Lorena Faktor: Biography
Rising Croatian Track and Field Star
Lorena Faktor, born January 19, 2004, is a dynamic Croatian track and field athlete who specializes in hurdles events. She is a member of AK Slavonija-Žito club in Osijek and trains under the guidance of coach Saša Šešum.
Athletic Accomplishments
Faktor holds impressive personal bests, including 8.44 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles (indoor) set in February 2025, and 13.92 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles (outdoor) achieved in June 2025. She is a three-time Croatian national champion and currently ranks #726 globally in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
In the 2025 indoor season, she became the Croatian champion in the 60 meters for the under-23 category and vice-champion in the senior category. Her remarkable progression has been evident across multiple disciplines, as she has consistently improved her personal records over recent seasons.
International Experience
One of Faktor’s proudest achievements came at the 2018 World Youth Sports Games in Israel, where she competed alongside teammates Melani Bosić, Iva Akmadžić, and Nikolina Ćosić. The Croatian team won silver in the 4×100-meter relay, and Faktor also secured an individual bronze medal in the high jump.
More recently, she competed at the Balkan Senior Championships in Istanbul, where she placed seventh in the 60 meters and earned silver in the 4×400-meter relay alongside teammates Andrijašević, Galić, and Milić.
Athletic Journey
Faktor’s love affair with track and field began in 2012 when her father took her to the Gradski Vrt stadium in Osijek, where training sessions for all age categories were taking place at AK Slavonija-Žito. Despite being a complete beginner, her first training session was with a junior group under coach Zoran Tadić, before moving to coach Filip Grgurić’s group the following day, where she trained for two years.
She won her first gold medal at the 2013 indoor league and has since accumulated over 100 medals from various competitions, including more than 50 from national championships. Athletics was her first sport and first love, inspired by her parents who were avid followers of the sport.
Originally a long jumper and high jumper, Faktor discovered her passion for hurdles during her younger cadet years when coach Marija Meznarić suggested she try the 60-meter hurdles. As a cadet, she began working with coach Saša Šešum, who shared her passion for hurdles, marking the beginning of their successful partnership.
Training and Approach
Faktor attributes her recent progress to hard work, improved nutrition, and mental training sessions with mental coach Sandra Đurijanček, along with the strong trust and relationship she shares with her coach. She particularly enjoys training during competition periods with sport-specific workouts, though she finds both the challenge and satisfaction in the base preparation phase where endurance and conditioning work is emphasized.
Education and Career Aspirations
Faktor is a kinesiology student at the University of Osijek. Balancing her demanding athletic career with academic responsibilities presents challenges, particularly given her frequent travel for competitions. However, she credits her classmates for sharing materials when she’s absent and appreciates her professors’ understanding regarding missed lectures.
Her athletic goals include qualifying for the Mediterranean Games and the European Under-23 Championships, demonstrating her ambition to compete at progressively higher levels of international competition.
Personal Interests and Character
Faktor’s dedication to athletics is matched by her commitment to continuous improvement. She represents a new generation of Croatian athletes who balance academic pursuits with elite athletic training, embodying discipline, determination, and a growth mindset. Her journey from a young beginner training with juniors to a nationally recognized hurdler showcases her perseverance and natural talent.
With her combination of speed, technical skill in hurdling, and mental fortitude, Lorena Faktor continues to be a rising star in Croatian track and field, carrying forward the proud tradition of Croatian athletics while forging her own path toward international success.
Go Lorena!
