Valentina ASCIC

Croatia

Short Track Speed Skating

Date of Birth: 12 Nov 1998

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Place of birth: LIVNO

Birth Country:

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Residence: ZAGREB

Residence Country:

Croatia

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Short Track Speed Skating	Women's 500m	23
	Women's 1500m	26

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Capital Indoor Stadium	Women's 500m - Heat 1	Finished
After Quarterfinal 3	Capital Indoor Stadium	Women's 1500m - Quarterfinal 4	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Historical Results

World Championships
Rank	Event	Year	Location
22	Women's 500m	2021	Dordrecht, NED
27	Women's 1000m	2021	Dordrecht, NED
28	Women's 1500m	2021	Dordrecht, NED
28	Women's Overall	2021	Dordrecht, NED
34	Women's 1000m	2019	Sofia, BUL
37	Women's 1500m	2019	Sofia, BUL
41	Women's 500m	2019	Sofia, BUL
42	Women's Overall	2019	Sofia, BUL

European Championships
Rank	Event	Year	Location
9	Women's 3000m Relay	2020	Debrecen, HUN
9	Women's 3000m Relay	2018	Dresden, GER
11	Women's 3000m Relay	2019	Dordrecht, NED
14	Women's 1500m	2021	Gdansk, POL
16	Women's 500m	2021	Gdansk, POL
18	Women's Overall	2021	Gdansk, POL
21	Women's 1000m	2021	Gdansk, POL
22	Women's 500m	2018	Dresden, GER
23	Women's 500m	2020	Debrecen, HUN
23	Women's Overall	2020	Debrecen, HUN
24	Women's 1500m	2020	Debrecen, HUN
26	Women's 1000m	2020	Debrecen, HUN
26	Women's 1000m	2019	Dordrecht, NED
27	Women's 1500m	2018	Dresden, GER
28	Women's Overall	2018	Dresden, GER
29	Women's Overall	2019	Dordrecht, NED
30	Women's 500m	2019	Dordrecht, NED
31	Women's 1000m	2018	Dresden, GER
32	Women's 1500m	2019	Dordrecht, NED

World Cup
Season	Women's 500m	Women's 1000m	Women's 1500m
2021/22	38	57	60
2019/20	63	78	100
2018/19	80	101	89
2017/18	63	69	65
2016/17	103		96

Hobbies:

Writing, reading, knitting and hanging out with family and friends.

Occupation:

Athlete

Education:

Occupational Therapy - University of Applied Health Sciences (Zagreb, CRO)

Family:

Partner, Ivan Martinic.

Languages spoken:

Croatian, Italian, English

Club name:

KBK Meteor (Zagreb, CRO)

Coach:

National: Ingmar van Riel (NED)

Sporting relatives:

Partner Ivan Martinic (Short track): Has competed for Croatia, including at the 2017 World Championships in Rotterdam, NED.

Debut:

2017 World Cup event in Dresden, GER (500m, 42nd, 1500m - 32nd)

Start:

Started skating in 2006 in Zagreb, aged eight. (sportske.jutarnji.hr, 18 Dec 2021, isu.org)

Reason:

"I didn't go to any skating school before, as most people do, I immediately joined the club. A lot of children from my neighbourhood, Laniste (CRO), started skating, most of them gave up in the meantime, but I stayed. It is interesting that it was not love at first sight. I was not so enthusiastic, it was terrible. But my parents persuaded me to try a little more, so I would see. Then they had to pressurise me, but then later they had to beg me not to go to training if they needed help." (sportske.jutarnji.hr, 18 Dec 2021)

Ambition:

"My main goal was achieved when I qualified (for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing). For years, this seemed unattainable to us when we watched who competed. But goals change as we progress, so I would also like to go through the first round, and then we will see what will happen." (sportske.jutarnji.hr, 18 Dec 2021)

Training:

Trains six days a week for between three and four hours, with a mixture of on- and off-ice sessions and gym- and bike-based training. (Athlete, 27 Jan 2022)

Memorable:

Competing at the 2020 European Championships in Debrecen, HUN. (isu.org)

Hero:

Croatian World Cup Alpine ski racer and four-time Olympic gold medallist Janica Kostelic. (Athlete, 27 Jan 2022)

Influence:

Her parents and her partner, Ivan. (Athlete, 27 Jan 2022)

Ritual:

"I am a Christian, so I cross myself and put all my work in God's hands." (Athlete, 27 Jan 2022)

Philosophy:

"No pain, no gain." (isu.org)

General Interest

TRAINING IN BELGIUM
Trains with the national team in Hasselt, BEL, since they relocated following the earthquake in Zagreb, CRO in 2020. The Croatian national team coach Ingmar van Riel works together with the Belgian coaches and former Croatian speed skating champion Dubravko Feldin. "There had to be a change because we had a schedule in Zagreb that meant we were only able to do an average of three hour-long training sessions a week, which would not allow us to progress. Due to the earthquake, the ice rink at Dom Sportova was closed and everyone suffered. Figure skating, synchronised, speed skating, ice hockey, everyone had to be at the Velesajam rink (in Zagreb). The Belgian national team was looking for more people to help them train better, and so cooperation was agreed. We get one or two sessions a day on the ice and more laps under our belts." (sportske.jutarnji.hr, 18 Dec 2021)

PROMOTING HER SPORT
With only one short track club in Croatia and little funding from sponsorship available, she wants her appearance at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games to help promote the sport in her home country. "It is difficult sometimes, because people are not familiar with our sport, but that is why we try to do good results from season to season to be heard about and to popularise the sport a little, and then to improve conditions. I sincerely hope that my placement in the Games will help with that." (sportske.jutarnji.hr, 18 Dec 2021)

Milestones

At Beijing 2022, she will become the first Croatian short tracker to compete at the Olympic Winter Games.

Competed at World Championships in 2019 and 2021, with her best result being 22nd in 500m, 2021.

Competed at four European Championships, with her best results being ninth in 3000m relay (2018, 2020).

Competed at Junior World Championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

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