Luka Stepančić Opens Up
Croatian handball player speaks at Marin Čilić's charity event about the values his career brought him, family sacrifices, and struggles with the Hungarian language.
Croatian handball player speaks at Marin Čilić's charity event about the values his career brought him, family sacrifices, and struggles with the Hungarian language.
Marin Čilić's charity tennis spectacle took place in Karlovac, and among the guests was Luka Stepančić, one of Croatia's top handball players of the past decade. In an interview with Hype TV, he shared his honest reflections on his career, family, life abroad, and all the positive things sport has given him.
Stepančić responded to Čilić's invitation without hesitation, aware of the noble mission behind the entire event. Besides the chance to socialize with athletes from different disciplines, he was particularly impressed by the work of the Marin Čilić Foundation.
"When Marin called, I immediately said I'd free up that day. Besides being a nice gathering of athletes from different sports, there's a big story behind the whole project. I think it would be crazy not to support something like this," Stepančić told Hype TV.
He emphasized that the foundation's scholarship program for young athletes and artists, which has been running for years, left a strong impression on him.
Although his trophy cabinet includes European silver with the national team and stints with renowned European clubs, Stepančić today stresses that the most valuable fruits of sport are intangible. He spoke candidly about the sacrifices that come with professional sports.
"From this perspective, I'd say sport has taken almost nothing from me. Of course, there were moments when I couldn't go on my senior trip or I missed the birth of my child by a day because of commitments. But when I weigh everything, handball has given me much more than it has taken."
He highlights the friendships and godparenthoods he's formed, the places he's traveled to, and everything he's experienced that goes beyond the games themselves.
"Medals and trophies are nice, but you only realize later that the people you meet, the languages you learn, and the experiences you gain are actually the most valuable things sport brings you."
His professional journey has taken him from Zagreb to Paris, where his son was born, and for the past six years, he has lived in Hungary. Living abroad has also brought the need to learn foreign languages. While he mastered French for family needs, Hungarian remains a major challenge.
"Hungarian, definitely. I've been there for six years and still haven't managed to learn it. I can understand some things and get by in simple situations, but for a real conversation, it's still very hard."
Finally, he revealed that although handball is his life, he's always happy to pick up a tennis racket, especially when it comes to charity events. A detailed report by Hype TV journalist Petra Gajšak brings more insights from Stepančić's career and private life.
