Biljana Golić facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Biba Golić |
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| Full name | Biljana Golić | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Serbia |
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| Born | November 9, 1977 Senta, Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
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| Playing style | Right-handed, all round player | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Biljana "Biba" Golić (born November 9, 1977) is a famous Serbian table tennis player. She is also known by her nickname, Biba. She started playing table tennis when she was young and has since become a top athlete. Biba has won many championships and medals throughout her career, both in Serbia and internationally. She also helps to make table tennis more popular around the world.
Contents
Becoming a Table Tennis Star
Early Days and Big Wins
Biba Golić started playing table tennis when she was just 9 years old. By the time she was 12, she was already part of the Serbian National Cadet team. She continued to play for the senior national team for 10 years.
During this time, Biba became the Yugoslavian Singles Champion two times. In September 2001, she won a gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Women's Doubles with her partner, Gordana Plavšić. The next month, in October 2001, she became a Balkan Champion in Women's Teams, Women's Singles, and Mixed Doubles. She also finished as a runner-up in Women's Doubles.
In 2002, Biba played in the Bundes League in Germany for one year. She is also a member of the Killerspin Krew, which means she is sponsored by the table tennis company Killerspin.
College Success
Biba came to the United States and attended Texas Wesleyan University for 18 months. She was there on an athletic scholarship for table tennis. At Texas Wesleyan, Biba became a National Collegiate Champion. She won titles in singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team table tennis. She was also named the team's Most Valuable Player.
Later, she transferred to the Illinois Institute of Technology. At that time, she was ranked as the No. 2 women's player in the NCAA.
Spreading the Love for Table Tennis
After college, Biba became an important part of the "Killerspin Krew." She continued to play in competitions. She also became a spokesperson to help make table tennis more popular. Biba wants more people to know about and enjoy the sport.
She often takes part in special events where she plays exhibition matches. These are friendly games that show off her skills. Biba has also appeared on many television news and profile shows. She has even been in Hollywood movies!
Some of her appearances include:
- Balls of Fury
- Ping Pong Playa
- Welcome to the Parker
- Spike TV - Guys Choice award winner
- ESPN commercial "Follow Your Sports" [1]
- Mike and Mike in the Morning
Biba has also been featured in popular magazines like Time and Rolling Stone. A character in the webcomic Penny Arcade, Oksana Svedlovigoba, was even based on her!
Biba's Amazing Achievements
Here are some of the great things Biba Golić has achieved:
- Portland Open Champion
- California Open Champion
- Ohio Open Champion
- US National Collegiate No. 2 ranking
- US National Collegiate Champion – Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles & Team (2003)
- Yugoslavian Champion - Singles (twice)
- Yugoslavian Champion - Team (twice)
- Yugoslavian Champion - Mixed Doubles (twice)
- Balkan Champion - Mixed Doubles
- Balkan Champion - Woman's Singles
- Second Place Balkan - Woman's Doubles
- Mediterranean Champion - Woman's Doubles (twice)
- Third place - Bulgarian Open - Singles
- Third place - European Junior Championships
- First place - Yugoslavian TOP-12
