The students of Savremena Primary School have once again shown that effort, dedication and sportsmanship are recognised at major competitions. At the city athletics competition, held in the athletics hall, our students Andrej Joksimović from class 6/1 and Luka Vasiljević from class 5/2 proudly represented the school and achieved results we are truly proud of.

Andrej Joksimović competed in the 60-metre sprint and won an excellent 2nd place, finishing the race in 8.54 seconds. With this outstanding result, Andrej secured his place at the inter-district competition, where he will have the opportunity to continue his competitive journey and demonstrate his abilities among the best young athletes. His result is proof of speed, focus and readiness, as well as the hard work behind every successful performance.

Luka Vasiljević competed in the 600-metre race and finished in 13th place, recording a time of 2:06:63. However, what makes his performance especially valuable is the fact that Luka stumbled and fell within the first ten metres of the race, but did not give up. He got back on his feet, continued running and gave his maximum effort to finish the race. Considering that Luka is also one year younger than most of the boys he competed against, it is clear that this is an excellent result and a true example of perseverance, courage and sportsmanship.

Andrej and Luka’s success at the city competition is a continuation of their excellent results from the municipal competition in New Belgrade, where both of them won 1st place in their respective disciplines. That previous achievement allowed them to qualify for the city level and compete against peers who had also shown exceptional ability, readiness and motivation.

Moving from the municipal to the city level always brings a greater challenge. The competition is stronger, the atmosphere more demanding, and every detail can influence the final result. This is why the performances of our students are even more significant. Andrej confirmed the quality he had shown in the previous stage and managed to qualify for the next level, while Luka demonstrated that sporting success is not measured only by medals and rankings, but also by the character shown when faced with an obstacle.

Through his performance, Luka sent an important message to all students — not to give up even when the beginning is not what we had imagined. His determination to continue the race after falling, despite losing valuable seconds, speaks of willpower and maturity that are highly valued in sport. Andrej’s qualification for the inter-district competition, on the other hand, shows how continuous work, discipline and focus can lead to results worthy of great respect.

These results are further proof that sports activities at Savremena Primary School play an important role in students’ development. Through training, competitions and teamwork, students develop not only physical abilities, but also confidence, responsibility, perseverance and the ability to overcome challenges.

A big well done to Andrej and Luka, who showed through their performances what it means to represent the school with pride, responsibility and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Andrej on winning 2nd place in the 60-metre sprint and qualifying for the inter-district competition, and to Luka for his courage, perseverance and excellent result in the 600-metre race, especially considering the circumstances of the race and the fact that he was younger than most of the competitors.

Special congratulations also go to their teacher, Željko Zarić, whose support, preparation and motivation are of great importance on the students’ competitive journey. A teacher who recognises potential, encourages students to believe in themselves and guides them to give their best is an important part of every sporting success.

Savremena Primary School is proud of its young athletes, who remind us from one competition to the next that true success is reflected in effort, fair play, perseverance and the readiness to keep moving forward. We wish Andrej the best of luck at the inter-district competition, and we congratulate Luka on the determination and fighting spirit that deserve great respect.

Well done, Andrej! Well done, Luka! We will continue cheering for you!