Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic began her US visit in Cleveland on Friday by meeting Croatian doctor Tomislav Mihaljevic, CEO of one of the best hospitals in the US, the Cleveland Clinic, and Stipe Miocic, the Croatian American mixed martial art fighter.

After meeting Miocic, the president told reporters she was trying to promote sport because it was “important for a nation’s health.”

Cleveland has one of the largest Croatian American communities and Grabar-Kitarovic was a guest at a conference organised by the Association of Croatian American Professionals.

On Saturday, she is visiting Pittsburgh, where she will address the Croatian Fraternal Union on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Next week, Grabar-Kitarovic will attend the 74th UN General Assembly.