October 12, 2026 – The third edition of Spartan 100m & Sprint World Championship took place this weekend, cementing an important relationship between the world-renowned obstacle race and Croatia’s premier island.
One of the pleasures of covering life and tourism on Hvar for more than 15 years now (and with almost 10,000 articles on the island written) is that I have been able to watch the island evolve and to see how longer-term strategies play out. Fames for its sun, nightlife, beaches, lavender and UNESCO culture, Hvar does not have to work too hard to attract tourists, but there has been plenty of effort to diversity and prolong the tourist season over the years.
One area which the island has encountered particular success in over the last decade has been in the area of adventure tourism, with a successful partnership between the town authorities, tourist board, and Suncani Hvar hotels.
Various eye-catching events and arrivals over the years highlighted Hvar’s shoulder-season credentials as an excellent adventure tourism destination. These included hosting one of the world’s leading cycling teams, Bahrain Merida for three years as the headquarters for their winter training, as well as the world-famous Othillo Swimrun for several years.
A very welcome addition to the Hvar calendar for the last three Octobers has been Spartan, the world-famous obstacle course race, attracting athletes from all over the world. The timing of the event, just as the shoulder season is starting to die down, injects new life into the town, as well as bringing some much-appreciated late-season revenue for the hospitality providers. There is a wonderful and very youthful energy around the town over those four days, and you don’t have to be competing to join in the fun.
This year’s event was no exception, and it was a pleasure to see how this chameleon of a destination which offers everything transforms its focus to summer and the beach into showcasing its beauty and terrain for hardened athletes. And it will change again later this week, as the inaugural HVARMONY gathering – focused on the original attraction of Hvar tourism back in 1868, wellbeing.
A full report on the event was covered below by Slobodna Dalmacija, all photos by Samir Kurtagic/Spartan Hvar:
More than 3,500 athletes from 63 countries participated in the third edition of the Spartan event on Hvar, held from October 8 to 11, 2026. The four-day program featured world championships in the 100m and Sprint 5K disciplines, the Beast 21K and Super 10K races, and the Spartan Kids event. A total prize purse of $100,000 was provided for the two world championships, while the Hvar Beast also served as the second stop of the regional National Adriatic Series.
The competition took place along the Hvar waterfront and on courses connecting the coast, city streets, and the ascent to the Fortica fortress. The short course, featuring head-to-head finishes, captivated the audience during the 100m championship, while the longer races took competitors beyond the city center onto terrain that demanded not only obstacle-clearing skills but also endurance on the climbs.
Alongside athletes arriving from all over the world, a large number of locals also competed on the courses. Šime Ravlić, the Mayor of Hvar, highlighted both the participation and the organizational challenges posed by the adverse weather conditions:
“This year’s Spartan weekend presented a unique challenge for both competitors and organizers, and we are delighted that it exceeded all expectations. Adverse weather was an additional hurdle that the organizers successfully overcame; we sincerely congratulate everyone on the ground who saw this demanding project through to the end. In just three years of the Spartan event in Hvar, the number of participating countries has grown from 35 to 63—a clear indicator of the rising interest in this sport and in Hvar as a host destination. There is no need to elaborate on the global promotion generated by enthusiastic competitors alongside the organizers’ official channels. We are particularly pleased with the response from the islanders: 59 locals participated in the 5km, 10km, and 21km races—with some successfully completing all three—while 246 of the 530 competitors in the children’s race were from the island. The message conveyed to young people and islanders through the energy, perseverance, and spirit of these exceptional athletes—whom we hosted for nearly a week—is unmistakable. The Spartan event in Hvar is a success story; we therefore extend our thanks once again to the organization’s founder and leader, Joe De Sena, for his trust; to the local organizer for excellent cooperation; to the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian National Tourist Board for their support; and to all local…” …participants and collaborators. Together, we made this edition of Spartan spectacular.”
100M World Championship: a world title decided in mere seconds
Oliver Addy from England won the 100-meter world championship title. In the final, he clocked a time of 32.574 seconds, defeating Caleb Riley, who finished the course in 36.477 seconds. Third place went to Tommy Matthews, who recorded a time of 31.746 seconds in the bronze-medal race.
For Addy, who has been competing in OCR for four years, the victory in Hvar capped off a successful season, and he is already thinking about returning.
“I can’t believe this sport has brought me here. I’ve had a great season and can’t wait to see what’s next. I definitely want to come back next year and defend my title. I’m ready—I can’t wait!” said Addy.
In the women’s final, Poland’s Kasia Jonaczyk triumphed with a time of 40.882 seconds. May Yahalom from Israel took the silver with a time of 1:05.297, while the bronze went to American Jaleesa Himka, who clocked 32.740 seconds in the race for third place. Jonaczyk described what the title means to her immediately after the final:
“I can’t stop smiling; I still can’t believe it. Spartan was the most important race of the year for me. This title was the one thing I was missing. Honestly, for half the year I didn’t believe I could win it, and now here I am, talking to you. I feel like I’m in heaven,” said Jonaczyk.
In the final rounds of the 100m championship, placement is determined by head-to-head duels, meaning the times recorded by the finalists and bronze medalists were achieved in separate races.
The awards were presented by Josip Pavić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sport; Rob Stull, President of the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM); and Šime Ravlić, Mayor of Hvar.
The prize fund for this discipline totaled $70,000, split equally between the men’s and women’s competitions. The winners received $18,000 each, the runners-up $10,000, the third-place finishers $5,500, and the fourth-place finishers $1,500.
Sprint 5K World Championship: a fast start isn’t enough for gold
At the Sprint 5K World Championship—which featured a five-kilometer course and 20 obstacles—the fastest of the 56 competitors in the men’s field was the Dutchman Frank Oosterom. He won gold with a time of 39:54, ahead of Frenchman Gregory Basilic, who finished in 40:26, and Czech Richard Hynek, with a time of 40:39.
In the women’s competition, Zuzana Kocumova won the world champion title with a time of 47:35. The silver medal went to Sabrina Daolio, who finished the race in 48:00, while Henriette Bardrum took the bronze with a result of 48:43.
A prize fund of $30,000 was secured for the Sprint Championship, also split equally between the two categories. First place earned $7,000; second, $4,000; third, $2,000; fourth, $1,500; and fifth, $500.
The Beast race held on October 10 held additional significance for competitors in the Adriatic Series. Following the initial Super race in Sveta Nedelja, athletes gathered points on Hvar—over a 21-kilometer course featuring 30 obstacles—ahead of the series finale at Krvavec on October 17.
Italian athlete Claudia Bongiovanni won the women’s race on Hvar with a time of 2:41:37, while Norwegian Espen Berget triumphed in the men’s category with a time of 2:13:53.
The Adriatic Series combines three races into a single ranking for the Elite and Age Group categories. Points are awarded based on placement, with a victory earning 300 points. The final tally counts the two best results, meaning that even competitors for whom Hvar was their first race in the series can contend for the overall ranking by participating in the final Beast race at Krvavec. A Great Race and Over 500 Children on the Course
The Super 10K—featuring a 10-kilometer course and 25 obstacles—brought together competitors of varying experience levels, ranging from those for whom Hvar was their first Spartan race to seasoned participants with numerous races under their belts. At the starting line, the pre-race atmosphere was filled with dancing and laughter, as the group warm-up quickly turned into a social gathering before hitting the course.
The youngest participants had their own races, too; over 500 children took part in the Spartan Kids events. The shortest course, spanning one kilometer, was recommended for children aged four to six. The 1.5-kilometer race was open to children aged seven to 14, while the three-kilometer race was for those aged nine to 14.
Age-appropriate obstacles included climbing, crawling, and jumping, and every finisher was awarded a medal. Parents and friends cheered the children on from the sidelines, meaning the program for the youngest participants also brought together many families.
Over 300 Team Members and 143 Volunteers
More than 300 team members and 143 volunteers took part in executing the four-day program. Organization and production crews, race officials, and security teams managed the race operations, while volunteers assisted competitors and provided support on the ground. The arrival of athletes, along with their families and teams, generated additional demand for accommodation, hospitality services, and transport in October—well after the peak summer season. Josip Pavić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, highlighted the event’s contribution to extending the tourist season:
“The Spartan World Championship Hvar is an excellent example of how major international sports events can contribute to the development of year-round tourism and create added value for a destination outside the main tourist season. We are particularly pleased that, in mid-October, Hvar once again brought together thousands of participants and their supporters from over 60 countries, confirming the event’s strong international character and Croatia’s status as a sports-tourism destination. This year, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Tourism and Sport recognized the project’s significance and provided €1,350,000 in co-financing. We are proud of this year’s results, as well as the growth the Spartan World Championship Hvar has achieved over the past three years.”
Hvar and Spartan to Continue Partnership in 2027
Spartan returns to Hvar from October 7 to 10, 2027. The fourth edition will offer an opportunity to experience the island from a new perspective. Organizers invite past participants to return and aim for a new personal best, and encourage those who watched the races from the sidelines this year to step up to the starting line themselves next autumn.
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