Duje Draganja
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Duje Draganja (born February 27, 1983 in Split) is a swimmer from Croatia who won the silver medal in the men's 50 meter freestyle at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Draganja is also a former NCAA record holder in the 100 yard freestyle, with a time of 41.49, set in 2005, while he swam for the University of California, Berkeley. He, like many other world-class, non-American swimmers, chose to spend 4 years training and competing at an American university. During his four years with Cal, Duje won 10 PAC-10 swimming titles, and eight NCAA National championships. While at Cal, he trained with the world-renown sprinting coach Michael Bottom, who still coaches him now.
He has been controversial in Croatia for his decision to take the citizenship of Qatar and continue his swimming career under the flag of that country, after receiving a very lucrative offer to do so. Croatian public opinion largely turned against Draganja at that time with the press portraying him as a villain with no respect for his homeland. Draganja accepted a Qatar passport in August 2005 claiming that he will keep his Croatian passport and will not change his religion.
However, in February 2006, the swimmer made it clear that he had reversed his decision and that he will continue to compete for his country of birth, Croatia.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Personal bests
[edit] Long course
- 50 meters freestyle - 21.89 NR (Montreal, July 30, 2004)[4]
- 100 meters freestyle - 48.81 NR (Eindhoven, March 21, 2008)[4][5]
- 50 meters butterfly - 23.62 NR (Budapest, August 1, 2006)[4]
- 100 meters butterfly - 52.46 NR (Athens, August 20, 2004)[4]
[edit] Short course
- 50 meters freestyle - 20.81 WR (Manchester, April 11, 2008)[6]
- 100 meters freestyle - 46.64 NR (March 2004)[7]
- 100 meters butterfly - 51.19 NR (Debrecen, December 13, 2007)[7]
[edit] Trivia
- Name is pronounced "DOO-ye DRAHG-ahn-ya". In an interview while he attended Cal, Draganja said that people tell him his name "DOO-ie" is "the dumbest name you want to have".
[edit] References
- ^ 2004 Olympic Games swimming results. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ Montreal 2005 Results. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
- ^ Draganja Turns His Back on Qatar. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
- ^ a b c d CRO Records Long Course. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ Draganja isplivao novi hrvatski rekord (Croatian). Index.hr (21 March 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ World Records Short Course. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ a b CRO Records Short Course. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
[edit] External links
- Profile at collegesports.com
- Duje Draganja: Cal swimmer a national hero in Croatia
- Croatian swimmer Draganja to swim for Qatar
- Cash lures from Qatar may lead to rewriting of rulebook
- (Croatian) Duje Draganja srebrni!
- Draganja U-turn
- 2007 Q & A with Duje Draganja
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Stefan Nystrand |
Men's 50 metres Freestyle World Record Holder (Short Course) April 11, 2008 – |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
