Srdjan Samardzic, one of our most successful athletes: I have not received any fening for my successes from the state

Srđan Samardžić, bh. the champion in the race of 10 kilometers, in the half marathon and marathon, says that despite the top results in BiH can not live from sports.

Srdjan Samardzic, one of our most successful athletes, says he has begun to work athletics at the age of 16, and it's quite by chance. Like many boys, he trained football in Brcko, and on one occasion he went with a friend to run on the athletic track, where he was noticed by the athletic coach, and everything started. Now a half-marathon is noticed, and the 21-kilometer race Srdjan ran for 1: 07: 55min, which is his personal record.

Samardzic was born in Sarajevo in 1989, lives in Brcko, and currently trains at Banja Luka Athletic Club "Banja Luka" in Banja Luka. Absolvent is at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport.

Srdjan says that, when it comes to athletics, he likes all disciplines, and his favorite discipline is his marathon, because it is a great challenge and the most difficult discipline, for which much deviation and experience is required. According to the results he has achieved, half-marathon seems to be happening to him, where he has remarkable regional results.

"When the results and competitions are in question, of course, the most important to me are personal records, of which the best in half-marathon 1: 07: 55min was achieved last year at the Shuic Polumaraton, which is also the track record. Last year I performed in 34 competitions, where in almost all competitions I was among the first three places.

I'm a national champion for 10 kilometers, in a half marathon and a marathon. Last year I won the second place at the Belgrade Semi-marathon, the third at the Split and Sarajevo Semi-marathon, the fourth in the Balkans in the half-marathon where I lost my medal in 6 seconds, I am the first in Hvar and many other races, "Samardzic.

He says that BiH can not live out of sport, even though it has achieved top results.

"In this country, athletes do not value, so I finance myself, like most athletes I know. The luck is that most of these races I run have a prize pool for the first place, so I can manage to make as much progress as possible in those funds. I still have not received any fening for my success from the state, "said this athlete.

Samardzic points out that in BH. There are a lot of problems for the sport, and they are the biggest financial ones.

"Without investing in an athlete there are no top results, it is necessary to leave at least two times during the year for preparations, for summer and winter preparations, it is necessary to go to competitions, there is vitaminization without which it can not be superbly trained, and equipment is not a bit cheap "Says Srdjan.

Srdjan says that his biggest support is the Athletic Club of Banja Luka, which helps him very much, within his possibilities.

"As far as the sponsor is concerned, it is difficult to find someone in that segment to support an athlete. Some sponsors can be found, but this is all one-time help, which is generally modest, and I am not the type of person who will go to pray for help. When it comes to sponsorship, I must say that the people who support me in this way advertise, so I do not get that money in nice eyes, "says Srdjan S.

Samardzic is usually preparing for a major race in the spring and autumn, and the rest of his races come as a stronger training.

"I should skip certain races, but because of the financial situation, I am forced to run quite a lot of races, which of course affects the ultimate goal," explains Samardzic.

His dream is to go to the Olympic Games, and there are world and European championships, which he will try to fulfill the norm in the coming years.

"The plans for this year are to drop the personal record of the half-marathon to 1: 06min and improve the time on the marathon. And the main two races for which I am preparing are the Balkan Championship in Pristina in the half-marathon, which will be held in the spring, and in autumn I prepare for the Balkan championship in the marathon in Zagreb, where I will try to take the Balkan medal, "Srdjan plans.

In Banja Luka in the past few years running has become more and more popular, and the organization of the race in many cities is one of the reasons why many people decide to run.

"There is also an unhealthy way of life that most people live, so they want to correct it through running. Running is a sport that everyone can deal with and advance in it, and with that they have a goal, which is to run the race. I hope that running will further develop and that we will reach at least an approximate level as in some European countries, "Srdjan said.

For the end of the conversation, Srdjan advises amateur racers to continue to run for running, because this is a positive thing, and the result is not important. It's important to run, and if it runs and the results will improve over time.

• 9 Feb, 2018
• 1178 views