Sara Kolak

Sara Kolak is a Croatian javelin thrower and national record-holder from Ludbreg. At just 22 years of age, she had already established herself among the world’s elite athletes.

She won her first bronze medal at the European Junior Championships in 2013, followed by another bronze at the World Junior Championships in 2014. Two years later, she transitioned to senior-level competition.

In a remarkable achievement, Sara became an Olympic gold medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro – her first Olympic appearance – following recovery from a serious back injury and surgery. Her victory was widely celebrated, and then-President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Sebastian Coe, described her as one of the greatest success stories of those Olympic Games.

Continuing her impressive trajectory, Sara improved her personal best at the 2017 Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, further solidifying her status among the world’s leading javelin throwers.

Her achievements demonstrate that commitment, self-belief, and perseverance can transform adversity into extraordinary success.

Sara Kolak hrvatska je bacačica koplja i nacionalna rekorderka iz Ludbrega. Već s 22 godine svrstala se među svjetsku atletsku elitu.

Prvu brončanu medalju osvojila je na Europskom juniorskom prvenstvu 2013. godine, a drugu na Svjetskom juniorskom prvenstvu 2014. godine. Dvije godine kasnije započela je natjecanja u seniorskoj konkurenciji.

Na Ljetnim olimpijskim igrama 2016. godine u Rio de Janeiru osvojila je zlatnu medalju, i to na svojim prvim Olimpijskim igrama, nakon oporavka od teške ozljede leđa i operativnog zahvata. Tadašnji predsjednik Međunarodne atletske federacije (IAAF) Sebastian Coe istaknuo ju je kao jednu od najvećih priča uspjeha tih Olimpijskih igara.

Sara je nastavila nizati uspjehe te je na mitingu Dijamantne lige 2017. godine u Lausannei dodatno poboljšala svoj osobni rekord, potvrdivši svoj status među najboljim svjetskim bacačicama koplja.

Njezina postignuća snažno svjedoče da predanost, vjera u sebe i ustrajnost mogu nadvladati prepreke i dovesti do izvanrednih uspjeha.

Sara Kolak es lanzadora de jabalina y poseedora del récord nacional de Croacia, originaria de Ludbreg. A los 22 años ya se había consolidado entre la élite mundial del atletismo.

Obtuvo su primera medalla de bronce en el Campeonato Europeo Junior en 2013, seguida de otra medalla de bronce en el Campeonato Mundial Junior en 2014. Dos años después comenzó a competir en la categoría senior.

En un logro extraordinario, se convirtió en medallista de oro olímpica en los Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 2016 en Río de Janeiro, en su primera participación olímpica, tras recuperarse de una grave lesión de espalda y cirugía. El entonces presidente de la Federación Internacional de Atletismo (IAAF), Sebastian Coe, la describió como una de las grandes historias de éxito de aquellos Juegos Olímpicos.

Continuando con su trayectoria ascendente, mejoró su marca personal en la reunión de la Diamond League de 2017 en Lausana, Suiza, consolidando su posición entre las mejores lanzadoras de jabalina del mundo.

Sus logros demuestran que la dedicación, la confianza en uno mismo y la perseverancia pueden convertir la adversidad en éxito extraordinario.