Splitska plivačica Đurđica Bjedov, na te Olimpijske igre 1968. otputovala je prvenstveno kako bi bila deo štafete tadašnje Jugoslavije.
Ni jedan sportski stručnjak, domaći ili strani, nije je svrstao među kandidate ni za nastup u finalu a kamoli osvajanje medalje. Međutim, Đurđica je tog 19. oktobra u Meksiko Sitiju iznenadila čitav svet. Ona je, nakon što se u finale plasirala kao druga, doplivala do zlatne medalje na 100 metara prsno i to sa vremenom 1:15.8.
Ovo je bila prva zlatna medalja za Jugoslaviju na Igrama u Meksiku.
Samo nekoliko dana kasnije Đurđica je osvojila srebro na 200m prsno plivajući 2:46.4.
Slika koja je mnogim ljudima ostala u sećanju jeste trenutak osvajanja zlatnog odličja, dolazak na cilj, okretanje prema reporterskim tribinama, odmahivanje rukom na oduševljenje Mladena Delića: “Ko? Ja? Ne, ja nisam pobedila…”
“Đuka nacionale“ je zapanjila svet, a nakon Igara u svom rodnom Splitu dočekana je kao heroj i iste godine proglašena je i za najbolju sportiskinju Jugoslavije.
1987. godine uvrštena je i u Međunarodnu plivačku kuću slavnih na Floridi (SAD).
U svojoj karijeri 35 puta je bila prvakinja Jugoslavije a 19 puta nacionalna rekorderka.
The swimmer Đurđica Bjedov traveled to the 1968 Summer Olympics primarily to be part of the Yugoslav relay team.
No sports expert, domestic or foreign, considered her a candidate even for a place in the final, let alone for winning a medal. However, on October 19 in Mexico City, Đurđica surprised the entire world. After qualifying for the final with the second-fastest time, she swam to the gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:15.8.
This was the first gold medal for Yugoslavia at the Mexico City Games.
Only a few days later, Đurđica won silver in the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing with a time of 2:46.4.
One image that has remained in many people’s memory is the moment she won the gold medal: touching the wall at the finish, turning toward the reporters’ stands, waving her hand, while the enthusiastic commentator Mladen Delić exclaimed: “Who? Me? No, I didn’t win…”
“Đuka Nacionale” astonished the world, and after the Games she was welcomed as a hero in her hometown of Split. That same year, she was proclaimed the best sportswoman of Yugoslavia.
In 1987, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
During her career, she was Yugoslav champion 35 times and held 19 national records.
