalinić | ŽRK Radnički Belgrade (2) |
| 1984 | National water polo team (2) | National handball team (4) |
| 1985 | KK Cibona | ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica |
| 1986 | National handball team (3) | National sports shooting team (2) |
| 1987 | National water polo team (3) | National basketball team |
| 1988 | National water polo team (4) | National basketball team (2) |
| 1989 | National basketball team (12) | ŽKK Jedinstvo Tuzla |
| 1990 | National basketball team (13) | National basketball team (3) |

### 1990–present

| Year | Men's Sports Team of the Year | Sport | Women's Sports Team of the Year | Sport |
| 1990 | KK POP 84 Split | Basketball | Jedinstvo Zagreb | Bowling |
| 1991 | KK Slobodna Dalmacija Split | Basketball | AOK Mladost Zagreb | Volleyball |
| 1992 | Croatia national basketball team | Basketball | Croatia national bowling team | Bowling |
| 1993 | RK Badel 1862 Zagreb | Handball | Croatia national handball team | Handball |
| 1994 | Croatian coxed pair team Tihomir Franković Igor Boraska coxwain Milan Ražov | Rowing | AOK Mladost Zagreb | Volleyball |
| 1995 | Croatia national handball team | Handball | Croatia national volleyball team | Volleyball |
| 1996 | Croatia national handball team | Handball | RK Podravka Koprivnica | Handball |
| 1997 | Croatia national football team | Football | Croatia national volleyball team | Volleyball |
| 1998 | Croatia national football team | Football | OK Dubrovačka Banka | Volleyball |
| 1999 | Croatia national water polo team | Water polo | Croatia national volleyball team | Volleyball |
| 2000 | Croatian rowing eight team | Rowing | Croatia national volleyball team | Volleyball |
| 2001 | Croatia national football team | Football | Croatia national basketball team | Basketball |
| 2002 | Croatian coxless pair team Nikša Skelin Siniša Skelin | Rowing | Podravka Vegeta Koprivnica | Handball |
| 2003 | Croatia national handball team | Handball | Croatia national table tennis team | Table tennis |
| 2004 | Croatia national handball team | Handball | Croatia national crossbow team | Archery |
| 2005 | Croatia Davis Cup team | Tennis | Croatia national table tennis team | Table tennis |
| 2006 | VK Jug Dubrovnik | Water Polo | Podravka Vegeta Koprivnica | Handball |
| 2007 | Croatia national water polo team | Water Polo | Croatian Himalaya expedition | Mountaineering |
| 2008 | Croatia national football team | Football | Croatia national table tennis team | Table tennis |
| 2009 | Croatia national handball team | Handball | Croatian Himalaya expedition | Mountaineering |
| 2010 | Croatia national water polo team | Water Polo | Croatia national basketball team | Basketball |
| 2011 | Croatia national water polo team | Water Polo | Croatia national basketball team | Basketball |
| 2012 | Croatia national water polo team | Water Polo | Croatia national handball team | Handball |
| 2013 | Croatian quad scull team Damir Martin Martin Sinković Valent Sinković David Šain | Rowing | Croatian national karate team | Karate |
| 2014 | Croatian double scull team Martin Sinković Valent Sinković | Rowing | Croatia national crossbow team | Archery |
| 2015 | Croatian double scull team Martin Sinković Valent Sinković | Rowing | Croatian national karate team | Karate |
| 2016 | Croatian double scull team Martin Sinković Valent Sinković | Rowing | Helena Dretar Karić and Anđela Mužinić | Para table tennis |
| 2017 | Croatia national water polo team | Water polo | Croatia national crossbow team | Archery |
| 2018 | Croatia national football team | Football | Croatia national crossbow team | Archery |
| 2019 | Croatian coxless pair team Martin Sinković Valent Sinković | Rowing | Croatia national crossbow team | Archery |
| 2020 | Croatia national handball team | Handball | Croatia national handball team | Handball |
| 2021 | Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić | Tennis | Helena Dretar Karić and Anđela Mužinić | Para table tennis |
| 2022 | Croatia national football team | Football | KK Mlaka Rijeka | Bowling |
| 2023 | Croatia national football team | Football | Croatian national karate team | Karate |
| 2024 | Croatian coxless pair team Martin Sinković Valent Sinković | Rowing | KK Mlaka Rijeka | Bowling |