Dunja Ivanova: Sport and music for me are not opposites, but a balance

Dunja Ivanova combines elite sport with an academic and musical path: she is a champion in marathon mountain biking and secured direct qualification for the UCI Marathon World Championship by her placement in the third round of the HERO UCI Marathon World Cup in Andorra, while simultaneously holding a doctorate in philosophy, and working as an author and piano teacher.

"Andorra was an exceptional experience"

Ivanova described the race in Andorra as a special physical challenge: "Andorra was an exceptional experience, especially because it was the first time I faced a race at such altitude. The start was at around 1,650 meters, and the course climbed up to 2,300 meters, which in itself represents a serious physiological challenge. The lack of proper adaptation to the thin air was one of the biggest challenges. The body simply reacts differently at that altitude and every effort feels stronger. The course was demanding, with steep technical climbs, rocky sections and fast, merciless descents. In those conditions there is no room for error and every moment requires full concentration, skill and flawless execution. Andorra is a place that both tests and inspires you, and the placement among the top 20 in the World Cup also secured us direct qualification for the upcoming World Championship in Italy. This result is proof that the consistency, discipline and dedication of the people who are part of my team are equally important as personal effort. Without them, no peak would be attainable."

She says that motivation for sport is not a single point but a process that is constantly built upon: she draws inspiration from the process itself — from the effort, from nature and from moments when one must react instinctively and precisely. For her, adrenaline is a consequence, a reminder that you are alive and that you are pushing your own limits.

Ivanova began her competitive career six years ago when she became part of the cycling club Energy. "I have been connected to the bicycle since early childhood, but back then it was a symbol of freedom and exploration. The competitive path began six years ago, when I became part of the cycling club Energy. There the real understanding of the sport began — its structure, seriousness and purpose. Out of curiosity, love for the process gradually grew, for the trail and for constantly surpassing myself. The support from my family was certainly important from the very beginning. My mother and father raised me with the idea not to be afraid and to reach for what seems impossible. From them I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite it. That is a value that follows me today in every achievement. My father, as an athlete, left a deep mark by his example and everything he did for sport, with his bravery and dedication, inevitably shaped me. In a way, I naturally inherited that path, not because I had to, but because it is undeniably right."

Reactions from those around her, Ivanova says, have been strongly positive and very meaningful: "The reactions from those around me are strongly positive and very significant to me. But the greatest value is not only in the support, but in the moments when my story inspires someone else to make a positive change in their life."

From a results perspective she highlights international placements, qualification for the Marathon World Championship and the historic ranking on the UCI world list that placed the Macedonian flag on the front page among the top thirty female competitors. But her ambition goes further — she wants to create a system and a clear path for the next generations who will enter this sport.

Ivanova does not see herself as a born winner but as a fighter who has forged her successes through effort and consistency. In conclusion, she summarizes the synergy between art and sport: "Music and sport for me are not opposites, but a balance. One brings calm and an inner rhythm, the other dynamics and challenge. Together they create a whole in which there is no saturation, but constant renewal."

Photo: Dunja Ivanova Archive