Today, on September 19, Ermin Muslimović arrived in Sarajevo after an incredible endeavor – on August 31st he set out from Spittal an der Drau in Austria, a place where he was born and raised, and after exactly 20 days of running, he reached Sarajevo. Approximately half of his route passed through Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the finish line, in front of Sebilj on Baščaršija, his family waited for him, from the youngest to the oldest family members, who came from various parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world.
“An incredible, indescribable feeling I have waited to experience for 20 days. I went through all kinds of things to see this moment,” Muslimović said after arriving in Sarajevo.
As he emphasized, the goal of his endeavor was not just to cross the distance from Austria to Sarajevo, but to primarily prove to myself that boundaries can be pushed.
“I wanted to prove to myself that everything is possible. People always talk a lot, but don’t act. I wanted to do it and prove to myself that I can do it. Everything fell into place in the end,” Ermin said.
Message to the Youth: Do Not Give Up on Your Dreams
Ermin wanted to send a message to the youth and children. As a boy, he dreamed about becoming a footballer, but that dream did not come true. However, sports remained an important part of his life.
He found inspiration for this endeavor in the success of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, which, as he says, showed this year how much can be achieved when you believe in yourself.
“My biggest goal… I saw what the national team did this year with the whole world. As a boy, I also wanted to be a football player, but that, unfortunately, did not come true,” Ermin said.
That is why he tells young people to fight for their dreams, but also to do sports and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“To those children, to the youth, I tell them to keep fighting. If they don’t fulfill some childhood dream, let them stay in sports so they don’t go down a different path. Let them engage in sports, let them simply live healthy; what is my goal also,” Ermin emphasized.
His Father Ran 16 Kilometers
One particularly emotional moment during the entire endeavor was related to his family. Ermin’s father, who is 61 years old, decided to run 16 kilometers.
Ermin said he did not expect that, but that moment had a special meaning for him.
“This was a sign of what I accomplished within my family. We have reached the point where even they have started running in their old days,” he said, smiling.
For him, that is one of the most beautiful results of the entire endeavor; the fact is that his example inspired the family members.
“I feel Indescribable Love for Bosnia and Herzegovina”
Speaking about Bosnia and Herzegovina, Muslimović did not hide his emotions. Although he was born and raised in Austria, he said that his bond with the homeland is deeply rooted.
“These are my roots; as a child I always loved coming here. Over the past two years, those feelings have returned, and I am here often. I feel an indescribable love for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
He added that during the journey, he once again realized how much this country means to him.
This country is something indescribable. There is nothing like this anywhere else in the world. We saw what they achieved at the World Cup too,” Ermin said in an interview with the portal Radiosarajevo.ba.
Blisters Caused Him the Biggest Problems
The journey to Sarajevo did not go without issues. Blisters caused most problems for Ermin, which occurred during days of running.
In Velika Kladuša, the situation was so serious that he had to seek medical help at a hospital. Doctors recommended him to rest for two days to treat his injuries.
However, Ermin did not want to give up on his plan.
He took a risk and continued running so as not to fall behind the planned route and arrival time in Sarajevo.
After 20 days, hundreds of kilometers run, numerous challenges and physical exhaustion, the goal was finally in front of him: Sebilj, family and the city which holds a special place in his heart. For Ermin Muslimović, this was not only a journey from Austria to Sarajevo. It was a personal challenge, a message to the youth not to give up on their dreams, and a reminder of how much sports can inspire an individual, as well as an entire family.
