Eisspeedway

Vladimir Grbić

Vladimir Grbić
Grbić in 2007
Personal information
Full nameVladimir Grbić
NicknameVanja
Born (1970-12-14) 14 December 1970 (age 53)
Klek, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight87 kg (192 lb)
Spike360 cm (140 in)
Block350 cm (140 in)
Career
YearsTeams
1990–1991
1991–1992
1992–1995
1995–1997
1997–1998
1998–2001
2001–2002
2002–2003
2003–2004
2004–2007
2007–2009
Mladost Zagreb
Vojvodina Novi Sad
Antonveneta Padova
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
São Paulo
Roma Volley
Osaka Blazers
PAOK
Dynamo Moscow
Andreoli Latina
Fenerbahçe Istanbul
National team
1991–1993
1995–2003
2003–2006
 Yugoslavia
 Yugoslavia
 Serbia and Montenegro

Vladimir "Vanja" Grbić (Serbian Cyrillic: Владимир Вања Грбић; born 14 December 1970) is a Serbian former volleyball player and three-time Olympian. He is 193 cm and played as passer-side attacker. He was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2011.[1]

Career

While playing with the national volleyball team of FR Yugoslavia, Grbić won a bronze medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics.[2] He competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics with the team of Serbia and Montenegro, finishing fifth.[1]

The Yugoslav Olympic Committee declared Grbić the best sportsman of the year in 1996 and 2000.[1][3] In 1999 and 2000, he received the Golden Badge, an award for the best athlete in Yugoslavia.[1]

In his career, Grbić made 242 appearances for the national team until his retirement in 2009.[1] Grbić was known for his powerful spikes and excellent passing on the volleyball court.[1] He was also regarded as a sportsman of great character.[1]

Personal life

Grbić's father, Miloš, also played volleyball and was a member of the Yugoslavian national team.[1] His younger brother, Nikola, was also a volleyball player on the national team, and similarly is in the Hall of Fame.[4][1] Grbić's wife, Sara, is a former karate world champion.[5]

Clubs

Club Country From To
Mladost Zagreb  Yugoslavia 1990 1991
Vojvodina Novi Sad  Yugoslavia 1991 1992
Antonveneta Padova  Italy 1992 1995
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo  Italy 1995 1997
São Paulo  Brazil 1997 1998
Roma Volley  Italy 1998 2001
Osaka Blazers  Japan 2001 2002
P.A.O.K.  Greece 2002 2003
Dynamo Moscow  Russia 2003 2004
Andreoli Latina  Italy 2004 2007
Fenerbahçe Istanbul  Turkey 2007 2009

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Vladimir Grbic". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Yugoslavia wins first gold medal". ESPN. 1 October 2000. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Trofej OKS – Najuspešniji sportisti". OKS.org.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Nikola Grbic". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  5. ^ Baljkas, Živko (31 August 2021). "More Successful Than Ever In Tokyo". CorD. Belgrade: Alliance International Media. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
Awards
Preceded by Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The Best Athlete of Yugoslavia
1999, 2000
Succeeded by
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  Yugoslavia
Sydney 2000
Succeeded by