August 22, 2020 - The European Sailing Championship in Vilamoura, Portugal, has come to an end. Nikola Golubović took 45th place in the gold group after six days of competition and 11 sailing regattas in the Laser 4.7 class.
The current champion of the Balkans and Montenegro, a member of the Sailing Club Delfin from Tivat, managed to achieve his primary goal during the three qualifying days and reach the gold group in the competition of the 107th best sailors in Europe.
Nikola had his ups and downs, for which this 16-year-old boy, who made his debut at the European Championship, cannot be blamed. Golubović also invested his last ounce of strength to achieve his best possible placing in Vilamoura, and rightly deserves congratulations for his achievement, alongside coach and selector of Montenegro, Ilko Klakor.
"Taking into account the conditions in which we work, I think we achieved an excellent result at the European Championship. Nikola achieved his primary goal, reached the gold group amongst powerful competition, and confirmed that he has huge potential. In the coming period, we will turn to what we know best: work and training. Only in that way can we remain competitive with the sailing superpowers, which have far, far better conditions for work and support than we do," highlighted the selector of Montenegro, coach for Sailing Club Delfin Tivat and Nikola Golubović, Ilko Klakor, speaking to Sport Club.
As far as sailors from the region are concerned, the best result was achieved by the Slovenes, who joined Nikola Golubović in the gold group. Luka Zakubovec took 36th place, Ivan Vankrušev 51st place, and Benjamin Agnović 54th place. Sailors from Serbia finished the competition in the silver group, Stefan Juil taking 76th place, and Viktor Batizić 83rd place. Of the other sailors from the region, Croatia's Max Gjidera took 56th place, and his club mates from Sailing club Mornar Split Niko Jakelić and Antonio Marendić took 67th and 68th place respectively.
Anastasios Garipis from Greece won the gold medal, the silver medal went to Premislav Mahovski from Poland, while the bronze went to Italy thanks to Domenico Lamante.