Mirko Sandić | Origin of Street Names

Mirko Sandić (1942 - 2006) was a long-time water polo player for Partizan and the Yugoslav national team, considered one of the greatest water polo players of all time and a true medical phenomenon - a man with literally the largest heart in the world.

He was born in Belgrade during the German occupation of the city. According to some testimonies, he learned how to swim at the age of only 4, but he started playing water polo relatively late, at the age of 16.

A true giant in every sense, standing at 2 meters tall and weighing 110 kilograms, he spent his entire playing career at Partizan Water Polo Club, winning the national championship 11 times, the national cup 7 times, and an impressive 5 European championships, along with multiple titles of the world's best player. He was equally successful in the national team jersey, winning numerous medals, including the coveted gold at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.

Although water polo has never been a sport that involved large sums of money (even today), during the 1960s and 1970s when Mirko Sandić dominated European pools, a professional water polo player in Yugoslavia could live decently, but it was expected to find a "real" job as well.

Thus, while still an active player, Mirko Sandić also pursued a career in journalism and worked as a correspondent for "Politika" and the legendary sports newspaper "Tempo." Immediately after retiring from his playing career, he ventured into the role of sales manager at the then "JAT" airline.

One rather incredible story is associated with the deadly water polo player. During regular medical check-ups throughout his playing days, it was discovered that the size of Mirko Sandić's heart was more than twice that of an average human heart. This physiological phenomenon intrigued leading medical experts worldwide to such an extent that a certain medical institute in the United States offered him a staggering $100,000 in exchange for bequeathing the largest heart in the world after his death.

Having played for over 15 years in Partizan, despite numerous offers from abroad, Mirko Sandić demonstrated that the pursuit of money was never his priority. Thus, he smoothly declined this lucrative offer from the American institute.

During the 1980s, Mirko Sandić worked as a water polo coach in Partizan and in countries where this sport was still in its infancy. In the 1990s, he also fulfilled the role of president of the Yugoslav Water Polo Federation.

A human and sporting legend, Mirko Sandić passed away suddenly at the age of 64 and was buried at the New Cemetery in Belgrade.

In memory of the renowned water polo player, the name Mirko Sandić is now carried by streets in Belgrade and Vranje.