2017 SPORTO Brand Awards, given based on the annual public research performed by the market and media research company Mediana (since 2007 in Slovenia and since 2013 in Croatia and Serbia), went for the first time to the Slovenian alpine skier Ilka Štuhec, for the second time to the basketball player Goran Dragić (the first time was in 2013), and for the sixth time to the leading sports club in Slovenia NK Maribor.
When presented with the award, Ilka Štuhec said, “This award means a lot to me, because it celebrates not only me as an athlete but the entire team that manages all behind-the-scenes activities and my brand. As a high-profile athlete, I am aware that with the brand comes responsibility towards people as well as sponsors.”
In Croatia, 2017 SPORTO Brand Awards were given to the football player Luka Modrić, who received the award for the third time, and, just like every year since the research started, to the athlete Sandra Perković and to the ice hockey club KHL Medveščak Zagreb. Serbia’s top athletes still include the tennis ace Novak Đoković, the athlete Ivana Španović (third time) and the football club FK Crvena zvezda (first time).
Five highest-ranking athletes and clubs in 2017 (listed alphabetically):
Slovenia
Female athletes: Ana Drev, Janja Garmbret, Ema Klinec, Ilka Štuhec, Tina Trstenjak
Athletes: Luka Dončić, Goran Dragić, Anže Kopitar, Domen Prevc, Peter Prevc
Sports clubs: NK Maribor, NK Olimpija Ljubljana, OK ACH Volley, RK Celje Pivovarna Laško, RK Gorenje Velenje
Croatia
Female athletes: Sara Kolak, Sandra Perković, Blanka Vlašić, Ana Zaninović, Lucija Zaninović
Athletes: Marin Čilić, Domagoj Duvnjak, Mario Mandžukić, Luka Modrić, Martin & Valent Sinković
Sports clubs: GNK Dinamo Zagreb, KHL Medveščak, NK Rijeka, RK PPD Zagreb, VK Jug CO
Serbia
Female athletes: Tijana Bogdanović, Ivana Maksimović, Milica Mandić, Jasna Šekarić, Ivana Španović
Athletes: Bogdan Bogdanović, Novak Đoković, Filip Filipović, Nikola Jokić, Miloš Teodosić
Sports clubs: FK Crvena zvezda, FK Partizan, KK Crvena zvezda, KK Partizan, VK Partizan
