Željko Petrović (born 13 September 1969) is a Bosnian former

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...

. He competed for

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

in the men's marathon at the

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...

Running career

Petrović began running in fifth grade of elementary school in the village of Banja Kulaši near Prnjavor. His parents would buy him large shoes in order to save money that would otherwise be spent changing shoe sizes over time. He was first scouted by coach Mladen Pavljak, who insisted on bringing Petrović to train in an organized program in

Celje Celje (, , ) is the List of cities and towns in Slovenia, third-largest city in Slovenia. It is a regional center of the traditional Slovenian region of Styria (Slovenia), Styria and the administrative seat of the City Municipality of Celje. Th ...

. However, after the start of the

Yugoslav Wars The Yugoslav Wars were a series of separate but related#Naimark, Naimark (2003), p. xvii. ethnic conflicts, wars of independence, and Insurgency, insurgencies that took place from 1991 to 2001 in what had been the Socialist Federal Republic of ...

, Petrović returned to Bosnia, where he continued running in

Banja Luka Banja Luka ( sr-Cyrl, Бања Лука, ) or Banjaluka ( sr-Cyrl, Бањалука, ) is the List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the largest city in Republika Srpska. Banja Luka is the tr ...

and in Prnjavor during the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...

. Petrović and fellow countryman

Đuro Kodžo Đuro Kodžo (Serbian Cyrillic: Ђуро Коџо; born 12 May 1971) is a Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian retired long-distance running, long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon. He represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2000 Summer ...

both fulfilled the Olympic "B" standard at the 1999 Celje Marathon in Celje,

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

, with Petrović finishing in a time of 2:17:13. Although Petrović qualified for the

, Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of up to six countries which did not vaccinate their distance runners ahead of the marathon, and Petrović suffered from a 39 °C

fever Fever or pyrexia in humans is a symptom of an anti-infection defense mechanism that appears with Human body temperature, body temperature exceeding the normal range caused by an increase in the body's temperature Human body temperature#Fever, s ...

just two days before his race. His doctor recommended not to race, but Petrović insisted on racing at the Olympics, and finished in 76th place out of 81 finishers in the men's marathon at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Notes

* Result is formatted in hours:minutes:seconds

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Petrovic, Zeljko 1969 births Living people Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina male long-distance runners Bosnia and Herzegovina male marathon runners Olympic athletes for Bosnia and Herzegovina People from Prnjavor, Bosnia and Herzegovina 20th-century Bosnia and Herzegovina sportsmen