Mirko Petrović (

Serbian Cyrillic The Serbian Cyrillic alphabet (, ), also known as the Serbian script, (, ), is a standardized variation of the Cyrillic script used to write the Serbian language. It originated in medieval Serbia and was significantly reformed in the 19th cen ...

: Мирко Петровић, born 10 May 1981) is a

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

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 ...

of who specialized in various long-distance track, cross country, and road running disciplines. Athletics began to train in 6.in the classroom elementary school. He won the Balkan Cross Country Championships in 2004, 2008, and 2011. In the course of his athletic career, Petrović represented

FR Yugoslavia The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro or simply Serbia and Montenegro, known until 2003 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and commonly referred to as FR Yugoslavia (FRY) or simply Yugoslavia, was a country in Southeast Europe locate ...

Serbia and Montenegro The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro or simply Serbia and Montenegro, known until 2003 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and commonly referred to as FR Yugoslavia (FRY) or simply Yugoslavia, was a country in Southeast Europe locate ...

, and

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

Running career

Petrović's first appearance in a major international competition took place when he ran the junior men's race at the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, finishing in 105th place out of 159 finishers. In 2005, Petrović ran the men's 1500-metre at the 2005 Mediterranean Games, recording a time of 3:48.66 (min:sec), finishing just 0.58 seconds behind compatriot Darko Radomirović. Just two months later, Petrović ran two distances at the

2005 Summer Universiade The 2005 Summer Universiade, also known as the XXIII Summer Universiade, took place in İzmir, Turkey, in August. Emblem The emblem is the letter "U", inspired by the bird's-eye view of the Gulf of İzmir. This shape has perfectly fit the letter ...

. In addition to running the

1500 metres The 1500 metres or 1500-metre run is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athletics since 1983. It is equivalent to 1.5 kilomet ...

in 3:50.05, he also ran the 5000 metres at the same competition, running a time of 14:24.10. In one of his earlier victories in major international competition, he won the

race in Group B of the 2008 European Cup in front of a large crowd at

Parc des Sports, Annecy Parc des Sports is a multi-purpose stadium in Annecy, France. It is used by FC Annecy as the club’s home ground. The capacity of the stadium is 15,660 spectators. It also hosted the 1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics. References E ...

. He ended the year being named "Sportsman of the Year" by the city of

Užice Užice ( sr-cyr, Ужице, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative centre of the Zlatibor District in western Serbia. It is located on the banks of the river Đetinja. According to the 2022 census, the city proper has a popu ...

.
Kovačević, N. Mirko Petrović užički sportista godine. 25 December 2008 In 2009, he ran the 1500-metres at the Athletics at the 2009 Mediterranean Games – Results, 2009 Mediterranean Games, finishing in 3:45.06, barely behind Christian Obrist. Just weeks later, he competed in two separate disciplines at the

2009 Summer Universiade The 2009 Summer Universiade, officially known as the XXV Summer Universiade, was celebrated in Belgrade, Serbia from July 1 to 12, 2009. The event has also been organised by a range of co-host cities mostly in Vojvodina (Serbian Autonomous Provin ...

. He ran in the men's 1500 metres and the men's 5000 metres, and qualified to the finals in both distances. In the 5000-metres he was extremely close to winning a medal, in addition to running an excellent race in the preliminary round, recording a time of 13:54.77 and finishing in first place. Two days later, however, he finished the 5000-metre final an excruciating two seconds from third-place finisher

Elroy Gelant Elroy Gelant (born 25 August 1986) is a South African athlete competing primarily in the long-distance events. He finished 12th at the 2012 Indoor and 2013 Outdoor World Championships. He competed in the men's marathon at the 2020 Summer Olym ...

. In 2010, he finished in second place in the Second League

3000 metres The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400 m track, or 15 laps around a 200 m indoor track. It is debated whether the 3000 m sho ...

race at the

2010 European Team Championships The second SPAR European Team Championships took place on 19 and 20 June 2010. The track and field athletics tournament run by European Athletics was the successor of the old European Cup competition which was held annually until 2008. The 201 ...

. In the following year's European Team Championships, he finished in third and second in the

and

5000 metres The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field, approximately equivalent to or . It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over laps of a sta ...

, respectively. In 2013, Petrović finished in first place in the Second League

at the

2013 European Team Championships The 2013 European Athletics Team Championships was the 4th edition of European Athletics Team Championships, first named ''European Athletics Team Championships'' and not only ''European Team Championships'' as from the 1st edition ( Leiria 2009) ...

. Just a week later he ran the 5000-metres at the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Petrovic, Mirko 1981 births Serbian male long-distance runners Serbian people of Romani descent Romani sportspeople Sportspeople from Užice Living people Athletes (track and field) at the 2005 Mediterranean Games Athletes (track and field) at the 2009 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games competitors for Serbia Mediterranean Games competitors for Serbia and Montenegro Yugoslavian Athletics Championships winners 21st-century Serbian sportsmen