Vlasic announces retirement

Happy retirement Blanka Vlasic 🇭🇷 and congratulations on an extraordinary career! 💐

Olympics
🥈 2008
🥉 2016

European Champs
🥇 2010

World Champs
🥇 2007
🥇 2009
🥈 2011
🥈 2015

World Indoors
🥇 2008
🥇 2010
🥈 2006
🥉 2004 pic.twitter.com/SYZbTArO7r

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) February 19, 2021

Blanka Vlasic, photo copyright by theplace2.ru

Blanka Vlasic, the iconic high jumper, has announced her retirement. In her many years competing, her love of competition, her absolute joy in competing, her joy in clearing heights made her hugely popular with the audiences. In 2014, at the Areva Meeting de Paris, Blanka gave the media a most revealing interview: https://www.runblogrun.com/2014/07/your-adidas-moment-7-july-2014-audio-blanka-vlasic-interview-pre-meeting-areva-with-larry-eder-runblogrun.html .

Blanka Vlasic is an important example on how iconic athletes combine sporting prowess and sports entertainment.

Vlasic announces retirement

One of the greatest high jump battles ever.

Happy retirement @blanka_vlasic 🥳 pic.twitter.com/D6tZQMBVAj

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) February 19, 2021

ZAGREB (CRO): One of the best high jumpers ever, Croatia´s Blanka Vlasic (37) confirmed her retirement. “Ever since Rio, I have been trying to overcome injury, a full four years of hope that I will stand in front of the bar and challenge myself once again. I have been breathing sports since I was born, the high jump is an integral part of me, and it will always be that way. So, I let the decision to end my career come naturally. Before I won bronze in Rio many people told me to give up as I have already done a lot in the sport. But if I had listened to them, I would not have won another Olympic medal, a medal that has a special meaning to me because I won it literally with one healthy leg,” said her statement among others. Vlasic also added: “Throughout this process, I had the unconditional support of my family, father and coach JoÅ¡ko, Bojan, and friends. They knew it was a struggle I had to go through on my own and come to a decision with a clear head,” and gave some insight into future: “I will always stay in the sport. With my experience and knowledge, I want to permanently and actively contribute to the further development of world athletics and sports in general.”