March 8, 2020 - The Sinkovic brothers, composed of Martin (30) and Valent (31) Sinkovic, are currently in Zagreb, preparing for the new rowing year on Jarun.

This year, at the Tokyo Olympics, they want to win a third medal in their third discipline - coxless pairs, they said in the podcast 'I ja sam sportaš', as reported by 24 Sata.

“It has never happened in rowing that the same crew wins three medals in three different disciplines at three Olympics, so this is definitely an additional motive that pushes us forward to achieve this,” Martin said, and Valent continued that in the future, we could see them in yet another discipline.

“It would be nice to row in the eight at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, but I doubt it will happen because at least 10 to 12 very good rowers should be available for the eight, which is quite difficult in such a small country. But going back to the four is always possible.”

The Sinkovic brothers were part of the silver foursome from London in 2012, and they won gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and it is difficult to list their smaller successes. Some medals, however, are more important to them than others.

“Some medals in my room are on one shelf, from the smaller competitions, but the ones from the big championships, like the Olympics, are stacked in the showcase for me to see,” Martin Sinkovic said with a smile.

“These are more important to me and need to be in a visible place, and for these others, I really don't know where they are. I think we have over 250 of them,” Valentin said.

After they have won everything they can win, it would be easy to assume that the Sinkovic Brothers would soon retire, but they are not.

“I do not know when it will be over or what I will do later. I know I don't want to be a coach. I think that whenever the end of my career comes, we have nothing to regret, but I certainly want to row as long as it makes me happy,” Martin emphasized.

The focus of the season is the Olympics and they will be honing their form at the World Cups and European Championships.

“We have two World Cups and the European Championship before the Olympic Games, which will be the crown of the whole four-year cycle, so all competitions in this season are preparations for Tokyo,” Martin says, while Valent warns about the competition.

“In these three years, as long as we’ve rowed in coxless pairs, the main competitors alternate with us, but we look at the Italians, who beat us in 2017, as our biggest competitors.”

Many young rowers view them as role models, which they are extremely proud of, but also aware of the responsibility that this role carries.

“I am very pleased to hear that my brother and I are role models and that is why we try to give young people an example in rowing, but also in their daily lives, because they really provide many things that help us develop into quality people,” Martin concluded, answering the question of who is his role model in life.

“For me, every man who is honest, who brings up his children in the right way and cares for his family is a role model.”

Valent said in the podcast that he felt that we should not worry about the future of Croatian rowing and that we could soon witness the new successes of some new siblings.

“The Jurkovic sisters and the Loncaric brothers were juniors worldwide and I would choose them because I think they have everything they need to be successful in the seniors. However, they have to be patient because the transition from junior to senior competition is the hardest, and that's where it is and, unfortunately, many rowers are lost here. The Loncaric brothers are training with us and we are trying to help them as much as we can and I really think that they are on the right track and that they will succeed.”

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November 23, 2019 - The Sinkovic Brothers have added to their collection of accolades with the latest honor received by the FISA World Rowing Organization. 

At an awards ceremony in London, the world rowing champions Martin and Valent Sinkovic were selected as the 'Best Male Crew of 2019' in the coxless pairs discipline. 

This is another wonderful recognition for the European, world, and Olympic winners, who have proven once again that their work and results are acknowledged worldwide.

"We are delighted with the award because this is a great confirmation of how much we are worth in the world. Perhaps the biggest confirmation is that we have moved into a new discipline and that is where we have been able to defend the world title,” said Valent Sinkovic.

The Sinkovic Brothers' excellence was officially recognized by the World Rowing Federation in 2016 when Martin and Valent were named best male crew, while coach Nikola Bralic was named the best rowing coach in the world in 2015.

“It is a great honor when a World Organization in your sport chooses you to be the best crew in the world in two different disciplines. They recognized our results, that's a big deal and a big motivation for the Olympics. We are now training very hard for Tokyo to try and win the best medal in coxless pairs, thus writing the history of rowing,” said Martin Sinkovic. 

Press

FISA awards the 'Best in 2019' in seven categories for best male and female crew, best para-rowing crew, best coach, a special award for contributing to rowing as a sport, an award for the university rower who has demonstrated the core values of rowing in all aspects of life, and the world rowing award for sustainability.

The best rowing crews and coaches were nominated by spectators, rowing enthusiasts, and the media, and the finalists were selected by the FISA Council on the basis of their candidacy. In addition to the Sinkovic Brothers in the Men's Crew of the Year competition, there were also national teams from China, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Source: Zagreb Express

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October 16, 2019 - Rowing world champions Martin and Valent Sinkovic (also known as the Sinkovic Brothers) have been nominated by the World Rowing Federation (FISA) for the best male crew of the year!

Sportklub.hr writes that this is yet another impressive recognition for both the Sinkovic brothers and coach Nikola Bralic, who have found themselves among the best in the world once again, proving that their work and results are recognized worldwide.

The Sinkovic brothers' excellence was already officially recognized by the World Rowing Federation in 2016, when Martin and Valent were named the best male crew, while coach Nikola Bralić was selected as the best rowing coach in the world in 2015.

"We are extremely proud of this nomination. It is another confirmation of all the results we are achieving and all the effort we make throughout the year," Valent said. Martin added: "I hope we are selected for the second time in our careers, it is a very great honor and a wonderful recognition after such a beautiful season. But even if we are not selected, it is a big deal just to be nominated among so many top crews."

FISA awards the best in 2019 in seven categories, including best male and female Crew, best para-rowing crew, best coach, a special award for contributing to rowing as a sport, University rowing, an award for those who have demonstrated the core values of rowing in all aspects of life, and the world rowing award for sustainability.

Will the Sinkovic brothers receive another valuable award to decorate their successful rowing year? The best will be awarded on November 22, 2019, in London. 

The best rowing crews and coaches were nominated by spectators, rowing enthusiasts and the media. The FISA Council then selected the finalists based on their candidacy. Along with the Sinkovic brothers, the men's crew of the year competition also boasts crews from China, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

August 31, 2019 - The Sinkovic brothers, also known as Valent and Martin Sinkovic, defended the world rowing championship title in the coxless pairs discipline.

The Sinkovic brothers dominated the final race at the World Championships in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, from the first to the last row, finishing 3.19 seconds ahead of second-placed New Zealanders Thomas Murray and Michael Brake, reports HRT.

The bronze went to Australians Sam Hardy and Joshua Hicks, who were 7.53 seconds behind the Sinkovic brothers. 

After the first 500 meters, the Sinkovic brothers were already a boat ahead of the New Zealanders, and halfway through the course, their advantage almost doubled (2.88 seconds) ahead of their closest opponents, while the Australians in third and Italians in fourth were already behind by more than five seconds.

Although the New Zealand crew seemed to be approaching the Croatian duo in the third leg of the course, Valent and Martin still increased their advantage with a forceful finish.

For the Sinkovic brothers, this is the sixth gold from the world championships. They won with David Šain and Damir Martin (2010, 2013) in the quadruple sculls, twice in the double sculls (2014, 2015) and twice in coxless pairs (2018, 2019). They also have silver in coxless pairs from 2017 and a bronze in the quadruple sculls from 2011.

FINAL:

1. Croatia 6:42.28

2. New Zealand 6:45.47

3. Australia 6:51.81

4. Italy 6:55.34

5. Spain 6:57.40

6. France 7:02.05

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August 30, 2019 - After placing in the finals of the World Championships, which are held in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, the Sinković brothers fulfilled their first goal, which is qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Brothers Valentin and Martin Sinković have advanced to the finals of coxless pairs at the Rowing World Championships in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, after finishing with the fastest time of 6:27.080 in the group semifinals, reports Gol.hr.

In the second place, 1.88 seconds behind the Sinković bothers, was Italy's Matteo Lodo and Giuseppe Vicino with a time of 6:28.960, and in third Spanish duo Jaime Canalejo Pazos and Javier Garcia Ordonez with a time of 6:29.320. In first place in the second semifinal group was New Zealand's Thomas Murray and Michael Brake (6.26.630), in second was Australia's Sam Hardy and Joshua Hicks (6: 27.070) and in third French team Valentin and Theophile Onofroy (6:27.300).

"It’s a relief! We sort of expected to qualify, but it’s still a relief! We’re ready for the final. It would be a dream to win. First the 2x, then the 2-, that would be a dream,” said Valent Sinković after the win. 

Valent Sinković - CRO M2-
"It’s a relief! We sort of expected to qualify, but it’s still a relief! We’re ready for the final. It would be a dream to win. First the 2x, then the 2-, that would be a dream"

?Ben Chattell / World Rowing #WRChamps pic.twitter.com/FvBigpa63Y

— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) August 30, 2019

This semi-final race was due to take place on Thursday, but as the other group had to paddle in the afternoon since the Polish crew broke a paddle, it was moved on Friday to allow all crews plenty of time to rest.

By securing a spot in the finals, the Sinković brothers fulfilled their first goal, which is qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

The finale is scheduled for Saturday at 1:37 p.m.

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The Sinković brothers are the 2019 European champions in rowing!

Brothers Martin and Valent Sinković won the gold medal in the coxless pairs at the European Rowing Championships in Lucerne, while Luka Radonić in the lightweight single sculls and Damir Martin in the single sculls remained without a medal, reports Gol.hr on June 2, 2019. 

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EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!! Again ??? #sinkovicbrothers #rowing #broTOkyo #ERChamps #lucerne2019 #menspair #priredba

A post shared by Sinkovic Brothers (@sinkovicbrothers) on Jun 2, 2019 at 2:44am PDT

The Sinković brothers have thus defended the European championship title in dominant fashion and now boast four gold medals from European Championships.

The Sinković brothers started strong in the final and at 500 meters, they already had more than a two-second advantage. Halfway through the race, they increased their lead even more.

By the end, the Zagreb duo quietly controlled the race and hit the finish line with a time of 6:22.460 minutes, ahead of Romania (6.24.530) and Spain (6: 26.310).

The two-time European champion Damir Martin took fifth place in the final of the single sculls with a time of 6.55.590 minutes. The European gold was won by German rower Ziedler with a time of 6:47.320.

Martin started a little slower and 500 meters was only sixth. Halfway through the race, he. Improved to the fifth place, but in the end, he did not have the strength to get closer to the leaders.

Luka Radonić took the fourth place in the final of lightweight single sculls with a time of 7:06.490 minutes.

The winner was Hungarian Galambos, and Luka was behind the third-placed Italian Goretti by more than four seconds.

More soon...

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Martin and Valent Sinković, better known as the Sinković brothers, will participate at the European Rowing Championship held in Lucerne, Switzerland this weekend, which will feature almost 600 athletes from 34 countries this year, reports HRT on May 28, 2019. 

After competing in the European Championship for the first time in the new discipline of coxless pairs last year and immediately winning the gold, this year's European Championship brings two challenges for the celebrated Sinković brothers. The first challenge is, of course, defending the title, and the second is competing in a new boat which will be used for the first time in history. Namely, the Sinković brothers will be the first rowers to take on the new Filippi boat at an official FISA competition, said Valent Sinković.

At the 1st World Cup in Plovdiv, the Sinković brothers won second place, losing out to the faster Serbian rowers Miloš Vasić and Martin Mačković. In the forthcoming European Championships, besides the Serbian crew, the Sinković brothers will compete against Romania, the silver medalists in last year's World Championship and the team from France who won bronze in the same competition. Of the other competitors, there is also the Czech crew, who won the bronze at the 3rd World Cup, as well as Italy who in 2017 defeated the Sinković brothers in the World Cup final by several hundredths of a second. 

“There is a lot more competition than the 1st World Cup. All the strongest crews are coming and we expect very even and interesting races. We are not afraid of anyone; we always give our maximum and fight for the gold,” said Martin Sinković.

The first qualifying race scheduled for May 31 is around 9:24 am. The semifinals are expected to be around 11:29 on June 1, and you can watch the final race on Sunday, June 2, from 11:25 on the HRT2 program.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

The media met with champion rowers the Sinković brothers to discuss the start of the new rowing season and the 1st World Cup in Plovdiv.

The World Rowing Federation has declared the Sinković brothers the best rowers in the world.

The unbeaten Croats won the Olympic gold medal in double sculls