On the first day of athletics competition at Rhine-Ruhr 2025, Monday, 25 July, Slovenia’s Klara Lukan soared ahead in a field of 28 racers to clinch victory in the women’s 10,000m.
Thanks to a time of 31:25.84 at Lohrheidestadion in Bochum, the two-time Olympian annihilated the previous FISU World University Games record for the middle distance event by over 20 seconds, a mark that had stood since Duisburg 1989, the last time the biennial multisport event was held in Germany.
Thirty-six years ago, Romania’s Viorica Ghican ran a 31.46.43 at the now-Schauinsland Reisen Arena, the site of this year’s opening ceremony.
Lukan also picked up her first FISU gold medal in her final race as a student-athlete.
As she crossed the line, rain pouring down on her face, the crowd was on its feet to raucously cheer her to the finish.
“That’s a special honour for me. And of course, I broke the record of these championships,” said the 24-year-old, who studies at the University of Ljubljana in Economics and International Business.
“Everything went according to my plan. At first I wanted to do more tactical. But then my style of running is to push the pace. So I kept that, because that’s the way I run for my whole career.
“Why would I do something differently than that? Because it brought me many successes. And that’s me.”
Olympic ability
An Olympic competitor in 2020 and 2024, Lukan had a focused mindset for these FISU Games. Last summer in Paris, she ran the 5000m and 10,000m, making the final in the latter.
“As a professional athlete, you have to be used to the pressure. You have to be used to it, because otherwise it doesn’t give you the stimulus to improve,” she admitted.
“And I think that the pressure only gives you that additional energy that you can use on your own. I’m used to the pressure, because many times I was the favourite for the medals. And today was no different, and I wanted that gold medal.
“(Being an Olympian), it gives me a certain drive. A drive to perform even better. That’s only a bonus.”
It has uniquely helped the Slovenian in her preparation for Rhine-Ruhr 2025. Earlier this year, she set a personal best of 30:26, the fourth fastest time in Europe.
Storied history for FISU athletics
The first day of athletics saw packed crowds in the Lohrheidestadion Bochum, cheers ringing out even during the afternoon of heats and qualification.
Lukan admitted that the noise from the crowd was pushing her until the end of the 10,000m.
“Since the run is so long, it’s kind of hard to be in your own zone for the whole half hour. So every time I listen to the cheering, especially at the finish line, because there are many people. It gives me additional energy,” she said.
The newly-crowned champion also had an added sense of support in the stands, in the form of her family.
“Also my family, my mother and my father, they got here (to Bochum) to support me, to cheer for me.
“That’s a huge privilege I don’t take for granted. Because to have such support from your family, it’s a lot. Because otherwise, without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Kenya’s Sarah Wanjiru Njeri (31.41.80) and Alicia Berzosa Martin from Spain (32.00.73), both in personal best times, rounded out the podium in the women’s 10,000m, the only medal event on day one of athletics. Njeri’s time was also under the previous FISU Games standard from 1989.
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games take place from 16-27 July. Watch all the competitions live on fisu.tv. Click on the link to find the full schedule.
Written by Sophie Wisely, FISU Young Reporter, Australia
The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.
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