18-YEAR-OLD BIATHLETE SRĐAN LALOVIĆ WINS GOLD AT THE BALKAN CHAMPIONSHIP

PALE, SEPTEMBER 9 /SRNA/ – Eighteen-year-old high school student from Pale, Srđan Lalović, is a talented biathlete who has achieved yet another major success, winning a gold medal at the Balkan Championship recently held in Delnice.

Lalović, a member of the Romanija Ski Club from Pale, confirmed his status as one of the most promising young athletes in the region by winning the gold.

He told SRNA that he feels great after winning the medal, which represents a major success for himself, his club, and the national team, knowing how much effort they all invested.

Lalović said he competed in the sprint and individual disciplines at the competition, which was very tough due to the strong competition from seven countries, but he is happy that he proved he can keep up with the best.

He emphasized that the Balkan medal is a strong motivation to keep working even harder.

"We spent a lot of time in training camps. In the past month, we went to France twice for preparations; when I'm at home, we train on nearby mountains - we run, cycle," said Lalović.

He recalled that in January, he became a double winner of the regional biathlon cup held in Bansko, Bulgaria, and he also competed at the European Youth Olympic Festival /EYOF/ in Georgia, winning the 26th place.

He is soon expected to compete at international events in Sjenica, Serbia, and Romania.

Lalović has explained that it’s difficult to balance competitions and training, which he does in the mornings and evenings, with school in between.

Despite having only nine years of experience in this demanding sport, he already boasts 101 medals won at various competitions. Lalović's sports journey began within his family.

"My sister first started training biathlon, then my brother, who is still active, and now me. Over time, it became more than just a hobby. Every medal has its own story; none of them came easily, because I know how much effort and sacrifice stand behind each," said Lalović.

He pointed out that one of the great things about biathlon is that athletes spend several months each year outside their country.

"Biathlon is a sport that demands strength, endurance, and discipline. Every competition is a new challenge for me. I'd love to one day compete at the Olympic Games, and also to win a medal at the World Championships and represent our country in the best possible light," Lalović added.

He believes that many more young athletes could train and achieve even better results if there were a paved track at the Dvorišta Nordic Centre on Jahorina for summer training and competitions.

His achievements serve as an inspiration to his peers, and his perseverance and desire to push boundaries prove that talent, combined with dedicated effort, always pays off.