Guests of former Serbian Fed Cup representative and author of the program “Path of a Champion,” Ana Jovanović, included world and European 3×3 basketball champion Strahinja Stojačić and his father, former basketball player Zoran. They discussed aspects of success in sports, the impact on the relationships between children, parents, and coaches, and the imperatives in the making of champions.
The Novak Djokovic Foundation traditionally organized the panel of its program “Path of a Champion” this year, held at the Geozavod building in Belgrade. For the first time, the foundation hosted the father and younger son from the celebrated Stojačić sports family – multiple world and European champion and three-time world’s best player in 3×3 basketball Strahinja, and his father Zoran, an architect and former successful basketball player.
The program “Path of a Champion” was established four years ago with the aim of fostering a love for sports among children, emphasizing the importance of physical activity and sports training for their proper and healthy development. It also highlights the responsibility and proper relationship between parents and coaches who guide children through the most delicate phase of life in the process of growing into healthy members of society. The panel was moderated by Ana Jovanović, the program’s creator and former Serbian Fed Cup representative.
What fame and success often overshadow in the eyes of observers is the hard work and effort required to achieve them, and even parents are not immune to this. “Parents often only see the best side of sports and are unaware of how much sacrifice is needed to pursue it, especially successfully. A child must have a love for sports, enjoy going to training sessions, but without pressure from the parents, so that this love, as one of the most important motivations, can be maintained,” emphasized Strahinja Stojačić.
“In the process of shaping a personality, multi-generational growth is important – both for the child and the parents, and understanding these roles. As a father, I will always be a friend to my children, but I am aware that they have their friends, children from their generation. As a parent, it was impossible for me not to react while watching Stefan and Strahinja play on the court. What I see, I immediately share with them – mostly positive, but above all, something I would criticize. I don’t take it lightly, but I believe I have the right to do so. I think parents do a disservice to everyone when they shout during training, and I believe that’s not good, because the coach must be allowed to be the authority for the children,” says Zoran Stojačić.
When comparing individual and team sports in terms of their importance for children’s development, Zoran favors team sports: “I believe that this type of sport is more significant for children and their overall quality development. In individual sports, they are more focused on the result; it’s harder and more demanding to engage in and be successful at. In team sports, a child finds their place, establishes social relationships; responsibility in certain moments can be shared with other team members, allowing them to rely on each other. Team spirit is the most important, especially at a young age, because through it, children learn to respect their teammates, which is a quality that stays with them.”
The role of a champion in society is multifaceted, and Strahinja is very aware of this: “We must be a good example for the youth. I didn’t feel like I was a role model until these Olympic Games, when I felt the pressure of responsibility, wondering if I was doing everything right because children are watching me. It’s important how we, as athletes, behave both on and off the field. Sport teaches you discipline in every sense and positively impacts a person’s character. For me, champions are not only those who achieve results, but also those who show what kind of person they are both on and off the field; those who, by their example, show that something is possible, that they believe in it, and through that, show others what can be achieved.” To which his father Zoran adds: “For me, a champion is someone who takes responsibility at the moment it is most needed, regardless of the result – and that sets them apart from others!”
The “Through Champions” program of the Novak Djokovic Foundation will continue in 2025, and in upcoming editions, it will feature outstanding speakers and experts from the fields of sports, sports psychology, medicine, nutrition, and related scientific disciplines from Serbia and abroad.
