1. Overview
Sara Kolak is a Croatian track and field athlete who specializes in the javelin throw. She achieved significant international recognition by winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Kolak holds the Croatian national record in the women's javelin throw, with a personal best of 225 ft (68.43 m) set in 2017, a mark that also places her among the top ten javelin throwers in the world all-time. Her career highlights also include a bronze medal at the European Athletics Championships and a gold medal at the European Athletics U23 Championships. She has represented Croatia as a three-time Olympian, participating in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics.
2. Early Life and Background
Sara Kolak was born on June 22, 1995, in Ludbreg, which is located in Varaždin County, Croatia. She currently resides in Rijeka, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Standing at 5.6 ft (1.7 m) tall and weighing 163 lb (74 kg), Kolak initially pursued a career in handball before transitioning to track and field and specializing in the javelin throw.
3. Career
Sara Kolak's athletic career spans significant achievements in junior competitions, a challenging transition to senior events marked by injuries, and a remarkable Olympic gold medal, followed by continued efforts despite further physical setbacks.
3.1. Junior Career
Kolak made her debut in junior international competitions at the 2012 World Junior Championships held in Barcelona, Spain. She quickly established herself as a promising talent, securing bronze medals at both the 2013 European Junior Championships in Rieti, Italy, and the 2014 World Junior Championships in Eugene, United States.
3.2. Senior Career Debut and Injuries
Kolak's transition to the senior international circuit began with her debut at the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zürich. However, later that same year, she faced a significant setback when she underwent surgery for a shoulder injury. This injury necessitated a prolonged recovery period, sidelining her from competition for 15 months.
3.3. 2016 Rio Olympics Gold and National Record
Shortly after recovering from her shoulder surgery, Kolak made a triumphant return to competition. She first earned a bronze medal in the javelin throw at the 2016 European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam. Her breakthrough moment came at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Despite being a debutant at the Olympics and only expected to reach the final, Kolak delivered a stunning performance, winning the gold medal in the women's javelin throw. In the final, she set a new Croatian national record with a throw of 217 ft (66.18 m), improving upon her own record set during the qualifying rounds. This unexpected victory was a significant achievement for Croatia, marking its second gold medal in athletics at the 2016 Games, following Sandra Perković's success. The women's javelin throw event had been experiencing a period of decline in competitive level since 2013, with no single dominant athlete, making the outcome of the Rio Olympics unpredictable. Kolak's gold medal was a surprise even to herself. The following year, in 2017, she further improved her national record to 225 ft (68.43 m) at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne, a throw that positioned her tenth on the world all-time list.
3.4. Injury Recovery and Subsequent Performance
Following her impressive performance at the 2017 World Championships, where she placed fourth, Kolak began to struggle with an elbow injury. The Croatian Olympic Committee recognized the severity of her condition and approved funding of 150.00 K USD for her surgery, which was performed in Minnesota, United States. After the surgical intervention, Kolak underwent an intensive rehabilitation program focused on her ligaments. She successfully returned to competition in the summer of 2019, securing a seventh-place finish at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha. In August 2019, seeking to further enhance her training, Kolak relocated from Slovenia to Norway to be coached by the two-time Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen. Earlier, in 2017, she had also won the gold medal in the javelin throw at the 2017 European Athletics U23 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
3.5. Later Olympic Appearances
Kolak continued her Olympic journey, competing in the javelin throw event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. However, she did not manage to qualify for the final in this appearance. In 2024, she participated in the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome, where she finished eleventh. Later that year, she competed in the javelin throw event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, securing a commendable fourth-place finish.
4. International Competition Results
Sara Kolak has represented Croatia in numerous major international athletics championships throughout her career.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes/Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | World Junior Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 23rd (q) | Javelin throw | 158 ft (48.15 m) |
| 2013 | European Junior Championships | Rieti, Italy | 3rd | Javelin throw | 190 ft (57.79 m) |
| 2014 | World Junior Championships | Eugene, United States | 3rd | Javelin throw | 183 ft (55.74 m) |
| European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 21st (q) | Javelin throw | 172 ft (52.51 m) | |
| 2016 | European Championships | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 3rd | Javelin throw | 208 ft (63.5 m) |
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 1st | Javelin throw | 217 ft (66.18 m) | |
| 2017 | European U23 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 1st | Javelin throw | 214 ft (65.12 m) |
| World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 4th | Javelin throw | 213 ft (64.95 m) | |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 7th | Javelin throw | 204 ft (62.28 m) |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | - | Javelin throw | NM |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, United States | - | Javelin throw | NM |
| European Championships | Munich, Germany | 14th (q) | Javelin throw | 188 ft (57.31 m) | |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 23rd (q) | Javelin throw | 183 ft (55.89 m) |
| 2024 | European Championships | Rome, Italy | 11th | Javelin throw | 183 ft (55.9 m) |
| Olympic Games | Paris, France | 4th | Javelin throw | 208 ft (63.4 m) |
5. Awards
For her outstanding athletic achievements, particularly her Olympic gold medal, Sara Kolak has received significant national recognition.
The Order of Danica Hrvatska with the face of Franjo Bučar. - Order of Danica Hrvatska with face of Franjo Bučar - 2016