PHOENIX, Arizona, April 7. AS previously reported on SwimmingWorldMagazine.com, Serbian Milorad Cavic was suspended for part of the European Championships for wearing a T-shirt stating "Kosovo is Serbia" while on the podium for his 50 fly European record.
Today, Cavic went on the record with Timed Prelims to discuss his podium statement as well as the turmoil occurring within Serbia from his point of view.
"This wasn't a politically motivated statement for me," Cavic said. "It's been completely blown out of proportion. Although it is completely ludicrous what happened to Serbs and Kosovo, I as an athlete am not in the position to create major change. My people are in pain, and those Serbs in Kosovo are literally suffering. The motive behind my action was a message to Serbs everywhere. I wanted to lift their morale and energies, and give them some hope that there is a future if we all work together."
Full text of Timed Prelims interview.