How Adriana Vilagoš Became a Javelin Star

Adriana Vilagoš’ athletics journey has taken her from a promising handball player to a European javelin medalist representing Serbia. Her latest achievement came at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, where she won the bronze medal.

The 22-year-old entered the competition in excellent form and expected more from her performance. Still, she was the only member of Serbia’s 13-athlete team to return from England with a medal.

Her result also ensured that Serbia’s flag appeared at the closing ceremony of the outdoor European Championships for the third consecutive time.

From Handball to Javelin

Vilagoš was born in Vrbas and raised in Mali Iđoš. As a teenager, her first sporting passion was handball, and her talent attracted interest from Hungary.

She received an opportunity to move with her family to Hungary, the country of her ethnic roots, and pursue a place on its national handball team. Attending the Hungarian National Handball Academy appeared to offer her a promising future.

Her path changed when a physical education teacher encouraged her to compete in the vortex throw. The event uses a lightweight, football-shaped throwing implement with an aerodynamic tail.

Strong results revealed her natural throwing ability. Her mother, Đerđe Vilagoš, later became her coach and guided her toward the javelin.

The family ultimately chose Adriana’s athletic development in Serbia instead of relocating to Hungary for handball.

A Successful Family Partnership

Adriana Vilagoš’ athletics journey was built through determination and close cooperation with her mother. Đerđe initially expanded her coaching knowledge by watching YouTube videos and then passed what she learned to her daughter.

Both continued learning as they worked together, steadily developing into a successful athlete-coach partnership.

Vilagoš has since built an impressive record: