Brothers Martin and Valent Sinković crowned themselves with the highest awards – three Olympic gold medals each – and today they are role models for Croatian rowing. The Croatian media describe them as “sports giants” who won world and European titles. Throughout his career, the Sinković won a number of titles at the biggest competitions – they won as many as four Olympic medals (three golds and one silver) and repeatedly became world champions in different disciplines. Below is a detailed biography of these exceptional brothers – from early youth and first strokes to golden victories and notable life lessons.
Early life and sports beginnings
Martin and Valent Sinković as boys on Lake Jarun – they ended up there after their mother enrolled them in a rowing club by “by mistake”. The brothers were born in Zagreb (Valent 1988, Martin 1989) and were involved in various sports as small competitors. First, they trained in gymnastics, water polo and football, and then (as they later told) their mother directed them to rowing. Matija, their older brother, explained: “Instead of a kayak-canoe club, I mistakenly called rowers, so I went rowing, and then Valent and Martin joined me later…”. If we take into account that there were successful swimmers and football players in Mladost, it is clear that the paddle on Jarun in Zagreb soon became their real calling. With hard work with coach Nikola Bralić, the Sinkovićs developed exceptional rowing abilities – stories about their first strokes arrive from Lake Jarun, where they trained as boys.
Rowing career
Olympic games
The Sinković brothers achieved outstanding results at the Olympic Games in several disciplines:
- London 2012. – silver in pairs (along with D. Martin and D. Šain).
- Rio 2016. – Gold in pairs.
- Tokyo 2020 (game held in 2021) – Gold in the duo without a coxswain.
- Paris 2024 – Gold in the duo without a coxswain.
They won every Olympic gold dominantly – in Tokyo in 2021, from the beginning of the race, they held the lead， and a few years later (Paris 2024) they repeated their success in the same discipline. The Croatian public is particularly proud because every Sinković gold meant a historical achievement for Croatia: for example, in Tokyo they won the “second Olympic gold, i.e. the 13th gold medal” for Croatia at the Summer Games. After the victory in Paris in 2024, the 24sata portal pointed out: “Martin and Valent Sinković won their fourth Olympic medal (and third gold)”, thus strengthening themselves as one of the most trophy-winning Croatian Olympians.
World and European Championships
The Sinkovićs were also dominant at the world rowing championships. By 2019, they made numerous titles:
- 2010 World Cup (New Zealand): gold in a pair of four.
- World Cup 2013 (Chungju, South Korea): gold in a pair of four.
- 2014 World Cup (Amsterdam): Gold in pairs.
- 2015 World Cup (Aiguebelette): Gold in pairs.
- World Cup 2018 (Plovdiv): Gold in the coxless duo.
- 2019 World Cup (Ottensheim): Gold in the coxless duo.
In addition, the Sinković won medals at the European championships. For example, they won European gold in Glasgow in 2018 and Luzern in 2021. They also won many gold medals at the World Cup regattas. Their dominance also led to a world record: between 2014 and 2016, they became the first rowers in the pairs to row 2000 meters in less than six minutes (5:59.72), which is strength and The pace that remains a fascinating result to this day.
Personal life and legacy
Bakšta Sinkovići are modest and family-oriented athletes. Both are married – Martin is married to Manuel, and Valent to Antonela – and they have children: Valent’s sons are named Karlo and Luka. In the interviews, they point out that family is their biggest supporter, and that their successes did not arrive overnight, but through hard work and dedicated training. They also admit that there is not a lot of money in rowing – one family member, Martin, said that state incentives for medals are the only financial incentive in this sport. Anyway, the Sinkovics like to share their passion: their official biography was recently published “Golden strokes”, in which in the most sought-after sports form it is stated that “the Sinković brothers testify with their life and work, work, successes and modesty”. Their main goal today, they admit, is not only personal success, but also a permanent contribution to Croatian rowing: they plan to establish two camps (Jarun in Zagreb and Peruća near Sinj) for the training of new generations of rowers.
Many see Sinković as role models – Rosie Kugli, the author of their biography, says that she wants to teach young people that “success does not come overnight” but through long-term work and enthusiasm. They often point out that they are proud of the support of family and the club, and that training, team spirit and love for sports are the key to their greatness. As they themselves said at the promotion of the book, the most important thing is to enjoy the process – not only in the medals, but also in every stroke that brought them to them.
Conclusion and inspiration
The career of the Sinković brothers has promised great things from the very beginning, and what they have achieved leaves them breathless: three Olympic golds and one silver, a series of world titles and record achievements, and certainly many new stories in the future. Their story is an instructive lesson about perseverance and teamwork. As they themselves said, every great success requires years of sacrifice and self-belief. Inspiration is also their message to young people – if they love sports, they should enjoy every moment of training, just as they enjoyed from their earliest strokes on Jarun.
Today, the Sinković brothers are a symbol of Croatian rowing, and many readers see in them a living confirmation of the slogan “Success through work”. Their biography and interviews encourage us to follow them and learn persistence. Visit the official website of the HOO or read the sports chronicle to learn about their new challenges in time. Share this story about Sinković’s friends – let them get to know them and see that they have become the biggest Croatian rowing champions from an ordinary Zagreb family.
