Vera Nikolić

Vera Nikolić

Personal information
Born	23 September 1948 (1948-09-23) (age 68) Grabovica, Yugoslavia
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight	57 kg (126 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	800 m, 1500 m
Club	Morava Cuprija Dynamo Zagreb
Coached by	Leo Lang
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	800 m – 1:59.62 (1972) 1500 m – 4:12.7 (1972)
Medal record Representing  Yugoslavia European Championships 1966 Budapest 800 m 1971 Helsinki 800 m 1969 Athens 800 m Mediterranean Games 1971 Izmir 800 m 1971 Izmir 1500 m

Vera Nikolić (Serbian Cyrillic: Вера Николић; born 23 September 1948) is a Serbian coach and retired middle-distance runner who competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. She had her best achievements in the 800 m event, in which she won European titles in 1966 and 1971 and set a world record on 20 July 1968. She came to the 1968 Olympics as a favorite, but due to the pressure of being the favorite^[1] she gave up her semifinal – after leading it for 300 m she suddenly stepped off the track, walked back to the start, sat down and took off her shoes.^[2] She set her personal best in 800 m at the 1972 Olympics, but this was only enough for a fifth place.^[3]

Nikolić received a Golden Badge of Sport, award for the best athlete of Yugoslavia in 1966.

References

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Awards
Preceded by Branislav Lončar	The Best Athlete of Yugoslavia 1966	Succeeded by Ivo Daneu
Preceded by Ružica Miladinović Desanka Perović	Yugoslav Sportswoman of the Year 1966, 1967 1971, 1972	Succeeded by Đurđica Bjedov Jelica Pavličić
Records
Preceded by Judy Pollock	Women's 800 metres World Record Holder 1968-07-20 – 1971-07-11	Succeeded by Hildegard Falck