# Elzan Bibić

Elzan Bibić (Serbian Cyrillic: Елзан Бибић; born 8 January 1999) is a Serbian middle- and long-distance runner. He won the bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 2019 European Under-23 Championships.
Bibić was the 3000 metres 2016 European youth champion and won a bronze for the men's junior race at the 2018 European Cross Country Championships. He earned several Serbian national titles both out and indoors (1500 m and 3000 m).
Bibić won the bronze medal in the event at the 2023 European Indoor Championships.

## Running career

Bibić initially played soccer before training as a distance runner. He won the boys' 3000-meter race at the 2015 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival with a time of 8:50.10.
   "I discovered [Elzan] by chance, like dear God sent him. I know everyone else is surprised at his latest results, but I'm not in the slightest. I didn't doubt he was going to win in Tbilisi in the 3000 meters, maybe he could have won in the 1500." -Bibić's coach, Rifat Zilkić in August 2015.
On July 7, 2017, he won a 3000-meter race at a track meet in Zenica, after which he felt knee pain. Shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with damaged ligaments in his knee, his first serious injury.
On September 4, 2018, Bibić ran his then personal best of 3:37.79 (and still reigning Serbian U20 national record) in the men's 1500 meters at the Hanžeković Memorial meet in Zagreb, finishing in last place among a deep international field led by first place finisher Elijah Manangoi.
In the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade he finished 6th in the Heat 2 of 3000 meter race with the time of 7:52.78 and did not progress to the finals.

## Personal life

Bibić was born in Karajukića Bunari, known as the "Siberia" of Serbia due to extremely cold temperatures which are frequently recorded there. Karajukića Bunari is above 1,000 meters in altitude, as it is located on a plateau called Pešter. Bibić went to a medical trade school in his hometown, Novi Pazar. His parents were athletes growing up. His father Murat played soccer and his mother Fatima played volleyball.

## International competitions

Representing  Serbia :
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result |
| 2015 | European Youth Olympic Festival | Tbilisi, Georgia | 2nd | 1500 m | 4:01.62 |
| 2015 | European Youth Olympic Festival | Tbilisi, Georgia | 1st | 3000 m | 8:50.10 |
| 2016 | Balkan Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 1st | 3000 m | 8:16.72 |
| 2016 | European Youth Championships | Tbilisi, Georgia | 8th | 800 m | 1:56.12 |
| 2016 | European Youth Championships | Tbilisi, Georgia | 1st | 3000 m | 8:09.06 |
| 2016 | World U20 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 11th | 1500 m | 3:51.58 |
| 2016 | World U20 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 8th | 5000 m | 13:51.40 |
| 2017 | Balkan Indoor Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 1st | 3000 m | 8:06.98 |
| 2018 | Balkan Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 1st | 3000 m | 8:08.34 |
| 2018 | Mediterranean Games | Tarragona, Spain | – | 1500 m | DNF |
| 2018 | Mediterranean Games | Tarragona, Spain | 13th | 5000 m | 14:32.05 |
| 2018 | World U20 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 6th | 1500 m | 3:44.65 |
| 2018 | World U20 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 8th | 5000 m | 14:15.37 |
| 2018 | Balkan Championships | Stara Zagora, Bulgaria | 1st | 1500 m | 3:43.36 |
| 2018 | Balkan Championships | Stara Zagora, Bulgaria | 1st | 3000 m | 8:15.06 |
| 2018 | European Cross Country Championships | Tilburg, Netherlands | 3rd | U20 race | 18:11 |
| 2019 | Balkan Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 1st | 1500 m | 3:43.13 |
| 2019 | European Indoor Championships | Glasgow, United Kingdom | 13th (h) | 1500 m | 3:47.94 |
| 2019 | European U23 Championships | Gävle, Sweden | 3rd | 1500 m | 3:50.90 |
| 2019 | European U23 Championships | Gävle, Sweden | 8th | 5000 m | 14:26.40 |
| 2020 | Balkan Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 1st | 1500 m | 3:50.18 |
| 2021 | Balkan Championships | Smederevo, Serbia | 1st | 1500 m | 3:52.23 |
| 2021 | European U23 Championships | Tallinn, Estonia | 4th | 1500 m | 3:40.91 |
| 2022 | World Indoor Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 13th (h) | 3000 m | 7:52.78 |
| 2022 | Mediterranean Games | Oran, Algeria | 10th | 1500 m | 3:45.42 |
| 2022 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | 18th | 5000 m | 13:39.60 |
| 2023 | European Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 3rd | 3000 m | 7:44.03 |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 31st (h) | 1500 m | 3:37.45 |
| 2024 | World Indoor Championships | Glasgow, United Kingdom | 8th (h) | 1500 m | 3:39.98 |
| 2024 | European Championships | Rome, Italy | 6th | 5000 m | 13:24.54 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 32nd (h) | 5000 m | 14:14.46 |
| 2025 | European Indoor Championships | Apeldoorn, Netherlands | 23rd (h) | 3000 m | 8:01.67 |

## Personal bests

* 800 metres – 1:50.31 (Ćuprija 2021)
* 1500 metres – 3:35.07 (Zagreb 2020)
** 1500 metres indoor – 3:37.84 (Belgrade 2022) NR
** One mile indoor – 3:55.90 (Ostrava 2023) NR
* 3000 metres – 7:39.45 (Rovereto 2021) NR
** 3000 metres indoor – 7:39.96 (Toruń 2022) NR
* 5000 metres – 13:24.42 (Huelva 2022) NR