Nikola Đuretanović, a 17-year-old swimmer from North Macedonia, made headlines at the World Championship held in Budapest, Hungary, by setting two national records in the 25-meter pool.
His first record came in the 400-meter freestyle event, where he clocked a remarkable time of 3:53.05 minutes. This achievement improved his previous personal best by nine seconds and surpassed the former national record held by Marko Blaževski by three seconds and 27 hundredths. Despite finishing 40th out of 49 competitors, his performance marks a significant milestone for Macedonian swimming.
Đuretanović's second record was established in the 800-meter freestyle, where he completed the race in 8:06.79 minutes, again breaking the existing national record by three seconds. His accomplishments have sparked optimism about the future of swimming in North Macedonia.
The swimming community in Macedonia, represented by clubs like Vardar 2018, is hopeful that with the support of institutions such as the Ministry of Sports and the Macedonian Olympic Committee, athletes like Đuretanović will continue to excel on the world stage. The recent World Championship is notable as it marked the first time Hungary hosted a 25-meter pool event, further enhancing its reputation for hosting top-tier aquatic competitions.