Jana Koscak is preparing for new golds and a world record

Endurance is a key characteristic of any top-level multi-event and, despite still only 18, finalist for the Women’s Rising Star in Athletics Jana Koscak has already demonstrated that it’s a trait she possesses in abundance. A devastating mid-race injury and a hospital stay after the event following a collapse this summer in Lima, Peru, have only added to the determination of this exceptionally capable athlete.

The young Croatian burst onto the international scene when she won gold in the heptathlon at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Jerusalem 2022 with a dominant performance, over 300 points clear of the competition with a total of 6106. She was set to repeat her success a year later at the European U20 Championships, but a shocking injury in the shot put sidelined her from the competition. She tore a tendon in the shot put, an unusual injury more associated with sprinting.

“It was really frustrating. I was sad, I wasn’t depressed, but I was like? Why did I even come here? I came there for the gold. I didn’t want to tear my hamstring in the shot put, but then I really got back into training as soon as possible”, said Jana Koscak. “I didn’t even want to go to practice because I was in so much pain. My leg was hurting so bad and I couldn’t walk properly. But after a while I really wanted to run, and that’s never happened to me before because I don’t like running. And I can say that I wasn’t motivated all the time. Sometimes I just thought, what if I train for all this and then I fail again?”, added she.

But Jana Koscak proved her resolve, returning in spectacular fashion in 2024, winning gold at the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru. The brave Croatian chose the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome for her return to the heptathlon, hoping that the experience of competing alongside some of the world’s best heptathletes, including Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, would be beneficial.

“I believe that was the best part of Rome. Seeing the other girls compete and being side by side with them, that was definitely the best part. I wasn’t 100% happy with my performance. There were some good events, but it could have been a lot better. But on the other hand, it was my first heptathlon since the injury, so I didn’t want to say I wasn’t happy”, said also Jana Koscak.

But it laid the foundation for the biggest win of her burgeoning career in Peru. Even then, a bout of illness nearly ruined her title.

“I actually went to Chile ten days before Peru, we took a flight to Chile to get used to the weather and the time zone, of course. And then I got sick five days before Peru and had to take antibiotics and everything. So I think that affected my performance a little bit. But, you know, I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to compete because I took a 12-hour flight and I’m not going to be lying in bed on the other side of the world!”, added Jana Koscak.

After much upheaval, Jana Koscak won the gold with 5,807 points. What most people didn’t know, however, was that she had a problem with her hand that required her to be hospitalized after winning the gold.

“One day after my awards ceremony, I kind of collapsed. And then they took me to the hospital because I had bacteria in my hand. I stayed there for a while. And then I collapsed a few times there. My whole hand was just swollen because I stepped on my hand during the high jump and it probably got infected or something, so they gave me painkillers and antibiotics. But I was fine about three days later”, said Jana Koscak.

Her innate resilience comes from being in the sport for a decade, training since she was seven, and having a solid family foundation. Jana Koscak is coached by her father, Patrick, and trains alongside her older sister, Klara Koscak, who is also a heptathlete.

But those successes aren’t enough for Jana Koscak, and she wants more.

She’s also already looking ahead to the 2025 European U20 Championships in Tampere and the unfinished business.

“You know, when I think about under-20, I think of Jerusalem. And then I think of Finland and I want to do everything right in Finland. Not just gold”, said Jana Koscak. “Honestly, I’m aiming for great results next year. I want to do better. And I know that I’m healthy now, I’m fit. And I’ll prepare all winter and all summer to give my best there, because that’s the most important competition next year for me”, added she.

She’s also got her eye on the women’s under-20 pentathlon world record, and she’ll probably attack it at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn 2025 (March 6-9).

“The world record is a goal. Especially in the winter pentathlon. I would really like to have it. So the European indoor pentathlon is a big goal too. So I’ll have to fight for my place there and then maybe try to get that under-20 world record in the Netherlands”, finished Jana Koscak