Gold medal-winning Olympic water polo player Mislav Bezmalinović suddenly passed away at the age of 57

Mislav Bezmalinović was born on May 11, 1967, in Split. He both began and ended his water polo career at Jadran Split, where he was a key player in the club's great successes and a symbol of Split water polo in general. Bezmalinović was, in every sense, synonymous with the club from Zvončac Bay, where he started playing water polo in 1977 at the age of 10. His father also played a crucial role in Jadran's success as a member of the club's management. He played for Jadran’s first team from 1982 to 1994, then for Italian club Pescara from 1994 to 1995, and briefly for VK Salona from Solin.

During those years, Bezmalinović was a "face" of water polo, frequently on magazine covers. His career matched his prominent status as a star athlete from Split. Alongside Posinković, Bezmalinović formed a powerful duo for the national team, continuing the legacy from neighboring Zenta, where gold medal Olympians Bebić and Lušić had emerged in that same decade.

Bezmalinović earned his place on the 1988 Seoul Olympic team by winning a competition against Ante Vasović, who later played for Partizan before joining Jadran in Split.

In Seoul, at just 21, Bezmalinović played flawlessly among more seasoned players in a very strong Yugoslav team. He made a significant contribution against Germany, scoring two goals that helped defeat the opponent in the semifinals. After victories over Hungary, Greece, and Spain, the United States fell in the final, securing the Olympic gold medal.

Bezmalinović represented Yugoslavia from 1988 to 1991 and then played for Croatia from 1991 to 1994. It was a great loss for his generation that they were unable to participate in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. "Bezma" continued his career with stellar performances for both the club and national team, though under coach Duško Antunović, major successes eluded him. At the European Championships in Sheffield (UK), Croatia finished fifth, and soon after, Bezmalinović retired from the national team.

His trophy collection included another gold from the 1991 World Championship in Perth and the 1989 FINA Cup. He also won silver at the European Championships in Strasbourg in 1987 and Bonn in 1989. Additionally, he took home a silver medal at the 1991 Mediterranean Games in Athens.

Mislav Bezmalinović was a true giant in the water. His playing prowess and authority were the cornerstone of every coach’s strategy. He was part of the "Split trio" that won the gold medal in Seoul. All three Split clubs were evenly represented – Bezma from Jadran, Deni Lušić from POŠK, and goalkeeper Renco Posinković from Mornar.

This Split trio was pivotal in securing Yugoslavia’s final Olympic medal before the country’s dissolution.

In club water polo, Bezmalinović and Jadran won the Croatian championship in 1991, the Mediterranean Cup, and two European club championships in 1992 and 1993. In those golden years for Croatian water polo, Bezmalinović played phenomenally. He was also the team captain. He made the decisive play in the first match against Savona in the first final, and in the second year, he remained one of the key players.

In 1992, Jadran defeated Italian team Savona 11-9 in Trieste, and the following year, two matches were played for the European title between Croatian clubs. In the first game, Mladost Zagreb defeated Jadran 8-7, but in Split, Jadran triumphed 6-4, keeping the European water polo title in Split.

In 1992, Jadran brought the newly recognized Republic of Croatia its first international trophy, which Mislav Bezmalinović accepted on behalf of the team.

Thus, this esteemed athlete was the first in independent Croatia, as team captain, to receive a European championship trophy. Alongside his impressive sports career, he completed a degree in Economics. He was a long-time member of the Jadran Split management team and a highly respected businessman. He was honored with the Order of Danica Hrvatska featuring the image of Franjo Bučar, a state decoration.

Mislav Bezmalinović's funeral will be held on Wednesday, September 4, at 3 p.m. at Lovrinac Cemetery in Split, with a memorial service the same day at the Croatian National Theatre in Split.

Given Mislav's humanitarian spirit, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to charity (by making a contribution to the Županijska Liga for the Fight Against Cancer in Split). For more information, contact 098 907 3163 (Vinka Abramović).

The President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Zlatko Mateša and Secretary-General Siniša Krajač extended their condolences to the family of the late Olympian:

Dear Bezmalinović Family,

It is with great sadness that we received the news of the sudden passing of your Mislav. As a gold medal Olympian and a legendary figure in Split water polo, he will forever be etched in the annals of Croatian sports. On behalf of the Olympic family and in my own name, please accept our deepest condolences!