The Djakovics are Switzerland’s swimming hope

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Whether at the cash register, at the kiosk, in the lifeguard house – everyone at the Uster pool knows Antonio (20) and Vanna Djakovic (17). Now that the season is really picking up steam, the two regular guests are in the indoor pool. Here they pull job after job until the shape is right, for hours. Antonio is training for the World Cup in Japan in July, Vanna for the European Junior Championships in Belgrade. The siblings are among the great hopes of Swiss swimming.

They practically grew up in the pool. Motivated by his father Goran’s medals, Antonio put his heart and soul into it as a little boy. It soon becomes clear that he could swim to the top of the world. Therefore, at the age of 14, his family moved from Thurgau to Uster ZH to live closer to the training hall. Sister Vanna has to leave her friends behind because of her brother’s sports career. “It was a little hard at first,” she says. “But I quickly found good people in Uster.”

The little sister is catching up

Until now, the big brother has been in the spotlight. But that could soon change. While Antonio can already count himself among the absolute swimming elite with medals at the World and European championships, sister Vanna is considered a diamond in the rough. Your potential is great. “If she really focuses on swimming, she can make it to the top of Europe,” said Markus Buck, head of competitive sports at Swiss Aquatics.

At the last Swiss championships in Geneva, the sports student won four individual gold medals, as well as gold in the 4x100m relay. Vanna was vociferously supported by her brother: “It’s not often that I get to cheer Vanna on the spot. My heart always races when she swims.”

Conversely, it gets emotional in the same way. “It was super cool at the European Championships in Rome last summer,” says Vanna. “Me and my parents were more nervous in the stands than Antonio in the pool.” It was well worth it: Antonio won silver in the 200 and 400 meter freestyle.

Everything on the top sports card

Vanna follows in her older brother’s footsteps in many ways. For example, do the same training with a gym and KV diploma. We also owe him his enthusiasm for swimming. But when it came to competitive swimming, it wasn’t him who pushed her on. “I just always wanted to win. That’s what motivates me. I want to be better than everyone else,” says Vanna.

That wasn’t always the case. While swimming was always Antonio’s top priority, Vanna enjoyed more freedom. “We came home from school and had to go straight to training. Sometimes I just wanted to do something with my friends and skipped practice.”

Those days are over. Just like her successful brother, Vanna is also fully committed to top sport. And if everything works out, a very special dream will come true: Djakovic’s siblings will compete together at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Source : Blick