The Girl Who Stunned the World

She was 21. She was from Zagreb. And she just broke the world. Anja Vicković didn’t just compete at the Senior World Skittles Championship in Schwaz, Austria; she dominated. While leading German rival Bianca Golla for nearly the entire match, Anja kept a stone-cold face until the very last frame. Then? A smile. A strike. Gold. The individual world title was hers.

"I went to the senior tournament just to gather experience," Anja admitted, still sounding like she can’t believe it herself. "I never expected to win anything, especially not gold in the senior individual category. I hoped for medals at the junior level, but this? This is surreal."

A Medal Haul for the Ages

But wait, it gets better. Before the senior final even began, Anja had already been tearing up the U23 competition. She grabbed gold in the sprint, plus two silvers—one in the combination event and another with the Croatian women’s national team. Then came the senior world championship, where she added world champion status, a tandem silver, and a pairs bronze. Six medals. Around one neck. At 21 years old.

"All these medals matter to me because I put in equal effort for each one," Anja said. "I was equally happy on every podium."

Yet, the silver she won with Paula Polanščak—her childhood friend since kindergarten—might be her favorite. "Standing on the podium with Paula was one of the most beautiful feelings ever," she shared. "You realize everyone there was watching you, cheering for you. It’s a strange feeling. Unreal. You have to process that you’re there because you won, not just because you’re playing."

Fire, Tears, and Family

Her support system? Legendary. Her father, the iconic journalist Trpimir Vicković Vico, watched every match. His advice? "Get angry, keep your head, and smash them all." Anja laughs. "He knows I don’t think that way. I’m calm on the lane. That’s why he says it."

Then there’s her coach, Robert Tino Mileta. "We have a routine before every international tournament: I come to training and cry," Anja revealed. "He told me, 'Come, cry it out, we’ll talk.' He knows me perfectly. He knows exactly what to say."

Anja started skittles because her brother did—her parents wanted them in multiple sports. She tried rock’n’roll too, but the skittles team felt like home. Now? She’s the world champion. And she’s just getting started.