Sandra Elkasević

Sandra Elkasević, born on June 21, 1990, is a distinguished Croatian discus thrower and politician, celebrated for her remarkable achievements in athletics. She has earned the title of a two-time Olympic champion, securing gold medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. Additionally, she is a four-time world champion, having triumphed in 2013 and 2017, and holds the record as a seven-time European champion, with victories spanning from 2010 to 2024. This impressive record makes her the most decorated female discus thrower in history.

Elkasević's journey in athletics began with a stellar junior career, highlighted by a gold medal at the 2009 European Junior Championships, where she set a new national record. She made her mark on the senior stage by winning gold at the 2010 European Championships, becoming the youngest ever European champion in women's discus throw. Despite facing a six-month doping suspension in 2011, she returned to defend her title successfully at the 2012 European Championships.

In addition to her athletic prowess, Sandra Elkasević has made her mark in politics, becoming a member of the Croatian Parliament after the 2015 general election. Although her tenure as an MP lasted less than a year, her influence in both sports and politics is noteworthy. She was recognized as the BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year in 2016, further solidifying her status in the athletic community.

Coached by her husband Edis Elkasević, whom she married in 2023, Sandra continues to push the boundaries of her sport. Her personal best and national record throw of seventy-one point forty-one meters was achieved in July 2017 at the Galà dei Castelli meeting in Bellinzona, Switzerland, marking the longest discus throw by a female athlete in twenty-five years.