Marino Bloudek wins silver in the men’s 800m, Birmingham, England; First Croatian European track medal in 30 years
European Athletics Championships 2026: Marino Bloudek earns Croatia’s first European track medal since 1994: “I was some fool who believed in all of this”
European Athletics Championships 2026: Marino Bloudek earns Croatia’s first European track medal since 1994: “I was some fool who believed in all of this”
As Mark English took the headlines with his long-awaited European gold on Thursday (13 August), Marino Bloudek tells Olympics.com how his surprise silver was equally as momentous.
Croatia’s first European Athletics Championships track medal in three decades arrived on Thursday (13 August), as Marino Bloudek surprised the 800m field to win silver at Birmingham 2026.
Back in 1994, when Bloudek was just five years old, five-time Olympian Branko Zorko took bronze in the men’s 1500m in Helsinki.
Now 27, the 14-time national champion has secured his first international medal on the senior major championship stage.
“I have visualised this moment over the last month,” Bloudek explained to Olympics.com. “I visualised winning this medal and running to my fiancé and my coach with the flag and hugging them.
“The silver is silver, and congratulations to (winner) Mark English , but for me, this is a golden medal .”
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Gold medalist Mark English of Team Ireland and Silver medalist Marino Bloudek of Team Croatia pose for a photo after the Men’s 800 Metres Final during day four of the 27th European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Sona Maleterova
On day four of Birmingham 2026, he led the best in Europe for most of the race until a powerful finish secured English a long-awaited title for Ireland .
The men’s 800m final field had been shaken up before the start, with hotly-tipped Max Burgin withdrawing with an injury in the warm-up. Bloudek had finished behind English in the first round, and behind Burgin in the semi-finals.
“I was an underdog,” The Croatian said. “I was some fool that believed in all this, but I was a dreamer. Here it was shown who is durable, who is brave, and who – as my dad would say – is a Spartan.”
“I watched the qualification rounds in detail. I knew I have a good chance if I position myself well, if I go forward bravely. There was such pressure, such opponents, so I’m very satisfied. My emotions just take over; I won’t forget that moment until the end of my life.”
Athletics | European Championships | Birmingham | United Kingdom