Rio Olympics 2016: Sinković Brothers Win Rowing Gold for Croatia

Sinković Brothers win gold (photo credit: FISA Igor Meijer)

Croatia wins its second gold medal of the Olympic Games in Rio on Thursday…

World and European Champion rowers Martin and Valent Sinković have now added an Olympic gold medal to their impressive collection after winning the final of the Men’s double skulls on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio on Thursday.

The brothers, who cruised to victory in their semi-final earlier in the week with a time of 6:12:27, were too good for their opponents in the final, beating crews from France, Great Britain, Norway, Lithuania and Italy to claim their first ever Olympic Gold medal.

The Croatians started strong and took the lead from the start with only the Lithuanian crew able to stay close. The Lithuanian pair of Griskonis and Ritter managed to overtake the Croatians midway through the race. The Croatians however had too much stamina and came back to finish strong and claim gold 1.11 seconds ahead of Griskonis and Ritter.

Martin and Valent Sinković in action

“We have done everything now there is to do in rowing. We gave it our all and now we will celebrate. It is hard to describe the feeling,” said Martin Sinković after the race.

The Croatian brothers have dominated this event over the last two years winning World and European titles. In 2014 they set a World Best Time in their semifinal at the World Rowing Championships.

The medal is Croatia’s second gold so far at the Olympics after Josip Glasnović won gold in the men’s shooting trap on Monday.

Result:

1. CROATIA 6:50.28
(Martin/Valent Sinković)

2. Lithuania 6:51.39
(Mindaugas Griskonis/Saulius Ritter)

3. Norway 6:53.25
(Kjetil Borch / Olaf Tufte)