Belistojanoski Wins Macedonia's First Gold at Mediterranean Games
The karateka defeated Croatia's Boran Berak 6:0 in the -67kg final, Macedonia's sixth medal overall as the Games near their close.
Karateka Matej Belistojanoski brought Macedonia its first gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, defeating Croatia's Boran Berak 6:0 in the -67kg final.
The path to gold for the 21-year-old European champion was without a hitch — he opened with a 6:1 win over Syria's Mustafa Almasalmeh, followed by a 2:0 quarterfinal win over Italy's Luca Maresca, a 5:1 semifinal win over Greece's Giorgos Baliotis, and left even less room for his opponent in the final.
A Sixth Medal, the First Gold
Belistojanoski's gold is the sixth medal for the Macedonian delegation at these Games, alongside the two silver and three bronze medals won earlier in wrestling and boxing. With this success, Macedonia's overall tally across four Mediterranean Games appearances climbed to 19 medals.
The Mediterranean Games officially close on Thursday, September 3, and MKNews Hub has followed the Macedonian delegation's campaign every day since it began on August 21.
MKNews Hub · Sport · September 2, 2026