Sinković brothers win World Rowing Cup gold and 50th career medal

Sinković brothers win World Rowing Cup gold and 50th career medal (Photo: Press)

Croatian rowers Martin and Valent Sinković have won gold in World Rowing Cup in the men’s pair event at the opening regatta of the season held in Zagreb.

This victory marks their 50th career medal, making them the most successful rowers in Croatian history.

The brothers dominated the race, beating the Spanish team who are the reigning world silver medalists with a time of 6:16.74. This success follows their disappointment at the World Championships and sets them up well for the upcoming European Championships in Slovenia from May 25-28.

Martin Sinković expressed his satisfaction at the victory and joked that the president of the World Rowing Federation had suggested they deliberately lost at the World Championships in order to win in Zagreb.

(Photo: Press)

“We didn’t expect anything less. We have to prove ourselves as the best athletes in the world, and Croats as the best audience in the world. The President of the World Rowing Federation joked that we intentionally let others win at the World Championships so that we could win the 50th medal in Zagreb,” Martin said.

Valent Sinković said that the boat performed excellently and that beating the world’s second-best team is a sign of their high level, even though the world champions, France, did not participate in this event.

(Photo: Press)

“The boat went really well. To beat the Spaniards, who are second in the world, in such a secure way means that we are at a very high level, regardless of the fact that the French, the world champions, did not come. The Dutch will also be there, with the crew returning from the Olympic Games, but at this level, few can compete,” Valent said.

Patrik and Anton Lončarić narrowly missed out on a medal in the men’s coxless pairs, coming fourth with a time of 6:38.81. Despite falling behind in the middle of the race, they were able to pick up the pace towards the end with the help of the loud support from the home crowd.

Swiss rowers Roman Roeoesli and Andrin Gulich took the gold medal, followed by the Spanish team of Jaime Canalejo Pazos and Javier Garcia Ordonez.

In the women’s double sculls final, Ivana and Josipa Jurković came third with a time of 7:36.73, with gold going to the Spanish team and silver to the Czechs.

Unfortunately, the sisters were unable to receive their bronze medals due to the rules, which state that only the top two teams receive medals when only three teams compete in the event.

(Photo: Press)

The men’s quadruple sculls team comprising of Karlo Borković, Davor Poljančić, Roko Bošković, and Fran Suk missed out on a medal by a hair’s breadth at the World Cup event in Zagreb. The Croatian team finished the race in 05:53.67, just 0.05 seconds behind the third-placed Swiss crew who crossed the finish line with a time of 05:53.62. 

The gold medal went to the Czech Republic, and Ukraine took the silver. The race was undoubtedly the most intense of the day, and the Croatian quartet gave it their all, but it wasn’t enough to secure a medal. Despite their disappointment, the team can hold their heads high, knowing they gave a stellar performance and came within a whisker of earning a medal.

On the other hand, Damir Martin improved his performance and won dominantly in the B final. Although he had to settle for a win in the B final, Damir Martin had three excellent races in three days. The Croatian rower built up a lead of up to three seconds over his competition in the last 500 meters and crossed the finish line with a time of 07:07.64, leaving his competitors behind. 

The second place went to Moldovan Ivan Corsunov, while the third to cross the finish line was Hungarian Bendeguz Petervari-Molnar.

Martin’s performance was well-received by the fans who cheered him on throughout the race. The Croatian rower’s consistency in his three races was impressive and promising for the future.

Besides Martin, the only other B finalists were Vito Prižmić and Nino Varat in the lightweight men’s double sculls. They finished their Zagreb adventure in the World Cup in 5th place with a time of 06:50.90. The Croatian rowers gave it their all but missed out on a medal, just like their compatriots in the men’s quadruple sculls event.