The decision, made by IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch in January 1992, enabled four athletes from the recently independent Balkan nation to participate under their own flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Albertville 1992 Winter Olympic Games the following month.

It came just seven months after Croatian independence was declared from Yugoslavia in June 1991.

Croatian athletes then won three medals at the Summer edition held in Barcelona later that year: a silver for the men's basketball team and singles and two bronze medals for one of the country's best known sportspeople in Goran Ivanišević.

The 2001 Wimbledon champion won tennis singles bronze before repeating the feat in the doubles alongside Goran Prpić.

The country was then granted full recognition on September 24, 1993.

"Zlatko Mateša and Josip Čop, President and secretary general of the HOO, congratulated today all the athletes and sports professionals [on] the Great Day of Croatian Sport," said a statement.

"This is the celebration held in memory of January 17, 1992 when the IOC brought the decision on temporary recognition of the HOO."

Croatian athletes have now won 44 gold medals across Summer and Winter Games.

This consists of 15 golds including four winter victories for Alpine skier Janica Kostelić.

Croatia won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals at Rio 2016.

Current IOC President Thomas Bach marked the third anniversary of his election in September by visiting the country to mark the 25th anniversary of the formation of the HOO.

He opted to make the trip to Zagreb rather than attend the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro which were ongoing at the same time.