Zdravko "Ćiro" Kovačić (6 July 1925 – 1 April 2015) was a Croatian water polo player who competed for Yugoslavia in the 1948 Summer Olympics, in the 1952 Summer Olympics, and in the 1956 Summer Olympics.[1]

Zdravko Kovačić
Personal information
Born 6 July 1925
Šibenik,
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Nickname Ćiro
Died 1 April 2015(2015-04-01) (aged 89)
Rijeka, Croatia
Nationality Croatian
Position Goalkeeper
Senior clubs
Years Team
JŠK Victoria, VK Primorje
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1948-1956
 Yugoslavia 87 (0)
Medal record
Men's water polo
Representing  Yugoslavia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1952 Helsinki Team competition
Silver medal – second place 1956 Melbourne Team competition
European Championship
Bronze medal – third place 1950 Vienna Team competition
Silver medal – second place 1954 Turin Team competition

Kovačič was born in Šibenik in 1925 (at the time Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes), but moved to Sušak the next year and therefore considered himself a native of Rijeka.

Kovačić was part of the Yugoslav team which was eliminated in the second round of the 1948 Olympic tournament. He played one match as goalkeeper.

Four years later he won the silver medal with the Yugoslav team in the 1952 tournament. He played all nine matches as goalkeeper.

In 1956 he was a member of the Yugoslav team which won the silver medal in the Olympic competition again. He played all seven matches as goalkeeper. He was given the honour to carry the national flag of Yugoslavia at the opening ceremony of the 1956 Summer Olympics, becoming the ninth water polo player to be a flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.[2]

He died in Rijeka.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Zdravko Kovačić". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Yugoslavia". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 22 September 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
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Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for   Yugoslavia
Melbourne 1956
Succeeded by