The Serbian champion in shooting Bobana Veličkovič died at the age of 31, plunging the world of sports into grief over this unfair loss.

Veličkovič gave birth to her first child three weeks ago, but due to complications, she fell into a coma and died so young, leaving a great void in the European and Serbian sport.

Veličkovič started as an athlete of shooting at a young age and at the age of 20 managed to be a top athlete in all major international competitions. She was world champion in 2014 and since 2010 she has won nine gold, two silver and three bronze medals in the European Championships. Her first appearance in Olympics was in 2012 at London and at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, she took the 7th place in the 10m air pistol. She has also participated in the Mediterranean Games of Mersin 2013 and Tarragona 2018. In addition to her athletic career, she will also be remembered for her personality, since she was always simple, friendly and a smiling person.

The Mediterranean Sports Family mourns for the loss of this great Serbian athlete. The International Committee for the Mediterranean Games, by its President Amar Addadi and its Secretary General Iakovos Filippousis, sent a letter of condolence in the Serbian Olympic Committee:

“It is with deep sadness and sorrow that we have been informed about the sudden passing of the Serbian Shooting Champion, Mrs Bobana Veličković, an excellent athlete who had participated in two editions of the Mediterranean Games, in Mersin 2013 and in Tarragona 2018.

The world of Shooting, the Olympic Movement and the Mediterranean family have lost a great athlete and an excellent person, always committed to the Olympic values.

On behalf of all the Members of the entire ICMG Organisation, please accept our sincere condolences and convey our deepest sympathy to her family and to the Serbian Shooting Sport Federation for their loss”.