Road to Beijing: Sandra Perkovic

Sandra Perković (born 21 June 1990) is a Croatian discus thrower, reigning European, World and Olympic champion. Perković’s successful junior career culminated in winning gold at the 2009 European Junior Championships with a new national record. A month later, she made the final of the World Championships as the youngest discus thrower in the field.

In her first year of senior competition she won gold at the 2010 European Championships, becoming the youngest ever European champion in women’s discus throw. A six-month doping suspension after testing positive for a banned psychostimulant kept her out of competition for most of the 2011 season, including the World Championships, but she returned in strong form in 2012 and successfully defended her title in the European Championships. In

Perković is coached by Edis Elkasević. Her personal best and national record is 71.08m (233′ 2″), set in August 2014.

Her achievements:

Discus Olympic Champion 2012
Discus World Champion 2013
3 European Golds
2010: DT 2012: DT 2014: DT
Discus World Championships finalist 2009
Discus World Youth Championships Silver Medallist 2007
Discus World Junior Championships Bronze Medallist 2008
Discus European Junior Champion 2009
Discus European Junior Championships Silver Medallist 2007

2006 50.11m (164′ 5″)
2007 55.42m (181′ 10″)
2008 55.89m (183′ 4″)
2009 62.79m (206′ 0″) NJR
2010 66.93m (219′ 7″) NR NUR
2011 67.96m (222′ 12″) NR NUR
2012 69.11m (226′ 9″) NR NUR
2013 68.96m (226′ 3″)
2014 71.08m (233′ 2″) NR
2015 70.08m (229′ 11″)

How has your training been going recently?

Everything is going according to plan, I am very satisfied with everything we’ve done.

What is the focus of your training schedule?

Focus of my training schedule is of course World Championship in Beijing, where I will be defending my world title. Currently we are in final phase of preparation and I am very excited about the competition.

Is there anything new you are implementing into your training?

As long as we are the “winning team ” we are not going to make any changes.

What technical issues are you working on?

I cannot identify any major problem, we are quite happy with my form and we are just trying to stay consistent.

Where are you currently training?

In my hometown-Zagreb.

Will you be attending any training camps at another site? If so, where and when?

I won’t, I will be staying in Zagreb until it is time to leave to Beijing.

Who is your current coach?

Edis Elkasevic.

Are you training with your coach on site or long distance?

He is with me in every phase of my practice. We are a great combination, Edis makes me feel safe and and I can count on him in every aspect of life in general.

Are you currently working a job? If so, what and how many hours a week?

Yes, I am working in a city council. Eight hours per week.

What competitions do you have planned?

I will not compete until Beijing, but after that I have IAAF Grand Prix in Zagreb and finals of the Diamond League in Brussels.

When will you travel to Asia? When will you travel to Beijing? 

Few days before competition.