volimo jureka više od bureka

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On February 14, 1984, a 21-year-old student named Jure Franko carved his name into history on the icy slopes of Bjelašnica. With a stunning performance in the giant slalom, he won a silver medal—the first-ever Winter Olympic medal for Yugoslavia. The victory unleashed an unforgettable wave of national pride and joy that became one of the defining moments of the Sarajevo Games.

A Nation Holds Its Breath

For 60 years, Yugoslavia had participated in the Winter Olympics without ever reaching the podium. The pressure on the home team in Sarajevo was immense. On the day of the men's giant slalom, more than 30,000 spectators flocked to Mount Bjelašnica, waving flags and ringing cowbells, transforming the mountain into a sea of red, white, and blue.

After the first run, Franko was in fourth place, with a medal tantalizingly within reach. As he prepared for his second and final run, the roar from the crowd was deafening. Thousands chanted "YU-go-SLAV-ia!" and "Yoo-Ray! Yoo-Ray!", their shouts of "Hop! Hop! Hop!" (Go! Go! Go!) echoing through the valley. Carried by this wave of support, Franko delivered the single fastest run of the day. He flew across the finish line just 0.23 seconds behind Swiss gold medalist Max Julen. It didn't matter that the medal was silver; for the entire nation, it shone like the purest gold.

An Eruption of Joy

The scene at the finish area was pure elation. "People began jumping on me, kissing me, practically tearing me apart," Franko later recalled. "All I did was laugh and laugh." This single medal became a powerful symbol. As one Olympic official noted, "No one likes to provide the stage for someone else's Games. Now these are our Games."

Franko, a polite student from Nova Gorica whose father had also been a national team ski jumper, became an instant hero. The victory resonated far beyond the slopes, confirming that all the years of effort to host the Games had been worthwhile. A few days later, the men's slalom provided another historic moment when American twin brothers Phil and Steve Mahre became the first brothers to win gold and silver in the same event. But it was Franko's medal that made it all make sense for the host nation: "It made sense then that we were feeling such harmony, such peace, such brotherhood as Yugoslavians." The celebration was so immense that the New York Times joked the enthusiasm "could challenge all reserves of the national treasure - šljivovica."

"We Love Jurek More Than Burek!"

In the days that followed, a playful and heartfelt slogan appeared on signs and posters throughout the city: "Volimo Jureka više od bureka!" — "We Love Jurek More Than Burek!". Burek, a flaky pastry filled with meat or cheese, is a beloved staple food across the region. By declaring their love for the young skier over their favorite dish, the people of Sarajevo paid him the highest compliment imaginable. The chant became legendary, perfectly capturing the warmth and affection the city felt for the young man who had brought them so much pride. His unforgettable smile on the podium summed up the feeling of an entire nation: pure, unfeigned joy.