Her athletic career began early in the Primary School in Lukovica. As a junior athlete she very soon joined AK Domžale, while she draw the attention of experts at the very first important race of her life, when she managed to win silver medal at World Junior Championsh in Alba - Italy. At 800 m only young Australian athlete König was faster then Darja - but for 0:13 seconsds only.
After that and after having some minor health trouble and injuries Darja suddenly surprised everybody with her decision to quit her promising athletic career. Some executives of her club and some of her mates showed no understanding for her trouble, while some of them even "enjoyed" the situation and that made Darja's decision even more firm and final. And they most likely have never even thought of her come back as a possibility - but Darja doesn't give up easilly. She new she was going to come back some day.
And early in the spring 1998 she felt her time has come. After being absent for more than 4 years she started her training process again, all by herself and just for her own pleasure and joy. But deep in her mind was her hope to come back again.
Nobody believed at first she could be serious and there were very few of them that gave her any chances. Again Darja's will and devotion to running and competing prevailed. She very soon felt strong enough to test her capabilities and begun to compete in the Autumn 1998. And nowadays she's already become one of the strongest female slovene athletes at middle and long didtances.
Yet, at her Ex Club there are still the same people who nearly managed to destroy her career and who are still trying to do so. Who could understand them?
Darja doesn't care about it any more as she is no more as sensitive young girl as she used to be. She is still very young and as thus very promising athlete - and as a born winner she even managed to prove it at her first real come-back-race, , when in May 1999 she won a 10 km race at "XIX. International Marathon" in Radenci by nearly 2 minutes.
Darja Kokalj
| 29.01.1977 |  |
DARJA'S RECENT WINS:
1. Velenje - 12. IX. 98 (3.000 m)
2. Gemona - 21. II. 99 (Zimski pokal Italije - 3.000 m)
3. Tricessimo - 14. III. 99 (Zimski pokal Italije - 3.200 m)
4. Vipava - 27. III. 99 (Severnoprimorski pokal - 10.000 m)
5. Italy - 28. III. 99 (Zimski pokal Italije - 2.400 m)
6. Radenci - 15. V. 99 (XIX. Maraton treh src - 10.000 m)
7. Trzin - 29. V. 99 (V spomin na P. Levca - 5.400 m)
8. Logatec - 13. VI. 99 (Olimpijski tek - 10.000 m)
9. Domžale - 18. VI. 99 (Olimpijski tek - 4.000 m)
10. Ihan - 19. VI. 99 (Olimpijski tek - 10.000 m)
11. Kranj - 25. VI. 99 (Olimpijski tek - 6.000 m)
12. Mošnje - 12. VI. 99 (Mošenjski tek - 7.000 m)
13. Kropa - 03. VII. 99 (2. Kroparski tek - 7.500 m)
14. Matke - 28. VIII. 99 (Slovenija teče - 10.800 m)
15. Povir - 11. IX. 99 (Severno-primorski pokal - 11.400 m)
16. Moravske toplice (Slovenija teče - finale - 10.500 m)
.... and all the nice is yet to come, as it's predicted by some athletic experts, and guaranteed by Darja's unbeatable will (so tipical to any "real" Aquarius) - and her desire to prove herself especially at long distances and Marathons ... is going to to be fulfilled soon
And what she promises to do, she's going to do!
She's been a winner, she is a winner and she will be a winner!
Just that simple!
But she really doesn' care any more - her wish to succeed and to prove herself is stronger than any obstacle being thrown by her "enemies".