For a woman who spent two decades defying gravity, Blanka Vlašić has a surprising secret: she is afraid of heights. The Croatian high jump legend, owner of two Olympic medals and two World Championship golds, laughs at the irony. While she felt invincible soaring over a crossbar, looking down from a high balcony is a different story. "When I try to jump over it, I'm not afraid," she admits during her first visit to India. "But when I'm looking down, it scares me," she reveals during her brief visit to Bengaluru.
This candid, grounded perspective defines Blanka today. At 40, the woman who once lived solely for the stadium is navigating a new chapter — one that includes entrepreneurship and her most cherished role yet: motherhood. "I believe in the Latin saying 'menzana in corpore sano' which means 'a healthy mind in a healthy body'. It all goes together. I had to rediscover myself after my career and learn that being an athlete is not my full identity," says Blanka Vlašić.
An Introvert in the Spotlight
While the world knows the fierce competitor on the track, the 'real' Blanka is an introvert who prefers the quiet of the beach to the roar of a crowd. If she hadn't become an Olympian, she says, "I might have been somewhere behind a counter at a local pharmacy, a career that I trained for in high school." Now, she's trading the high jump bar for long-distance goals, setting her sights on completing a half marathon by the end of the year. Whether she's running a race or running a business, Blanka continues to jump — only now, she's doing it on her own terms.
Growing Up in Split
Growing up in the coastal city of Split, Croatia, life was defined by the sea and the track. With a father who served as an athletic coach and three younger brothers, Blanka's household was a hub of constant motion. Despite her athletic pedigree, she says her childhood was peaceful and rooted in community, far removed from the bustling traffic of cities like Bengaluru. "We were culturally encouraged to be active from the earliest age," she recalls. While she experimented with sprints and relays, the high jump was a physical 'click' that changed her life at age 12. However, she views the modern era's digital distractions with concern. "Nowadays, everybody wants to spend more time on their cellphone than being active. Regardless of talent, sport offers a beauty of togetherness that everyone should experience," she points out.
Mental Health as Daily Hygiene
Blanka points out that physical recovery was only half the battle. She now treats mental health as 'daily hygiene', working closely with a therapist to keep her life in perspective. "I believe in the Latin saying 'menzana in corpore sano' which means 'a healthy mind in a healthy body'. I had to rediscover myself after my career and learn that being an athlete is not my full identity," she says. "I'm so much more." Today, the 'World Champion' title sits behind her primary focus: her three-year-old son. "He is my strongest motivation. The role of being a mother fulfilled me tremendously. Mom, then entrepreneur, then athlete, that's how I would rank myself," she adds.
Pain as a Catalyst for Growth
Choosing to focus entirely on her sport after high school, she skipped college to turn professional — a move she acknowledges was almost like a gamble. Blanka's rise to the top was meteoric, but she never lost sight of how quickly she could fall. "Being in sports, you know that one injury can end your career overnight," she says. That awareness became a reality when a series of grueling injuries began to take their toll. "I tried to find the best doctors and the best alternatives for my training. I had to learn to adapt to accomplish my goals. The love for sports was so strong that I didn't give up. After fighting through a recovery on one leg, a subsequent injury on the other proved insurmountable," she recalls. The very thing she loved eventually forced her into retirement. Yet, Blanka doesn't look back with bitterness. Instead, she views pain as a catalyst for growth. "You're humbled by the pain and you start asking the right questions. If it's something unhealthy for you, just remove yourself from that," she explains.
A Look at the Real Blanka
- The Pharmacy Path: Had she not pursued athletics, Blanka was on track to become a pharmacist.
- A Football Family: She is an avid football fan; her brother plays for the Croatian national team.
- The Beach Life: Despite her fame, she is a self-described introvert who loves the peace of the sea.
- New Goals: Her current athletic focus isn't height, but distance — she is currently training for a half-marathon.
