Mirta Freund
The 18-year old middle blocker from Mladost Zagreb will lead Croatia against the national teams of France, Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria and Russia at the upcoming EuroVolley U19W.
When did you fall in love with volleyball?
“I started training volleyball in the fifth grade of elementary school when my teacher encouraged me to start training. From the very beginning, I fell in love with volleyball and started playing for OK Dubrava.”
How do you manage to balance school obligations and training sessions?
“I attend the Sports Gymnasium in Zagreb and they let me choose the dates for exams and pop quizzes. The professors always help me and meet my needs, which makes my schooling much easier, since I play for the senior team of Mladost Zagreb and train twice a day.”
Do you have a role model in the world of Croatian volleyball?
“If I have to single someone out, it would be Maja Poljak, one of our best middle blockers. She is my role model because of the great and successful career she has achieved through hard work, which is best illustrated by the fact that she has been included in CEV’s team of the decade.”
What are your expectations from Croatia’s performance at the upcoming EuroVolley U19W?
“First of all, I expect a great atmosphere, dedication and a fighting spirit on the field. I sincerely believe that each of us will do our best on and off the field. Unfortunately, we won’t have support from the fans, so it is up to all of us to create a positive atmosphere, do our best and try to achieve the best possible result.”
How do you comment on the group that Croatia drew? Russia, Germany, Turkey…
“We have a very tough and demanding group, but I think we can play against everyone. Russia is definitely the favorite of the group, we are all aware of that, but still, we are looking forward to play against them. We will start every game maximally prepared and focused, giving our best performance. With the support of the entire coaching staff, we train hard, filled with positive emotions, while “burning” with a desire to compete.”
How do you spend your days in Osijek, as you have been in the national camp since the beginning of July?
“We train twice a day, so we don’t have much free time. Sometimes we go for a walk around the city, our hotel is by the river Drava, so we always have a peaceful place to hang out and rest.”
Croatian Volleyball Federation wish good luck to Mirta and the entire Croatian national team.
