Ivana Spanovic-Vuleta was one of the happiest athletes on the track on the second day of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The 33-year-old Serbian, who has battled serious injuries in recent years, won her first world title in the outdoor long jump after establishing herself in the sector with a season’s world best of 7.14m.
“It’s been a long, long journey. Every medal, every finish is special, but at that age it’s really hard to put it all together. I’m proud to have had all that experience. I knew I was ready to take the gold at the right time”, said Ivana Spanovic-Vuleta after the final. “I finally did what I dreamed of for so long. I’m so emotional, this medal is really heavy. I prefer indoor competitions, but after so many years and so many medals, I knew I had to have a gold and from a world championship in openly”, added she.
Ivana Spanovic-Vuleta is a Serbian long jumper, the 2023 World champion, a two-time World indoor champion, a two-time European champion, a three-time European indoor champion and a four-time Diamond League Trophy Winner. In 2013, she became the first Serbian track and field athlete to win a medal at the World Championships in Athletics. In 2018, she became the first Serbian track and field athlete to win a senior gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Athletics. She is the Serbian record holder in the long jump, indoors and outdoors, and also she is the national indoor record holder in the 60m and in the pentathlon. She won multiple Serbian titles.
