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Filip FILIPOVIC
Sport Water Polo
NOC Serbia   
GenderMen
Born02 May 1987 in Belgrade, YUG
Height1.96 m
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Other information
INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT
He retired from international competition after winning a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "I'm very happy and I'm satisfied. I couldn't imagine the end of my national team career in a better way than this." (fina.org, 08 Aug 2021)

TRANSFER
He agreed to join Olympiacos Piraeus in Greece for the 2021/22 season. "I think that Olympiacos is the right club for my further sports goals, and there are many more. Considering the squad of the team and the way I was greeted in Athens, I believe that this is the beginning of another great chapter in my career." (vaterpolovesti.com, 25 May 2021)
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
Olympiacos Piraeus: Greece
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Management - University of Belgrade: Belgrade, SRB
General Interest
Awards and honours
The International Swimming Federation [FINA] named him 2011, 2014 and 2021 Male Water Polo Player of the Year. (fina.org, 17 Dec 2021; swimswam.com, 01 Dec 2014; fina.org, 31 Dec 2011)

He was named Swimming World magazine's Male Water Polo Player of the Year for 2021. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 24 Dec 2021)

He was named Male Water Polo Player of the Year for 2009, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2021 by the European Swimming Federation [LEN]. (len.eu, 31 Jan 2022; mundodeportivo.com, 15 Feb 2019; settimanasport.com, 16 Mar 2017)

He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. (fina.org, 08 Aug 2021; sjajnevesti.com, 22 Aug 2016)

He and basketballer Sonja Vasic were named flag bearers for Serbia for the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (danas.rs, 02 Jul 2021)

He was named MVP of the 2019 World League Super Final in Belgrade, Serbia. (fina.org, 23 Jun 2019)

He received the MVP award at the 2018 European Championship in Barcelona, Spain. (vaterpolovesti.com, 29 Jul 2018)

He was named MVP at the 2011 World Championship in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. (glassrbije.org, 01 Aug 2011)
Sport Specific Information
Handedness
Left
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport in 1994 with the Partizan Belgrade club in Serbia.
International Debut
Year
2003
Competing for
Serbia and Montenegro
Tournament
European Championships
Location
Slovenia
Further Personal Information
Languages
English, Italian, Serbian
General Interest
Nicknames
Fica (Athlete, 21 Dec 2006)
Further Personal Information
Family
Wife Sanja, son Vuk, daughter Una [2021]
Occupation
Athlete
General Interest
Famous relatives
His wife Sanja Hanusic was part of the Serbia and Montenegro volleyball team that won silver at the 2005 Junior World Championship in Turkey. (story.rs, 24 Jul 2013; SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jul 2021)
Sport Specific Information
Preferred position / style / stance / technique
Wing
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." (Instagram profile, 20 Jul 2021)
Hobbies
Reading, watching movies and TV series, rock and house music, fashion. (blic.rs, 23 Sep 2018; danas.rs, 25 Jun 2019)
Injuries
In July 2007 he suffered a severe jaw fracture. He returned to compete at the 2007 World League Super Final in Berlin, Germany. (politika.rs, 15 Aug 2008)
Most influential person in career
His family. (filipfilipovic.rs, 22 Aug 2018)
Hero / Idol
Montenegrin water polo player Veljko Uskokovic. (blic.rs, 23 Sep 2018)
Further Personal Information
Residence
Belgrade, SRB

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2021 Tokyo, JPN Team  
1 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA Team  
3 2012 London, ENG Team  
3 2008 Beijing, CHN Team  
World Championship
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2017 Budapest, HUN Team  
1 2015 Kazan, RUS Team  
7 2013 Barcelona, ESP Team  
2 2011 Shanghai, CHN Team  
1 2009 Rome, ITA Team  
4 2007 Melbourne, AUS Team  
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2010 Oradea, ROU Team  
1 2006 Budapest, HUN Team  
European Championship
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2020 Budapest, HUN Team  
1 2018 Barcelona, ESP Team  
1 2016 Belgrade, SRB Team  
1 2014 Budapest, HUN Team  
1 2012 Eindhoven, NED Team  
3 2010 Zagreb, CRO Team  
2 2008 Málaga, ESP Team  
1 2006 Belgrade, SRB Team  
1 2003 Kranj, SLO Team