Elzan Bibic
Elzan Bibic was born in Karajukica Bunari – the highest plateau in the Balkans known for its extremely cold temperatures – in 1999 and has gone on to become one of the best Serbian long-distance runners.
Bibic comes from a sporting family. His father, Murat, played football and his mother, Fatima, was a volleyball player, so it was no surprise that Elzan chose a career in sport and set out to conquer athletics tracks across the world.
The legendary Dane Korica's national 5000m record, which stood for 49 years, was broken by Bibic in September 2020 in Ostrava, where he ran 13:26.56 and was four and a half seconds quicker than the time set by Korica in Helsinki in 1976.
Bibic has a collection of six medals from major competitions, including gold medals from the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2015 and European Youth Championships in 2016 at 3000m. His biggest and most significant achievement so far is the 3000m bronze he claimed at the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul.
The 2024 season means one thing for all athletes: the fight to qualify for the Paris Olympics and the fight for a medal at the Games. The Serbian record-holder at 1500m, 3000m and 5000m is one of the nation’s sporting aces aiming for the 2024 Olympics.
First, he will compete at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24.
How have you prepared for the demanding competition calendar in 2024?
"I entered the 2024 season with great ambitions. I had a little problem with injuries in December and I did alternative training. With my coach Antonio Serrano, I was thinking that we should even skip the indoor season, given that it is the Olympic year. However, I started slowly getting into training. I felt better day by day and decided to compete at the Belgrade Indoor Meeting. Before that, my opening race was the Balkan Championship in Istanbul where I won the gold. At the meeting in Belgrade, I didn't show the best version of myself. That day I was ready to run much better, but everyone has a bad day.”
What are your ambitions and expectations in 2024?
"We are continuing. On Friday (23 February) I have a strong meeting in the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold in the 3000m. I haven't run many meetings this year and I'm currently waiting for the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow where I will run the 1500m.”
You have participated in European cross country races. What is your goal for the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade?
"For the first time I will run the World Cross Country Championships. I have a lot of experience with cross country. I won medals at U20 and U23 level at the European Cross Country Championships, but the World Cross Country Championships is a special story. In agreement with the head coach Zukovic, I would like to represent Serbia for the first time together with my colleagues from the national team in a relay race. It is increasingly attractive in cross-country, where 4x2km is run in a mixed team (two male and two female athletes).”
How much does the gold medal you won at the Balkan Championships mean to you and how does it set you up for everything that awaits you in 2024?
"My main focus for 2024 is the European Championships in Rome and the Olympic Games. I am already doing preparations in Belgrade with my physiotherapist Milos Japundzic. After that I will probably prepare in the mountains of Pester (Karajukica Bunari), while the final preparations will be at a higher altitude, which will depend on the training.”
How difficult is it to be a top athlete today?
"At the top level in sport, the most important thing is to have continuity. The coach has a big role with the training plan and ambitions of the athlete.”
Do you have a message for upcoming athletes who follow in your footsteps?
"Only proper and gradual progress with good recovery can bring an athlete to the highest level, and that requires patience and discipline. Anyone who decides to start training in athletics will do so consciously out of love for that sport, and the coach will influence the development of the athlete. It is certain that athletics can teach you a lot. First of all, to fight and to have courage and perseverance to achieve your goals. It is important that all these virtues are learned in time and adopted in the right way.”
