Emir Balić, legendary Old Bridge diver, dies in Mostar

Emir Balić, the legendary diver of Mostar’s Old Bridge, has passed away at the age of 91. A symbol of the city’s courage and tradition, Balić was renowned for his signature ‘swallow’ dive into the Neretva River.

Throughout his career, Balić participated in 20 official competitions, securing 13 victories, four second-place finishes, and three third-place finishes. He performed over 1,000 dives from the Old Bridge, with his final jump occurring in 1996. Beyond his athletic achievements, he was a multifaceted individual who worked as a cinema operator, stuntman, boxer, and paratrooper, and served as a member of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Center for Peace and Multi-ethnic Cooperation, which honored him as a ‘Mimar mira’ (Architect of Peace), described him as a man whose name is forever intertwined with the identity of Mostar. Tributes highlighted his resilience, noting that despite enduring the hardships of HVO detention camps during the war, he maintained a spirit of peace and refused to let hatred conquer his heart.

Commemorative services are scheduled to take place at the National Theater in Mostar, with funeral rites following at the Sutina City Cemetery.