Love for Running: Thirteen-Year-Old Zinedin Vrabac Arrives from Germany for the National Athletics Championship in Tuzla

When in July 2023, as a 12-year-old, Zinedin Vrabac ran his first 5 km race in 23 minutes in Goražde, and a few days later in Kakanj where he had an even better time, and then in Banovići, it was clear that the success he achieved was not accidental.

In Banovići, he also won the children's 400-meter race.

Zinedin Vrabac won the 400-meter race in Banovići in 2023

Upon returning to Germany where he lives, he joined an athletics club and regularly runs races, achieving the best result or being among the best. Ahead of his arrival in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on March 23, Zinedin placed third at the Hessen state championship (Hessische Meisterschaften). He ran the five-kilometer race in 19 minutes and 10 seconds, competing in the under-13 category.

Although he only turned 13 in January, he already has serious kilometers under his belt, and on April 27, he will compete in the National Athletics Championship for juniors in Tuzla over 1000 meters. Just for the competition, he will come again from Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He used his two-week stay in Sarajevo for the best possible preparations. He is also a member of the Sarajevo Athletics Club Novi Grad - Atleta, whose president is Elmir Ćerimagić, who is also his coach.

Preparations for the National Championship are under the watchful eye of running legend Sead Kondo, who still holds the record for a marathon (42 km) run in 2:15:54, way back in 1975 in Germany. Kondo specializes in long distances.

Kondo prepares Vrabac for the championship (Photo: Patria)

According to his assessment, Zinedin has all the predispositions for a top runner.

"Zinedin needs to be dedicated to now. Thank God he has parents who can support that. God gave him the foundation. He has good years now, but we need to be careful. He is a junior now, then he will be a senior, and we need to build a good foundation for later," explains Kondo, who is active at 72 years old.

Although he heard about Zinedin's successful 5000-meter races, he believes it is better for him at this age to focus on 800, 1000, and 1500-meter races.

"What I saw on the track during this period I liked. He deserves attention, but we should not force it. We need to find the measure, and I often say that sometimes rest is more important than training. The most dangerous thing is when a runner burns out," says Kondo.

This boy has undergone a great transformation in just a few months, even though he was involved in various sports before. He is happy to have the opportunity to learn from coaches Kondo and Ćerimagić.
"I want to prepare as well as possible for the National Championship and I carefully listen to the coaches and their advice. I will continue training in Germany, and then I come to Tuzla," says this charismatic boy.

Coach Ćerimagić tells Patria that he is pleased that Zinedin chose their club for preparations.

"With us, he works on flexibility, speed, strength, coordination, which is necessary to do at this period with these children. We want to prepare as well as possible for the National Championship and hope that Zinedin will achieve his maximum and, without pressure, achieve a good result," said Ćerimagić.

Coach Elmir Ćerimagić with Zinedin (Photo: Patria)

Ćerimagić extended an invitation to parents and all interested to join the club.

"Children today are occupied with screens, and it is very difficult to engage and retain children, especially for running disciplines. When we find such a child, we must motivate them," says Ćerimagić.

Vrabac also met Alma Hrnjić, the best Bosnian athlete coached by Kondo (Photo: Patria)