Croatian Ironman record holder Željka Šaban Miličić breaks boundaries

Željka Šaban Miličić stands as a testament to endurance and resilience, holding the Croatian record for Ironman races with a time of 9:19:28. She has completed 12 Ironman events, shattered national records six times, and competed in world championships in Nice and Kona. Miličić was also the first Croatian woman to finish an Ironman in under ten hours.

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When I reached the finish line, I said: That's it, never again. This is not a sport for me. It was very difficult for me.

Her athletic journey began in the swimming pool at age ten. Showing early talent, she won medals in national championships and was part of a record-setting cadet relay team. However, a partial quadriceps tear, combined with her studies and changing life circumstances, led her away from competitive swimming.

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I told him: How will I do a triathlon? I don't have a bike, I don't have sneakers, I only have a swimsuit and swimming goggles.

It was her then-boyfriend, now husband, Marko Miličić, who encouraged her to try triathlons. Initially hesitant, lacking essential gear like a bicycle and running shoes, she borrowed equipment and entered her first race. While she once dreamed of the Olympics, she realized the explosive speed required for Olympic triathlons didn't align with her strengths. Instead, she found her niche in long-distance triathlons, where her exceptional endurance could shine.

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Every athlete dreams of going to the Olympics. I thought about it too, but I realized that for an Olympic triathlon, I would need to swim a few seconds faster. If you lose contact with the leading group, you can no longer catch up.

Miličić describes the Ironman as a grueling test: a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a full marathon of 42.195 kilometers. In long-distance events, the swim becomes less critical, but for her, exiting the water among the leaders provided a strategic advantage. She recounts one particularly challenging race in Venice, where severe stomach problems after 130 kilometers of cycling tested her limits. Despite not achieving her target time, that race became one of her most cherished, teaching her that success often lies in the sheer determination to get up after every fall.

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Ironman is 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling, and a marathon of 42.195 kilometers. In long-distance triathlon, swimming is no longer so crucial, but for me, it gave me an advantage. I would come out of the water among the first and then I could build my race.