22 Jul 2025

Catch me if Lukan: FISU Games record goes as Klara captures women’s 10,000m

BOCHUM – Slovenia’s Klara Lukan produced a record-breaking run to win the first athletics gold medal of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games and cap a perfect opening day of competition at the newly refurbished Lohrheidestadion in Bochum.

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Lukan (SLO) clocked 31 minutes 25.84 seconds to win gold in the women’s 10,000m and smash Viorica Ghican’s (ROU) 35-year-old FISU record of 31:46.43, coincidently set the last time Germany hosted the Games at the Duisburg 1989 Universiade.

Lukan, 24, was a class above her opposition, finishing more than 15 seconds clear of Sarah Wanjiru Njeri (KEN) in second place with Alicia Berzosa Martin (ESP) taking bronze.

“This feels amazing, just great,” Lukan told the FISU Games News Service. “Everything went according to plan today.

“My style of running is to just push the best. I kept that, that’s the way I ran my whole career, so why would I do something differently? It brought me many successes.

“Since the run is so long, it’s hard to be in your own zone for the whole half an hour. I listened to the cheers, especially at the finish line. It gives me extra energy.”

A living room for everyone

Happy with the minor medals, Njeri and Berzosa Martin, also enjoyed the absorbing the atmosphere at the Lohrheidestadion.

First opened in 1954, it has been redeveloped for the Rhine Ruhr 2025 FISU Games with a capacity of 16,500. It is home to athletics club TV Wattenscheid 01 and football club SG Wattenscheid 09, and in Bochum it is affectionately known as the ‘Living Room’.

“I’m so happy to run for my country,” Njeri told FGNS. “I could hear people from Kenya, from Japan, from other countries. It is my first time at the FISU Games, my first time in Germany. Everything feels good.”

Berzosa Martin said she had felt really strong during the race.

“I was dreaming about this,” she said. “On videos on Instagram, I already saw the stadium was really good, but I didn’t expect this crowd. There were so many people screaming my name; it was so cool.”

Heats were also held on the Lohrheidestadion track on Monday, in the men’s and women’s 100m and 400m, and men’s 400m hurdles.

Lythe Tyresse Pillay (RSA) won his 400m heat to qualify for the semi-finals and enjoyed his first taste of the FISU Games.

“I’m feeling good, feeling comfortable,” Pillay said. “So far, it’s a good start. I like the vibe. It’s very different, very youthful. There’s a lot of energy, which I find very exciting.

“A lot of us students know what’s it’s like to juggle student and athlete life. I’m sure many of the spectators are in the stands because they came to support friends, family and teammates.”

Strong women

Pillay delivered a stunning performance last year when he clocked 44.31 seconds – becoming South Africa’s second fastest man over 400m behind the country’s running sensation: current world record holder Wayde van Niekerk.

"We always thought that it was the Americans or the Europeans that were made for the sport but then seeing someone do it in our own backyard, it was like, 'but I can do that too'", Pillay told Olympics.com.

Aside from his idol Van Niekerk, Pillay is guided on his athletic journey by two strong women.

“I have a mother who makes sure that I keep up with my work, and a coach on the track who makes sure I keep up with my sessions. So, I have two very strong women in my life to guide me”, he told FGNS.

Athletics action continues at Lohrheidestadion on Tuesday, with five gold medals to be won, including the men’s 100m. Grab your tickets here.

FGNS pg/cc/ph/mb