President Milanović Welcomes World Junior Athletics Champions Jana Koščak and Roko Farkaš

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today received the world junior athletics champions Jana Koščak and Roko Farkaš from Varaždin, who won gold medals at the recently held World Junior Athletics Championships in Lima.

Jana Koščak won the gold medal in the heptathlon, a great achievement since Croatia has not seen such a result at the World Junior Athletics Championships for 10 years. Roko Farkaš won the long jump with a leap of 8.17 meters, breaking a 38-year-old national record. Both Jana Koščak and Roko Farkaš are members of the “Sloboda” Athletics Club from Varaždin.

Also present at the meeting in the Office of the President were Club President Stjepan Smernjak, the club coach and Jana’s father Patrik Koščak, Esad Garibović from the Union of Sports Associations of the town of Varaždin, and the Mayor of Varaždin Neven Bosilj. Representatives of the “Sloboda” Athletics Club highlighted the remarkable success of the young Varaždin athletes, noting that out of the twelve Croats who competed at the World Championships in Lima, five were from Varaždin.

Patrik Koščak, the coach of the “Sloboda” Athletics Club, stated that Croatia can be proud of its athletics achievements, as it ranks second in Europe for success and results. Globally, Croatia is behind only eight countries, including the USA, Jamaica, and Kenya – traditional athletic powerhouses. The meeting also addressed the training conditions for young athletes in Varaždin. The Mayor of Varaždin announced plans to replace the stadium’s athletic track, which is in very poor condition, to better support their training needs.

Congratulating Jana and Roko on their gold medals in athletics, President Milanović remarked that their achievement is a significant success for both Varaždin and Croatia. He also expressed hope that we will see them competing in the Olympic Games in the future.

Tomislav Paškvalin, Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports, accompanied President Milanović at the meeting.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas