Velimir Stjepanović

Velimir Stjepanović
Personal information
Nickname(s) Velja
Nationality Serbian
Born (1993-08-07) August 7, 1993
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 74 kg (163 lb)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Butterfly, freestyle
Club Hamilton Aquatics

Velimir Stjepanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Велимир Стјепановић; born on 7 August 1993) is a Serbian swimmer, member of Hamilton Aquatics.

Born in Abu Dhabi, to Bosnian Serb parents, he chose to represent Serbia in the international swimming competitions. The Serbian youngster started swimming when he was barely six, but that was more for fitness. However, by the time he was 12 his path crossed with that of coach Chris Tidey, who had relocated to Dubai from Cambridge. After a brief six-month training regimen under Tidey, Stjepanović won his first medal, a bronze, at a competition in England. He also studied in one of GEMS schools. Stjepanovic is currently engaged to Jessica Olie.[1]

Youth and Junior Career

Velimir competed at the 2009 European Youth Olympic Festival. He won a gold medal in 100m Butterfly and silver in 100m Freestyle. At the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, he was a Serbian flagbearer and won 2 medals, silver in 100m Freestley and bronze in 100m Butterfly therefore Olympic Committee of Serbia has declared him for the best young athlete in 2010.[2] Stjepanović won gold medals in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the 2011 European Junior Swimming Championships.

Senior career

2011

He represented Serbia at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai,[3] where he competed in 100 and 400 meters freestyle and 200 meters butterfly. At the European Short Course Swimming Championships held in Szczecin he came 5th in final of 200m butterfly.[4]

2012

Stjepanović competed at the 2012 European Aquatics Championships and took 5th place in Men's 200m Butterfly Final. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, he finished 6th of Men's 200m Butterfly Final. In the preliminary round he broke the Serbian national record and qualified for the semi finals with the 3rd time overall.

2013

At the 2013 Mediterranean Games held in Mersin, Turkey he won the gold medal in 200m and 400m freestyle and 200m butterfly. Stjepanović competed at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships and qualified for semi final of 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly while he finished 18th in the 400m freestyle. In the end of the year Stjepanović won gold medal in 200m butterfly and bronze in 400m freestyle and finished 5th in 200m freestyle at the 2013 European Short Course Swimming Championships.

Career best times

Event Time Record Meet
Long course
100 m freestyle 48.50 2016 Euro Meet
200 m freestyle 1:45.78 NR 2014 European Championships
400 m freestyle 3:45.66 NR 2014 European Championships
200m butterfly 1:54.99 NR 2012 Olympic Games

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gomes, Alanic (30 July 2010). "Stjepanović wants his medal". GulfNews.com.
  2. ↑ http://www.oks.org.rs/2010/12/proglaseni-najuspesniji-u-2010-oj/
  3. ↑ Cameron, Neil (19 July 2011). "Size matters for Dubai swimmer Stjepanovic as he heads for Shangha". The National. UAE.
  4. ↑ TANJUG, Agencija (10 December 2011). "Stjepanović peti na 200 metara leptir". Kurir. SRB.
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