Elzan Bibić (; born 8 January 1999) is a Serbian middle- and long-distance runner. He won the bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 2019 European Under-23 Championships.
Bibić was the 3000 metres 2016 European youth champion and won a bronze for the men's junior race at the 2018 European Cross Country Championships. He earned several Serbian national titles both out and indoors (1500 m and 3000 m).
Bibić won the bronze medal in the event at the 2023 European Indoor Championships.
Running career Bibić initially played soccer before training as a distance runner. He won the boys' 3000-meter race at the 2015 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival with a time of 8:50.10.
On July 7, 2017, he won a 3000-meter race at a track meet in Zenica, after which he felt knee pain. Shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with damaged ligaments in his knee, his first serious injury.
On September 4, 2018, Bibić ran his then personal best of 3:37.79 (and still reigning Serbian U20 national record) in the men's 1500 meters at the Hanžeković Memorial meet in Zagreb, finishing in last place among a deep international field led by first place finisher Elijah Manangoi. 68. Memorijal Borisa Hanžekovića - 1500 m Men - Results. September 4, 2018. Accessed January 18, 2019.
In the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade he finished 6th in the Heat 2 of 3000 meter race with the time of 7:52.78 and did not progress to the finals.
Personal life Bibić was born in Karajukića Bunari, known as the "Siberia" of Serbia due to extremely cold temperatures which are frequently recorded there. Karajukića Bunari is above 1,000 meters in altitude, as it is located on a plateau called Pešter. Bibić went to a medical trade school in his hometown, Novi Pazar. His parents were athletes growing up. His father Murat played soccer and his mother Fatima played volleyball.
International competitions 2015European Youth Olympic FestivalTbilisi, Georgia2nd1500 m4:01.621st3000 m8:50.102016Balkan Indoor ChampionshipsIstanbul, Turkey1st3000 m8:16.72European Youth ChampionshipsTbilisi, Georgia8th800 m1:56.121st3000 m8:09.06World U20 ChampionshipsBydgoszcz, Poland11th1500 m3:51.588th5000 m13:51.402017Balkan Indoor ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia1st3000 m8:06.982018Balkan Indoor ChampionshipsIstanbul, Turkey1st3000 m8:08.34Mediterranean GamesTarragona, Spain –1500 mDNF13th5000 m14:32.05World U20 ChampionshipsTampere, Finland6th1500 m3:44.658th5000 m14:15.37Balkan ChampionshipsStara Zagora, Bulgaria1st1500 m3:43.361st3000 m8:15.06European Cross Country ChampionshipsTilburg, Netherlands3rdU20 race18:112019Balkan Indoor ChampionshipsIstanbul, Turkey1st1500 m3:43.13European Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, United Kingdom13th (h)1500 m3:47.94European U23 ChampionshipsGävle, Sweden3rd1500 m3:50.908th5000 m14:26.402020Balkan Indoor ChampionshipsIstanbul, Turkey1st1500 m3:50.182021Balkan ChampionshipsSmederevo, Serbia1st1500 m3:52.23European U23 ChampionshipsTallinn, Estonia4th1500 m3:40.912022World Indoor ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia13th (h)3000 m7:52.78Mediterranean GamesOran, Algeria10th1500 m3:45.42European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany18th5000 m13:39.602023European Indoor ChampionshipsIstanbul, Turkey3rd3000 m7:44.03World ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary31st (h)1500 m3:37.452024World Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, United Kingdom8th (h)1500 m3:39.98European ChampionshipsRome, Italy6th5000 m13:24.54Olympic GamesParis, France32nd (h)5000 m14:14.462025European Indoor ChampionshipsApeldoorn, Netherlands23rd (h)3000 m8:01.67
Personal bests 800 metres – 1:50.31 (Ćuprija 2021) 1500 metres – 3:35.07 (Zagreb 2020) 1500 metres indoor – 3:37.84 (Belgrade 2022) One mile indoor – 3:55.90 (Ostrava 2023) 3000 metres – 7:39.45 (Rovereto 2021) 3000 metres indoor – 7:39.96 (Toruń 2022) 5000 metres – 13:13.06 (Oordegem 2025)
References