Elzan Bibić
_13_(cropped).jpg) Bibić at the ISTAF Berlin in 2019 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Born | 8 January 1999 Karajukića Bunari, Sjenica, FR Yugoslavia |
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[1] |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | Serbia |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Event | 1500 m – 5000 m |
| Coached by | Rifat Zilkić |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | 1500 m: 3:35.07[2] 5000 m: 13:24.42[2] |
Medal record | |
Elzan Bibić (Serbian Cyrillic: Елзан Бибић; born 8 January 1999) is a Serbian middle- and long-distance runner. He won the bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 2019 European Under-23 Championships.
Bibić was the 3000 metres 2016 European youth champion and won a bronze for the men's junior race at the 2018 European Cross Country Championships. He earned several Serbian national titles both out and indoors (1500 m and 3000 m).
Bibić won the bronze medal in the event at the 2023 European Indoor Championships.
Running career[edit]
Bibić initially played soccer before training as a distance runner.[3] He won the boys' 3000-meter race at the 2015 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival with a time of 8:50.10.[3]
"I discovered [Elzan] by chance, like dear God sent him. I know everyone else is surprised at his latest results, but I'm not in the slightest. I didn't doubt he was going to win in Tbilisi in the 3000 meters, maybe he could have won in the 1500." -Bibić's coach, Rifat Zilkić in August 2015.[3]
On July 7, 2017, he won a 3000-meter race at a track meet in Zenica, after which he felt knee pain. Shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with damaged ligaments in his knee, his first serious injury.[4]
On September 4, 2018, Bibić ran his then personal best of 3:37.79 (and still reigning Serbian U20 national record[5]) in the men's 1500 meters at the Hanžeković Memorial meet in Zagreb, finishing in last place among a deep international field led by first place finisher Elijah Manangoi.[6]
In the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade he finished 6th in the Heat 2 of 3000 meter race with the time of 7:52.78 and did not progress to the finals.[7]
Personal life[edit]
Bibić was born in Karajukića Bunari, known as the "Siberia" of Serbia due to extremely cold temperatures which are frequently recorded there.[4] Karajukića Bunari is above 1,000 meters in altitude, as it is located on a plateau called Pešter. Bibić went to a medical trade school in his hometown, Novi Pazar.[3] His parents were athletes growing up. His father Murat played soccer and his mother Fatima played volleyball.[3]
International competitions[edit]
Personal bests[edit]
- 800 metres – 1:50.31 (Ćuprija 2021)
- 1500 metres – 3:35.07 (Zagreb 2020)
- 3000 metres – 7:39.45 (Rovereto 2021) NR
- 5000 metres – 13:24.42 (Huelva 2022) NR
References[edit]
- ^ "EAA profile". European Athletics. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Elzan BIBIĆ - Athlete Profile". IAAF. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Prvoslav Lešević (August 13, 2015). "Nikada neću zaboraviti Tbilisi". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ a b Prvoslav Lešević (October 1, 2017). "Vraća se nikad jači El' Bibo". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ "Serbian athletics federation, national records of Serbia" (PDF).
- ^ [1] 68. Memorijal Borisa Hanžekovića - 1500 m Men - Results. September 4, 2018. Accessed January 18, 2019.
- ^ "World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Serbian male middle-distance runners
- Serbian male long-distance runners
- Bosniaks of Serbia
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Mediterranean Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Mediterranean Games
- Mediterranean Games competitors for Serbia
- 21st-century Serbian people
- People from Sjenica
- Sportspeople from Zlatibor District
- European Games competitors for Serbia
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2023 European Games