The sad news came Sunday: Petar Porobic passed away suddenly at the age of 67.

Porobic, the head coach of China's men's water polo team that earned silver at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last Saturday, passed away from a sudden illness during his journey back home to Montenegro on 8 October.

Porobic took charge of the Chinese men’s water polo team in 2022. Saturday’s final marked the first time in 13 years that the Chinese men’s team had played for water polo gold. 

"He is a true leader and coach whose leadership, passion, and love for water polo has made him pivotal to the development of water polo in China," wrote the Shanghai Water Polo Association in honour of Porobic. "He was our mentor and friend. His sudden death is a big loss."

Added Mei Xiaohan, captain of the Chinese women's water polo team, whom Porobic coached at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: “We fought for the top together in the Olympics two years ago and you invited me to your country to feel the beauty there. I really wanted to thank you for everything you had done for Chinese water polo.”

From Kotor then Beyond | Porobic’s Club Coaching Journey 

Before coaching in Asia, Porobic was already a legendary figure in water polo where he notably played a leading role in laying the groundwork for the success of modern Montenegrin water polo.

To know Porobic’s importance in water polo, it's necessary to know something about his hometown club and where he progressed through his coaching career.

Born in Kotor in 1957, Porobic was a member of his hometown club Primorac throughout a playing career that included representing then-Yugoslavia on the junior national team before his attention turned to coaching. 

Porobic started coaching just as he began his playing career: with Primorac. 

At the water polo club level, Porobic continued guiding top club teams, including Becej, Jadran Herceg Novi, Sturm, Galatasaray and Sintez Kazan.  

He led each club to a level of success, but perhaps none more than Jadran Herceg Novi. Under Porobic’s leadership, the then-Yugoslavian club won four consecutive national championships (2003-2006) and played for the Champions League title in 2004. 

A Leader of Men, A Leader of Nations

Coming into the coaching ranks in 1982, Porobic was soon enlisted by his national team, first working with the then-Yugoslav junior team. In 1991, he was elevated to coaching the nation’s female national team.  

In the decade that followed, Porobic was an integral part of the national team leadership that experienced success with Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, and then Montenegro.  

Porobic led Serbia and Montenegro to conquer the world in Montreal in 2005 as head coach at the World Aquatics Championships. Porobic-led teams followed this up by winning the World League that same year and capturing the Water Polo World Cup in 2006.

In 2008, a Porobic-coached Montenegro squad captured the European Men’s Water Polo Championship, defeating Serbia 6-5.  

Porobic's success as a head coach was proceeded by his experience at the Olympics, aiding Yugoslavia to the bronze as an assistant coach at the Sydney 2000 Games and then helping coach Serbia and Montenegro to silver at the Athens 2004 Olympics. 

“Porobic tied his playing career to Primorac, where he also entered the coaching waters. He also had other interests, but his love for water polo was and remains in first place,” wrote the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro in tribute.