In a world that increasingly turns us into observers of our own lives, distances us from nature, and imposes a rhythm that’s harder and harder to keep up with, Edin Mehmedović reminds us to listen to the signals our body sends—and return to one of life’s most basic needs: movement. This passionate athlete, kinesiologist, and professional coach has long outgrown sport itself. His greatest victories didn’t happen on the field, but in the lives of the people he’s helped transform.
From a boy growing up in Dugave, a Zagreb neighborhood, chasing a ball to becoming a respected coach and authority in the world of sport, his journey has shaped the mission he lives every day. Over more than two decades, he has guided people through their toughest battles—through attempts, failures, and comebacks. And the more he worked with them, especially those facing serious challenges with obesity, the clearer it became: the real battle is rarely physical—it’s mental. Behind every extra kilogram, there is often a deeper life story. And true transformation never begins in the body—it begins in the mind. That’s why today, his greatest success lies in the people he’s helped—not just in how they look, but in what they say: “Thank you for saving my life.”
He believes humans are made to move—and that through movement and everyday choices, we reconnect with who we truly are. Because the purpose of life is not to stand still, but to explore, to move, to grow. Only then does health stop being a goal—and become a state of being.
“When, after a long, exhausting and emotionally demanding process, someone looks you in the eye and says, ‘Thank you for saving my life’—that’s when everything makes sense. In that moment, you are no longer just a coach—you become part of someone’s real transformation, a process in which a person puts themselves back together. And that’s when you realize that what you do goes beyond sport—it becomes the reason you wake up every morning and something truly worth fighting for.”
As a husband and father of three daughters, he continues to learn every day—how to lead by example, how to motivate without pressure, and how to truly live what he teaches. He follows a simple but often forgotten truth: life is a game—and we choose whether we play it. Somewhere along the way, we stopped playing. And that’s when we stopped truly living. Because when we keep that sense of play alive, we are present. Fulfilled. Alive. Life doesn’t pass us by—we actually live it.
And that is why Edin Mehmedović is our Voice of Sport—a man who reminds us to live life fully and deeply. Because those who preserve that childlike sense of play are already winning the most important game of all—life.
A 45-year-old man who, above all, strives to be the best possible father to his children.
By profession, I’m a graduate kinesiologist with over 20 years of experience in fitness and working with people—their transformations, attempts, setbacks, and successes. Through life, you change, you grow, and you try to become a better person than you were yesterday. As Human Voice puts it, I try to make my voice heard. Over the years, you learn that no path is ever linear, and that every change carries its own weight. And today, I can say that I’m still learning—both as a coach and as a human being.
I always like to remember my mother, who used to say, “My dear son, the only thing you’re really talented for is chasing a ball.”
She wasn’t far from the truth. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been involved in some kind of physical activity. Growing up in Dugave, a neighborhood in Novi Zagreb, in the 80s, meant being outside all the time—playing, moving, exploring. And that play mostly revolved around football or any kind of sport. Handball came very early, already at the beginning of primary school. And of course, it was also a way to build friendships. Through sport, you build yourself—but you also build relationships. Sport truly shaped me in every sense of the word—from my physical form to my mindset. You learn how to fall, you learn how to accept defeat, and you learn how important it is to always try to give the very best of yourself.
“As a society, we’ve suppressed one of our most fundamental human needs—the need to move. Alongside breathing, food, and reproduction, movement is essential, yet we’ve almost completely pushed it out of our daily lives. That’s exactly why I’ve made it my mission to raise awareness of its benefits. I feel a responsibility to spread that awareness and remind people that we are, by nature, meant to move. And only then does health stop being a goal—and become a state we consciously live every day.”
Honestly, I never saw myself in that role—as someone standing on the sidelines, watching others. It all happened naturally. I quickly realized that my professional path had to be connected to movement, because that’s what drives me and what I identify with the most. Before I became a father, I was an athlete. Before I became a husband, I was an athlete. Sport has always been a big part of my identity, and I knew I had to stay in that world.
The television project was a major turning point in my life. It brought me visibility and recognition, but also a new level of responsibility. People began to see me as an authority and would ask for advice—even in everyday situations. But what it truly gave me was a shift in perspective. I started to see obesity differently—not just as a physical challenge, but as a serious psychological issue, especially in extreme cases. When you go through a long, difficult, and emotionally demanding process with someone, and they look at you and say, “Thank you for saving my life,” that’s when everything begins to make sense. In that moment, you’re no longer just a kinesiologist giving instructions—you become part of someone’s real transformation. And that is what has shaped me the most.
What I’ve come to realize is that, alongside competition, I find a great deal of enjoyment in what I call “voluntary suffering.” That might mean lifting weights, or putting on a backpack and heading up Sljeme. That kind of voluntary effort brings me a sense of satisfaction—and in a way, it heals me. It softens me.
Full interview
Absolutely—everything in life can be learned, including making physical activity a natural part of your everyday routine. Anyone can find an element of play in movement—whether it’s going up Sljeme, walking around a lake, spending time in Maksimir, or going to the gym. Any kind of physical activity can be experienced as play. I think that’s the essence of it all. Or maybe that’s just how I see it. What matters to me is that I feel like I’m playing in life—that I have a sense of playing with life. And when that need is fulfilled, I feel complete. I feel happy. Of course, some people may prefer solving math problems—and that’s perfectly fine—but everyone needs to find a way to train their mind through physical activity as well.
I try to live in a way where I learn from everything—but honestly, I remember failures more. Maybe it’s because I form strong connections with people. When you spend time with someone and go through a process together, it’s hard not to take their struggles to heart. Through my own growth, I’ve had to learn to let go of part of that responsibility and leave it to them. It’s easier for me today than it used to be—but it still affects me when I see someone struggling.
A parent has to be the first to motivate—but also the first to lead by example.
I won’t sugarcoat it, I’ll be honest—even I struggle to motivate my own children in the morning. They see me as an athlete every day, they see how big a role movement plays in my life—but on a Saturday morning, I still have to find a way to get them out of bed. When they were younger, I’d tell them we were going to look for flying teddy bears; as they get older, I find other ways. I’m not afraid to put my ego aside and create a bit of pressure around what I believe matters. I insist on it—calmly, but consistently.
As a society, we’ve suppressed one of our most fundamental human needs—the need to move. Alongside breathing, food, and reproduction, movement is essential, yet we’ve almost completely pushed it out of our daily lives. Today, we spend 15 or more hours a day sitting—and that’s not good. That’s exactly why I’ve made it my mission to raise awareness of its benefits. I feel a responsibility to spread that awareness and remind people that we are, by nature, meant to move. And only then does health stop being a goal—and become a state we consciously live every day.
The mind is everything. I think of one client—he was a lawyer. He used to be an athlete, but work and business took him in a different direction. We trained together for more than 15 years. He’s the only client in my career who trained every single day. Every day. My role was to manage the load, but it was clear to me that this level of discipline wasn’t something he was born with. He got there through a decision. At one point, he realized he had to take responsibility for his own life—and turn that into a routine. And that came down to one thing: his mindset.
It’s been a major turning point in my life. After many years, I found myself back in the school environment through my daughters. They’re in school, going through adolescence, and I can see the challenges that come with that stage. I feel it every day when they take off their backpacks—they come home with worries, questions, and struggles. That’s when I realized I had to take action. As a parent, you often don’t get the chance to teach your children through real, hands-on experience—most of it happens through conversation at home. But in a camp setting, you can do that in a very practical way. From cooking together to having the girls knead dough and bake their own bread—it’s something truly special. The pace of life today is such that parents who work 10 to 12 hours a day simply don’t have the time for that. That’s why I decided to put the network of people and the tools I’ve built over the past 20 years into something that could benefit these girls. It turned into a beautiful project, and the feedback was incredible. And it gave an even deeper meaning to everything I do.
I’m driven by my inner instincts, and I question myself on a daily basis. The coach I am today at 45 and the one I was at 25 are two completely different people. What drives me now is the desire to pass on my life experience to those around me—first and foremost, to my family. I have three beautiful daughters, and I want them to find inspiration in their parents. I want them to see people who take care of themselves, who are active, and who feel good in their own bodies. I want us to build healthy habits together, to be mindful of what we put into our bodies, but also to explore a deeper, more spiritual dimension—so they understand they are not just a body, but also mind, spirit, and energy.
I found my purpose in movement—in not standing still. Over time, I came to understand that the meaning of life is, in fact, a search. An exploration. Some people explore the world, others explore themselves—I chose to start from within. I had great support in that from my wife; we grew together, both as a couple and as individuals. She encouraged me to go deeper, beneath the surface. As a boy, I dreamed of leaving a mark on my surroundings, even though I didn’t know what that would look like. Today, with all this experience, I see that I’ve really just come full circle—back to the values my parents gave me. Those same values are what I try to pass on, and to remind us of something simple: not to forget to play, and to enjoy life.
Video Shorts
“Before I became a father, I was an athlete. Before I became a husband, I was an athlete. Sport is a fundamental part of who I am. Through sport, you build yourself—but you also build relationships. It shapes you in every sense, from your physical form to your mindset. You learn how to fall. You learn how to accept defeat. But you also learn how important it is to always give your best—more, stronger, every time. Because sport gives back in ways few things can—through health, strength, and that inner freedom nothing else can replace.”