Blanka Vlašić for VL: 'I told myself – never again, and then I quickly changed my mind!'

Legendary Croatian athlete Blanka Vlašić, once a dominant force in high jump, has made a surprising return to competitive sports, this time trading the high jump mat for the running track. Vlašić recently competed in a 10-kilometer race in Tomislavgrad, an event she admitted she never thought she would participate in.

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I was quite calm, I surprised myself.

Despite the physical demands of elite athletics, Vlašić found the race itself less daunting than the prospect of competing again. "Honestly, I didn't think I would ever compete again. I think that's the most interesting part of the whole story," she stated. While she enjoys running training, the idea of preparing for an actual race was the ultimate thrill.

Minutes before the start, Vlašić reported feeling unusually calm. "I was quite calm, I surprised myself," she said. Although excitement had been present earlier in the day, the race start brought focus, allowing her to concentrate on maintaining her own pace without being influenced by other runners. She described the atmosphere at the start line, with its countdown and cheering, as "super."

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Honestly, I didn't think I would ever compete again. I think that's the most interesting part of the whole story.

While she experienced some nerves, it wasn't the "world championship" level of anxiety, but rather the gentle trepidation of trying something new. During the race, she didn't dwell on her past achievements in high jump stadiums but relied heavily on the mental fortitude honed during her elite career. This strength proved crucial when the heat became intense, pushing her to the brink of wanting to stop.

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The adrenaline at the Duvanjska desetka wasn't similar to what I felt on the jumping platform. And certainly, I hope this won't be my last performance.

Vlašić views her start number as symbolic, representing her connection to something larger than herself – a competition and a community. She cherished this feeling again, albeit in a different context and without the pressure of results that defined her previous career. The adrenaline of the 10k race differed from the high jump, but she expressed a strong desire for this not to be her final competition, with a half-marathon in Split already planned for August 8.

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Never. I was exclusively an explosive type of athlete and never ran longer than distances of 150 meters. Running is a complete change of direction for me, something I was never good at, and that's precisely why it's such an interesting challenge for me today.