Jasna Kolar-Merdan

Jasna Kolar-Merdan ( Jasna Merdan, (bosnian: Јасна Мердан) born 19 October 1956 in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia) is a formerly Yugoslav and now Austrian former handball player, who is considered one of the best Austrian players of all time. She played for both the Yugoslavia national team and the Austria national team. She competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics, in the 1984 Summer Olympics for Yugoslavia and in the 1992 Summer Olympics for Austria.

She was voted World Handball Player of 1990 by the International Handball Federation.

She is also in the Austrian Handball Federation hall of fame.

Career Jasnar Kolar-Merdan started playing handball at her hometown club ŽRK Lokomotiva Mostar. In 1977 she helped the club get promoted to the top league in 1977. In 1983 she finished second in the Yugoslavian championship with the club.

In 1984 she joined the Austrian top club Hypo Südstadt (later called Hypo Niederösterreich). Here she won the EHF Champions League 4 times in 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993. She also won the Austrian championship a staggering 10 times.

In 1980 she won the silver medal with the Yugoslav team, finishing behind the Soviet Union and ahead of DDR. She played all five matches and scored nine goals.

At the 1982 World Women's Handball Championship she achieved bronze medals with the Yugaslav team. She was the topscorer of the tournament with 52 goals.

Post-playing career From 1994 she has had a café in Maria Enzersdorf together with her husband.

Honours Olympics 1984: Gold medals Olympics 1980: Silver medals World Championship 1982: Bronze medals EHF Champions League: 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 Austrian Championship: 10× (1984/85–1992/93) Austrian Cup: 4× (1990–1993) Yugoslav Championship: 2nd place (1983)