Slovenian Athlete Vid Botolin Breaks 5000m National Record

Celje athlete Vid Botolin has shattered one of Slovenia's oldest athletics records, setting a new national best in the 5000-meter race. Competing at a meet in Oordegem, Belgium, Botolin clocked an impressive 13:27.96 minutes, eclipsing the previous record of 13:32.8 set by Peter Švete on June 12, 1974, in Berlin.

The 23-year-old Botolin, representing Kladivar, secured 29th place in the race, which was won by American Abdihamid Nur with a personal best of 12:57.32. Botolin had come close to Švete's record several times before, and finally achieving this milestone was a significant personal goal.

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Finally, I managed it. I ran very smartly, and the last kilometer was very fast, and I finished it very well. I am very satisfied; the record has been my goal for quite some time.

Botolin described his race strategy, noting he ran the initial three kilometers slightly slower than in his previous race but felt strong. He focused on his technique, aiming to minimize attention to the clock until the final kilometers. He stated, "The last kilometer was very fast, and I finished it very well. I am very satisfied; the record has been my goal for quite some time." He plans to return to training and compete again in a few weeks.

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The initial three kilometers I ran a bit slower than in the previous race when I ran 13:35 minutes. But I felt strong, I was also in the middle of the group. The conditions were fantastic. I focused on running technique and tried to look at the time as little as possible. Towards the end, I looked at the clock and saw that I could run a record. The last 600 meters, especially the 400 meters, were very fast, and there I made the necessary difference to improve the record. Many of us also stayed in a large group, and in such a case, it is easier to run fast.