Serbian runner (born 1999)
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
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
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
Representing Serbia
Year |
Competition |
Venue |
Position |
Event |
Result
|
2015
|
European Youth Olympic Festival
|
Tbilisi, Georgia
|
2nd
|
1500 m
|
4:01.62
|
1st
|
3000 m
|
8:50.10
|
2016
|
Balkan Indoor Championships
|
Istanbul, Turkey
|
1st
|
3000 m
|
8:16.72
|
European Youth Championships
|
Tbilisi, Georgia
|
8th
|
800 m
|
1:56.12
|
1st
|
3000 m
|
8:09.06
|
World U20 Championships
|
Bydgoszcz, Poland
|
11th
|
1500 m
|
3:51.58
|
8th
|
5000 m
|
13:51.40
|
2017
|
Balkan Indoor Championships
|
Belgrade, Serbia
|
1st
|
3000 m
|
8:06.98
|
2018
|
Balkan Indoor Championships
|
Istanbul, Turkey
|
1st
|
3000 m
|
8:08.34
|
Mediterranean Games
|
Tarragona, Spain
|
–
|
1500 m
|
DNF
|
13th
|
5000 m
|
14:32.05
|
World U20 Championships
|
Tampere, Finland
|
6th
|
1500 m
|
3:44.65
|
8th
|
5000 m
|
14:15.37
|
Balkan Championships
|
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
|
1st
|
1500 m
|
3:43.36
|
1st
|
3000 m
|
8:15.06
|
European Cross Country Championships
|
Tilburg, Netherlands
|
3rd
|
U20 race
|
18:11
|
2019
|
Balkan Indoor Championships
|
Istanbul, Turkey
|
1st
|
1500 m
|
3:43.13
|
European Indoor Championships
|
Glasgow, United Kingdom
|
13th (h)
|
1500 m
|
3:47.94
|
European U23 Championships
|
Gävle, Sweden
|
3rd
|
1500 m
|
3:50.90
|
8th
|
5000 m
|
14:26.40
|
2020
|
Balkan Indoor Championships
|
Istanbul, Turkey
|
1st
|
1500 m
|
3:50.18
|
2021
|
Balkan Championships
|
Smederevo, Serbia
|
1st
|
1500 m
|
3:52.23
|
European U23 Championships
|
Tallinn, Estonia
|
4th
|
1500 m
|
3:40.91
|
2022
|
World Indoor Championships
|
Belgrade, Serbia
|
13th (h)
|
3000 m
|
7:52.78
|
Mediterranean Games
|
Oran, Algeria
|
10th
|
1500 m
|
3:45.42
|
European Championships
|
Munich, Germany
|
18th
|
5000 m
|
13:39.60
|
2023
|
European Indoor Championships
|
Istanbul, Turkey
|
3rd
|
3000 m
|
7:44.03
|
World Championships
|
Budapest, Hungary
|
31st (h)
|
1500 m
|
3:37.45
|
2024
|
World Indoor Championships
|
Glasgow, United Kingdom
|
8th (h)
|
1500 m
|
3:39.98
|
European Championships
|
Rome, Italy
|
6th
|
5000 m
|
13:24.54
|
Olympic Games
|
Paris, France
|
32nd (h)
|
5000 m
|
14:14.46
|
Personal bests
References