After redshirting his first year in La Jolla, UC San Diego decathlete Dan Golubovic, a sophomore out of Manhattan Beach, burst onto the scene last year in somewhat unexpected fashion. His first competition resulted in the school's No. 3 all-time decathlon point total. He later set a new Triton Track & Field Stadium mark, scoring 6,898 points while winning the CCAA title (moving him to No. 2 in UCSD history), and concluded his year with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships. Head coach Darcy Ahner is high on her still improving standout. “Sky is truly the limit for Dan in the decathlon," says Ahner. "Because it takes so much time to develop 10 events, as a redshirt sophomore, he'd relatively young for a decathlete. It is such a rare gift to see an athlete with the physical attributes of a tall frame, natural strength, jumping, throwing and running athletic talent coupled with great kinesthetic awareness. With all that, Dan's greatest attribute is his determination and work ethic. His work ethic is also his greatest liability as he is learning he has to balance things and harness his determination. It is very easy to over-train in the decathlon and become injured. He is healthy now, and we are excited to see what he brings to the championships.” With the 2015 CCAA meet just hours away, Golubovic took time to talk about his background in the decathlon, his eclectic interests and a possible celebrity look-a-like.
Q: What inspires someone to take up the decathlon?
GOLUBOVIC: For me, it was about the challenge. Ten events over two days testing speed, strength, endurance, and mental sanity is not easy by any means and training for it is no different. But at the same time, there is satisfaction in the struggle at the end of every day. My high school coach was a collegiate decathlete, so he was the one that started me along this path. The first time he explained to me what this event was, I thought it sounded hard, painful, and a little crazy, but I knew I wanted to do it, because I'm a little crazy.
Q: How and when did you first start competing in track and field, and what were your primary events then?
GOLUBOVIC: I first started in my sophomore year of high school as a high jumper. My father tried pushing me into track & field freshman year, but I despised the idea of running for fun, so I held out one year before showing up to tryouts. I wasn't too happy then, but I thank him now for getting me going.
Q: Of the 10 disciplines, which do you consider your two best? Your two worst?
GOLUBOVIC: I'd say my two best events would be the pole vault and the 110m hurdles. These two are also my favorites because they are always exciting to compete in, and I feel like I have a relatively natural understanding of the technique behind them. I do not compete with proper technique by any means, but at least I get it. Currently, my two worst events are definitely the 400m and the 1500m. This year it has been primarily due to lack of preparation for them both as I am coming off of injury, but I am also inexperienced with these in particular and don't quite understand how to run either of them.
Q: Compared to other track and field events, there is relatively little opportunity to compete in decathlons. When you're at this point of your season, how do you know "where you are" competitively, or what you need to work on? Is that a problem?
GOLUBOVIC: Speculation. Though I do compete at our track meets to see my progress in single events, the decathlon is a different animal which is why I basically guess to try and set both expectations and goals for myself; sometimes it works, but many times it turns out a little ridiculous. I wouldn't say that the lack of decathlons in a season is a problem (injury-wise my body takes it as a blessing) because my coaches are very knowledgeable about what I need in preparation for a decathlon, so trust in them as well as in my own work ethic goes a long way.
Q: Tell us about how the events are ordered and does that sequence play into your strategy and approach over the two days of competition?
GOLUBOVIC: The order of a decathlon, though it beats you down, is designed so that the athletes can perform their best in each individual event, which is why the 1500 is the last race. I doubt anybody could high jump well if they had to do it after the 1500. I approach strategy for the decathlon as more conditional rather than a guide, because each event earns its own points. When I am competing in any event, I have to be present in only that event and not worried about how poorly or great my priors were. This is something that is very difficult for me, especially when I am struggling, as I was in my opener this year. It is very easy to get caught up in point totals and expectations rather just competing on meet day.
Q: Are there different stereotypical decathlete types, physically and mentally?
GOLUBOVIC: There are decathletes that are better throwers, sprinters, or jumpers that may be weak in other events, but in general we are looking for improvement wherever we can find it.
Q: You made quite a splash last spring, reaching the NCAA Championships as a freshman. What type of decathlon background did you have coming in and how do you account for that performance?
GOLUBOVIC: The only experience with the decathlon I had before university was Junior Olympics the summer after my senior year of high school. Though I do believe I had the talent to get there, I credit reaching NCAA Championships to both my coaches and my family. They have all been working to my benefit from technical training to just general support and keeping my eyes on the goal.
Q: One of your major changes in 2015 has been "the look." What was the motivation there? Has anyone told you that you look like Jeff Spicoli of Fast Times at Ridgemont High fame?
GOLUBOVIC: Well, I was going to get a haircut one weekend last year, and pretty much changed my mind and decided not to. It started getting longer and I thought the flow looked cool so I kept it. There's only a select few that have called me Spicoli, and the rest see Flash Gordon. I guess I'm just not a good enough surfer.
Q: You're known as an extreme sports enthusiast. What types of activities to you enjoy within that genre?
GOLUBOVIC: I'm not so sure there is anything in that category that doesn't look fun to me, but my favorites are definitely BMX and Motocross.
Q: What is the craziest/scariest sporting experience you've ever had?
GOLUBOVIC: I was racing motocross when I was 17, my bike died up the takeoff of a 70-foot double jump and I hit the eject button. The scary part came when I ran to pick my bike off of the track, I looked up and saw another rider in the air and coming straight for me. That one hurt a little bit.
Q: How do your coaches feel about your hobby?
GOLUBOVIC: Well I keep telling them it's good cardio so it will help with my 1500, but they don't seem to be buying it. I think they know that especially during the season, the only things on my mind are my school work and athletics.
Q: Is there an extreme event or stunt that's on your bucket list? What's stopping you from trying it?
GOLUBOVIC: The Baja 1000. It's a 1000-mile race across the Mexican desert in Baja California, and I would love to race it one day. I am held back right now just by time and funding, but one day.
Q: Is there anything that you've seen or heard about that would be too radical for you to attempt?
GOLUBOVIC: Josh Sheehan's (professional freestyle motocross rider) triple backflip. One (flip) is enough for me. (Watch the video)
Q: Outside of sports and other physical pursuits, what kind of interests do you have?
GOLUBOVIC: I like designing and building things with my own hands. I take pride in my work in everything I do. This is just a little easier on my body.
Q: You've identified tacos as one of your favorite foods. Do you have a go-to place in San Diego?
GOLUBOVIC: You know, I have not yet found "the one" in San Diego, at least not like the taqueria back home. That being said, I live way too close to Los Primos this year, which has been deadly to my diet.
Q: You're an economics major. Do you have any plans in mind as far as what you would like to do with that degree after graduating?
GOLUBOVIC: I really do not know where the real world will take me, but I have enjoyed my major thus far, so the plan for now is just to keep my grades up.
Q: Decathletes typically hit their prime later than those competitors in other sports/events. What short- and long-term aspirations do you have in your specialty?
GOLUBOVIC: Short run, I want to win NCAA nationals. Long run, I want to push and find my own limits. No if's, no but's, no excuses.
Previous Triton Q&A Features
Clayton Yamaguchi (Golf) April 14, 2015
McKenna Clewett (Softball) March 16, 2015
Hunter Walker (Men's Basketball) February 17, 2015
Alexis Wieseler (Women's Water Polo) February 3, 2015
Troy Cruz (Baseball) January 27, 2015
Miranda Seto (Women's Basketball) January 6, 2015
Naomi Thomas (Women's Swimming & Diving) December 30, 2014
Cameron Ravanbach (Men's Water Polo) November 21, 2014
Eric Olen (Men's Basketball) November 17, 2014
Mitchell Shulman (Men's Fencing) November 13, 2014
Paul Li (Men's Swimming & Diving) November 1, 2014
Paige Hughes (Women's Cross Country) October 20, 2014
Danielle Dahle (Women's Volleyball) October 14, 2014
Tareq Alwafai (Men's Cross Country) September 25, 2014
David Higginson (Men's Water Polo) September 18, 2014
Matthew McClure (Men's Soccer) September 10, 2014
Caitlin Brenton (Women's Volleyball) September 3, 2014
Michelle Yasutake (Women's Soccer) August 25, 2014
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