Draganja to Remain in Croatian Colors

ZAGREB, Croatia, February 9. A couple of months after declaring that he had accepted a lucrative offer to represent the oil-rich nation of Qatar in international competition, Duje Draganja has apparently had a change of heart. The former Cal-Berkeley standout will remain in action for his native Croatia, according to a report in the Sportske Novosti newspaper.

Draganja had negotiated a deal with Qatar that reportedly would have paid him $500,000 per year with further money earned based on performances in international competitions. Qatar has made it clear that it is seeking out some of the world’s top swimmers in an attempt to strengthen its standing in the swimming world. South Africa’s Roland Schoeman is another athlete that Qatar had approached.

"The reason for me staying in Croatia is that I was really unhappy with my previous decision," Draganja told local newspapers.

At the Athens Olympics, Draganja won a silver medal in the 50 freestyle. He duplicated that showing last summer at the World Championships in Montreal. He was also fifth in the 100 free at the World Champs and is coming off a sterling collegiate career at Cal. He is expected to a medal contender once again at next year’s World Champs in Melbourne and at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

"I met with Duje over the weekend. We had a long conversation which ended up successfully," the head of Croatia's Olympic Committee, Zlatko Matesa, told Sportske Novosti. "The result is that Duje figures on a list of (Croatia's) potential representatives for the Beijing Summer Olympics."

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