Belgrade Marathon Director Darko Habuš: “Chicago Is Our Second Home”

First Balkan Media interviews Darko Habuš, former basketball player and Director of the Belgrade Marathon since 2022, during the 2026 Chicago Marathon.

The streets of Chicago were filled with excitement, energy, and thousands of cheering spectators during the 2026 Chicago Marathon. Among those supporting the runners was a Serbian cheering station on North Wells Street in Chicago, where members of the Serbian and Balkan communities gathered to encourage participants and celebrate their shared heritage.

For the second consecutive year, the initiative brought the spirit of Belgrade to Chicago, strengthening the connection between the two cities through their sister-city relationship and the partnership between the Belgrade Marathon and the Chicago Marathon.

First Balkan Media spoke with Darko Habuš, Director of the Belgrade Marathon, about the atmosphere in Chicago, Serbian and Balkan runners, cooperation between the two marathons, and preparations for the upcoming Belgrade Marathon and the 2027 European Running Championships.

Under Habuš’s leadership, the Belgrade Marathon has undergone significant development, attracting record numbers of participants and more international runners. His ambitions include positioning Belgrade among Europe’s five largest running events and hosting the European Athletics Running Championships in 2027.

Interview with Darko Habuš

First Balkan Media: Darko, welcome to the Chicago Marathon! How do you feel being here?

Darko Habuš: I feel fantastic! The energy today is incredible. Thank you for being here with us and for witnessing what we are doing for the second consecutive year.

Through the sister-city relationship between Chicago and Belgrade, we are bringing our communities closer together. The Serbian cheering station on North Wells Street is now an established part of this initiative.

Our idea is to support Serbian runners and, of course, all runners from the Balkans and our wider region. All 55,000 runners passing our cheering station today can experience the spirit of Belgrade and the former Yugoslavia through the music, enthusiasm, and support of our community.

First Balkan Media: When was the sister-city relationship between Belgrade and Chicago established?

Darko Habuš: Belgrade and Chicago became sister cities in 2005, and later the Belgrade Marathon and the Chicago Marathon established their own partnership.

There is a great deal we can learn from Chicago, particularly in terms of organization and innovation. We bring new ideas back to Belgrade to make our marathon better and more professionally organized. We also benefit from the mentorship of the Chicago Marathon’s leadership. We could not ask for better people to learn from.

At the same time, we have developed this wonderful initiative to connect our communities. We want more Americans to visit Belgrade and more Serbians to come to Chicago to participate in the marathon.

That has been the icing on the cake of our cooperation.

In April, Chicago also organized a cheering station at the Belgrade Marathon, and the initiative will return next April in Skadarlija, Belgrade’s famous bohemian quarter. We would love to invite First Balkan Media to join us there!

First Balkan Media: From an organizational perspective, what do you think of the Chicago Marathon?

Darko Habuš: I am somewhat subjective when it comes to the Chicago Marathon, but I always say that it is one of the best-organized sporting events in the world.

The attention paid to every aspect of the race is fascinating. I am impressed by the organization and by the way everything comes together.

What we see on the streets today shows that Chicago truly lives for this event. You can see it in the number of people who come out to support the runners. I am genuinely impressed, and so is the entire Belgrade Marathon team that is here with me.

First Balkan Media: Do you know how many Serbian and Balkan runners are participating today?

Darko Habuš: We know that there are 35 Serbian runners. We invited them to a dinner on Friday evening, where we also told them where to find the Serbian cheering station.

We do not have an exact figure for all the runners from the other Balkan countries, but we estimate that around 150 runners from the Balkans and the wider region passed by our station today and were welcomed by the wonderful sounds and enthusiasm of our community.

First Balkan Media: How are preparations going for the Belgrade Marathon next April?

Darko Habuš: Everything is progressing according to plan. Last spring, we changed the course, and in April 2027, Belgrade is also expected to host the European Athletics Running Championships.

We will give our full support to Dario Ivanovski, who finished second at the Belgrade Marathon in April. We believe he has the potential to surprise everyone and become European champion. We will be there to cheer him on and give him all the support he needs.

We want runners to feel as though they are running at home, because that is exactly how we want everyone to feel in Belgrade.

Our preparations are on track, and we expect more than 20,000 runners in Belgrade next April. That would be an unprecedented milestone for our event.

First Balkan Media: How are you enjoying your time in Chicago?

Darko Habuš: Chicago is our second home. We come here at least twice a year. In June, we participate in the management program organized by the Chicago Marathon, where we learn a great deal from their team. Today, we are here on the ground, observing and working.

We do not have much time for sightseeing, but we enjoy the great food and the sounds of Chicago, a city famous for its blues and jazz.

First Balkan Media: Are you following the achievements of Serbian and Balkan runners?

Darko Habuš: We have some very fast runners. One example is Martina, who came from Houston to compete under the Serbian flag. Her time was 2 hours and 33 minutes, which is an outstanding achievement, especially for someone who balances running with raising three children and managing a career.

Among elite runners, Dario Ivanovski is an outstanding example. He is not competing here today, but he is someone who makes us proud. We hope that more talented marathon runners will emerge in the coming years. Historically, we have not had many athletes at that level in the marathon.

But ultimately, the fastest times are not the most important thing. What matters is encouraging people to embrace a healthy lifestyle and physical activity.

Get outside and do something good for your mental health. And if you are not running, support the runners along the course. Even that can fill you with positive energy.