Filip Ude, one of the best Croatian gymnasts of all times, will be returning this year as well to our home and already well known DOBRO World Cup Osijek.
The winner of numerous great medals, including the silver medals at the Olympic Games, and silver medals at the World and European Championship, as well as at the Mediterranean games, will be on the hunt for another medal in Osijek to enrich his already impressive collection. The three-time Olympic Games competitor who has lately started to compete again in all-around will be coming to Osijek more than ready after his successful performances at the European Championship.
Osijek is the first competition after the European Championship. What does this mean to you and for the rest of the season?
To me as well as to other Croatian gymnasts Osijek is in a way a special competition. To me, it is currently the peak of my preparation phase for the upcoming European Games that will be held in June in Minsk and at which I will be the only Croatian representative. That will be an excellent opportunity to try some of the new elements that I am planning to incorporate into my routine.
What do you think that makes Osijek special to you? Why do you enjoy coming back here?
In Osijek, I won first place and a gold medal in Pommel Horse for the first time and that is why this World Cup is special to me. Because of the wonderful memories, but also because of the atmosphere and the home ground I enjoy coming back here.
What are you preparing for this year’s World Cup in Osijek?
This year as opposed to previous years I am planning to perform in Osijek in three disciplines, in Floor, in Pommel Horse and in Horizontal Bar. In Pommel Horse I am preparing something special since I will perform a more difficult routine from the one I performed at the recent European Championship in Szczecin.
What can you say about the competition in Osijek this year? What can the audience expect?
To be honest, I have not looked who will be coming to Osijek. However, I believe that the competition, as it has been every year until now, will be fierce and that the competition will be prepared and organized perfectly. Therefore neither us gymnasts nor the audience will be missing anything and we will all enjoy great gymnastics.
All the information about the competition and the finals that will be held in the Arena Gradski vrt on 25 and 26 May you can find at the official website of the competition www.osijekgym.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram profiles of the competition, the Gymnastics Club Osijek-Žito, and the Croatian Gymnastics Association. Apart from the sports programme, a rich entertainment programme as a part of the FEELGOOD WEEKEND Festival at which Massimo and Neno Belan will perform has also been announced.
