The 18-year-old javelin thrower won the Croatian senior title last weekend and set a new national junior record, with 10 days between two major competitions now ahead of her.
The Croatian Athletics Federation released its team lists for two major competitions this week, and only one name appeared on both, Vita Barbić. The 18-year-old javelin thrower, who will celebrate her birthday on August 13, 2026, at the European Championships, heads to Eugene as the European U-18 and U-20 champion, and as a young woman who, last weekend, threw the senior javelin over 60 meters for the first time in her career.
At the Mladost Stadium in Zagreb, Vita recorded a throw of 60.71 meters, which also set a new national junior record. With this result, she defeated Sara Kolak, the Croatian record holder and Olympic champion, and claimed her first senior Croatian title. "It was certainly a good test ahead of the World U-20 Championships and the senior European Championships, but it's also a testament to the work and effort I've put in with my coach (Ante Pavković, ed.), and I've achieved a victory I'll remember," Barbić told Sportske novosti.
The young Zagreb native now faces the two most intense weeks of her career. First up is the World U-20 Championships in Eugene, USA, followed by the senior European Championships in Birmingham, which begin on August 10, 2026. "I didn't want to choose between the two competitions because both mean a lot to me. The World U-20 Championships because I'll be competing against my own age group, which is very important to me, and the European Championships because I definitely didn't want to miss the chance to gain experience at the senior level," she explained.
Vita flies to Eugene on Sunday, with qualifying on Friday and the final the following Sunday. Right after, she moves to Birmingham, where qualifying is also on Friday a week later. "This way, I'll also get an extra day to adjust to the time difference, and I don't see it as too much of a strain, you just need enough motivation for something like this, and I definitely have plenty," she added.
Vita arrives at the World Championships in Eugene as second on the provisional start list. Only Egypt's Aseel Osama Abdel Hamid has thrown farther this year (60.97 meters), while world junior record holder Ziyi Yan from China (71.74 meters) will not defend her title. "Our generation is one of the strongest in women's javelin, and I'm definitely sorry the Chinese athlete withdrew because strong competition is what pushes all of us forward," Barbić commented.
Although she is among the medal favorites, Vita doesn't want to create pressure with expectations. "First of all, I have to say that I don't have expectations before a competition; I don't set goals in terms of results or placements. What I always want is to show myself in the best light, and then whatever that brings," she emphasized.
Vita first came to wider public attention two years ago when she won gold at the European U-18 Championships in Banská Bystrica and finished fourth at the World U-20 Championships in Lima. That competition in Peru left a bitter taste. "I had the feeling that the competition slipped through my fingers; I couldn't change certain things or adapt, which was a huge lesson for later. After all, you learn the least from competitions that go perfectly; the ones where you're disappointed are a much bigger school," she said.
As for the senior European Championships in Birmingham, her goal is clear. "First of all, I want to see the difference between junior and senior athletics, how big it is and whether it even exists. I'm aware that it can't be an easy transition because I'm coming into a group where I'll be fighting for a place in the final, whereas in younger age groups I was always fighting for a medal," Barbić explained to Sportske novosti.
This season is also special because Vita graduated from high school this year, which affected her preparations. "I had to devote more time to school, and because of that, we didn't have the chance to go on training camps outside Zagreb. So I did most of my training at home, some at the stadium, but since we couldn't go to warmer places, we improvised in the gym. I threw into a net," she revealed.
This year, for the first time, she spent a bit longer away from Zagreb at a training camp in Medulin, the throwing base for Croatian athletes. "The coach planned and organized everything well, enough for me to be ready for the summer," she added. Her coach, Ante Pavković, as she says, always repeats the same mantra: "When it's hard, you have to believe in our process, technique, and the principles of our work."
Last weekend, Vita beat Sara Kolak for the first time, and about their relationship, she says: "Sara has always spoken nicely about me in public, supported me at competitions, and given me small pieces of advice, but we both have coaches who know their job well, so there isn't much room for extra conversations. However, our relationship is full of mutual respect."
Let's recall that in 2009, a Croatian teenager became the European junior champion and, a few days later, reached the final of the World Championships in Berlin. That was Sandra Perković, now Elkasević, the most decorated Croatian female athlete of all time. So, it is possible to make a smooth transition from juniors to seniors, and Vita believes in her process: "I always try not to look at any other girl, and I'll continue that way."
Finally, when asked how she copes with demanding summers while her peers relax by the sea, Vita concluded: "It doesn't bother me in the least because this is a pleasure for me; I love athletics, I go to every training session out of love, and it all brings me a lot of satisfaction. I don't find it hard to sacrifice for a higher goal. In fact, I don't even consider it a sacrifice."
