Croatia Sends 16 Athletes to European Championships in Birmingham
Key contenders include middle-distance runner Marino Bloudek, Olympic champion Sara Kolak, and rising star Jana Koščak.
Key contenders include middle-distance runner Marino Bloudek, Olympic champion Sara Kolak, and rising star Jana Koščak.
Croatia will be represented by a total of 16 athletes at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, scheduled for August 10-16, 2026. Head coach Damir Bošnjak has finalized the roster, which includes nine female and seven male athletes, as reported by HRT.
Croatia's biggest hope is middle-distance runner Marino Bloudek, who will compete in the 800 meters. The team also features two highly decorated athletes: Sara Kolak, the Olympic javelin champion from Rio de Janeiro a decade ago, and Jana Koščak, the 2024 world U20 heptathlon champion.
In the men's 200 meters, Karlo Marciuš will take to the track. The women's track events are covered by Veronika Drljačić in the 400 meters, Nina Vuković in the 800 meters, and Natalija Švenda in the 400-meter hurdles. Bruno Belčić will represent Croatia in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
In the men's long jump, Filip Pravdica and Marko Čeko will compete, while Magdalena Perić and Paola Borović will defend Croatia's colors in the women's triple jump. Ivan Geronimo Šerić will be the representative in the pole vault.
In addition to Kolak, Vita Barbić will also compete in the women's javelin. Croatia will also have representatives in the remaining two throwing disciplines: Marija Tolj in the women's discus and Matija Gregurić in the men's hammer throw.
The European Championships will be broadcast on HTV's second channel and the HRTi platform.
