Olivera Ćirković


Olivera "Olja" Ćirković, née Olivera Vasić, is a Serbian writer and painter, former convicted criminal and former professional basketball player and administrator. She was a member of international jewel thief network Pink Panthers.

Basketball career

Playing career

Ćirković spent her career with Voždovac, Crvena zvezda, Jedinstvo Tuzla, Pagrati Athens and Celje.

National team career

Ćirković was a member of the Yugoslavia women's national under-18 basketball team that won the bronze medal at the 1988 European Championship for Junior Woman together with Nina Bjedov, Danira Nakić, Eleonora Wild, Danijela Ilić and others. Over two tournament games, she averaged 1.5 points per game.

Post-playing career

After retirement from playing career, Ćirković worked as a sports director for Crvena zvezda.

Criminal career

Ćirković is the most known female member of the international jewel thief network Pink Panthers. She only operated in Greece where she was arrested and convicted twice for her involvement in a series of jewellery store robberies. The first arrest was in 2006.
She was arrested for a second time in March 2012. On 12 July 2012, she managed to successfully escape from her Athens' prison. To escape on foot to her native Serbia. Gathered her team, on 26 November 2012, she made second robbery again in Athens. On 29 November 2012, she was arrested and convicted on 30 years of jail in Corydallos prison later reduced on 12 years because of being a good prisoner.

Personal life

Ćirković has one son who also plays basketball.

Works

*