Milica conquered the planet, and then did the impossible

You are coming to the settlement of Stepa Stepanović, it is August 2021 and the Olympic Games in Tokyo have just passed. Serbia won three gold medals at those Games and one of them was brought by a girl who did it for the second time in her career.

Her name is Milica Mandić and she managed to do something that seems impossible in today’s Serbia. She gathered literally the whole neighborhood around her and two characters were painted on the wall at the intersection near the school.

Both were hers as a symbol for two gold medals over 67 kilograms in taekwondo, nine years apart.

When you look at the fact that our country has won 34 gold medals in its Olympic history so far, then when you are the owner of two it is not a small thing.

On the contrary. That’s why the residents of Stepa wanted to greet their fellow citizen the way she deserved. In Serbia, where there is no such closeness between neighbors, as the former generations told us about, Milica forced the entire neighborhood to take a deep bow.

She reached the second gold medal after defeating Faith Ogalo from Kenya (13:0), then Alexandra Kovalchuk in the quarterfinals (11:4), then she defeated Alexandra Lorin (7:5) in the semifinals, while the gold medal was won with a triumph over Da-bin Lee from South Korea (10:7).

That is why flowers, inscriptions “Milice, you are our gold”, “Milica is my neighbor”, “We love you, Milice” and many parents with children welcomed Mandićeva in Stepa three years ago, in the place where she lived since 2013.

Confetti was also prepared for Milica in advance, released when she started walking down the street to applause.

It was difficult for Mandić to be approached by the children who wanted a photo with the champion, and while the children received memories in the form of photos, Milica received several bouquets as a gift.

“Thank you, I did, it was a busy few days, there were guest appearances and taking pictures, but that’s a nice part of success, those five minutes of fame.” I think this is my most beautiful and favorite moment since I came back,” Milica said three years ago about the mural.

“In my life, I could not even imagine that someone coming from taekwondo would have a mural in Belgrade.” I can’t tell you how grateful and happy and proud I am. I think my parents and environment can tell you that. I’m really really proud, I have no words, I’m very happy. That’s why we will all stand here together until midnight, but it’s worth it, it’s really worth it,” she stated at the time.

Not even her father Predrag could have guessed such a nice gesture from the neighbors, which will remain as a reminder of the great success wherever Milica builds her new family with her husband Marko and son Matej.

“This is a beautiful gesture, we are all really moved, especially Milica. I don’t think there is anything more beautiful than experiencing your neighbors giving you a welcome like this and dedicating a mural in the neighborhood where you live. She certainly didn’t expect it, but the gesture, whose initiative it was, is beautiful,” said Predrag Mandić for Nova.rs. He admitted then that he could not watch all the fights. It was easier when he only knew what happened, a calmer head.

“I think I was more stressed, unfortunately I didn’t watch the first three fights, I couldn’t.” I get to the moment when Milica goes to the arena and then I go outside, just like in London. I think she took it easier, but before the fourth fight I saw that she was confident, ready and I knew she would take the gold”. Now he can breathe a little more.

Milica got married not long after the Olympic Games in Tokyo, later had a child and retired from the national team, so today she is the winner of the May Award and recognition for the best sportswoman of Serbia on two occasions. fulfilled.

But she also admitted that her desire to compete was not completely lost, which is why Milica later won the Balkan Championship.

“It was a challenge for me because after Tokyo I somehow felt that there is nothing left in me that I think I can provide.” I really like to practice taekwondo, but at that moment I was not really interested in the competitive part. When I was in Mexico, I was five months pregnant and for the first time I felt the desire to compete. I wondered if it was the hormones or something else. I remember that I was supposed to comment on the World Cup there. That’s when I told coach Galet (Dragan Jović dir. author) that I’m not pregnant and to register me,” said Mandićeva, as reported by Blic, while the Serbian champion is now living a semi-retired life, as she jokingly says.

BONUS VIDEO: Belgrade hosts the European Taekwondo Championship for pioneers and cadets