Valent Sinković

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Valent Sinković

| image = Valent-Sinkovic-Olimpijska-medalja-Zagreb-13082012 2-roberta-f.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Valent Sinković in 2012

| nationality = Croatian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|8|2|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia

| height = 1.88 m

| weight = 92 kg

| country = Croatia

| sport = Rowing

| event = Coxless pair, Double sculls, Quadruple sculls

| club =

| show-medals = no

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's rowing}}

{{MedalCountry|{{CRO}}}}

}}

Valent Sinković (born 2 August 1988) is a Croatian rower. He is the older brother of fellow rower Martin Sinković, with whom he has won three Olympic gold medals. The brothers are the most decorated Croatian Summer Olympians in history and won the gold medal in the double sculls at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the coxless pair at the 2020 Summer Olympics and the coxless pair at the 2024 Summer Olympics, and the silver medal in the quadruple sculls at the 2012 Summer Olympics together with David Šain and Damir Martin.{{Cite web |last=Soriano |first=Daniel |date=2024-08-02 |title=Sinkovic brothers break records while GB and Netherlands keep winning |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1147354/sinkovic-brothers-gb-netherlands-win |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.insidethegames.biz}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2012-olympic-games/mens-quadruple-sculls/final/ |title=2012 OLYMPIC GAMES – London, GBR – (M4x) Men's Quadruple Sculls – Final |date=3 August 2012 |website=www.worldrowing.com |language=en-US |access-date=29 August 2017}}{{cite Sports-Reference}} Sinković is a six-time world champion, twice in quadruple sculls, double sculls and coxless pair each, and seven-time European champion, with four titles in double sculls and three titles in coxless pair. He is also a two-time U23 world champion in quadruple sculls with his brother, Šain and Martin.{{Cite web |date=3 August 2012 |title=Croatian men’s quad: road to the Olympics |url=https://worldrowing.com/2012/08/03/croatian-mens-quad-road-to-the-olympics/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=World Rowing |language=en}}

The Sinković brothers have been racing together internationally since 2008 and holds the world best time in double sculls, set at the 2014 World Rowing Championships where they were the first men's team to go under 6 minutes for their race time.{{Cite web |title=Valent SINKOVIC - worldrowing.com |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/21688/ |access-date=29 August 2017 |website=www.worldrowing.com |language=en-US |archive-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825073227/http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/21688/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=World Rowing - Fast brothers: men's double sculls |url=https://worldrowing.com/2014/12/05/fast-brothers-men-double-sculls/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=World Rowing |language=en}}

Personal life

Sinković played multiple sports before transitioning fully to rowing. He first began practicing gymnastics at age three and was briefly a part of the youth setup of HAVK Mladost, a waterpolo club based in Zagreb. He also spent six years playing as a full-back in the youth setups of NK Zagreb, NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac and NK Lokomotiva football clubs. He began rowing at age 12, together with his brothers Martin and Matija, after their mother signed them up for rowing classes.{{cite web |last1=Radnić |first1=Ivan |title=Umjesto na kajak, mama ih je pogreškom upisala na veslanje |url=https://www.24sata.hr/sport/umjesto-na-kajak-mama-ih-je-pogreskom-upisala-na-veslanje-486775 |website=24sata.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}}

In 2017, Sinković married his partner Antonela, a lawyer.{{cite web |title=Martin i Valent Sinković sa suprugama: Naš novi dom na Cetini |url=https://www.gloria.hr/gl/fokus/zvjezdane-staze/martin-i-valent-sinkovic-sa-suprugama-nas-novi-dom-na-cetini-7775559 |website=gloria.hr |date=2 September 2018 |access-date=7 February 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Morić |first1=Danijela-Ana |title=Olimpijci braća Sinković na odmoru sa ženama i medaljama |url=https://www.tportal.hr/magazin/clanak/olimpijci-braca-sinkovic-na-odmoru-sa-zenama-i-medaljama-20160829 |website=tportal.hr |date=28 August 2016 |access-date=2 August 2024}}

Rowing career

=European championships=

Valent first took part in the European championships in their fourth iteration, held in 2010, with his brothers Martin, as well as with David Šain and Damir Martin in the quadruple sculls category. After the 3/4 of the race was rowed, at 1500 meters, they held the fourth position. Over the course of the next 500 meters, they overtook the German and Ukrainian teams, finishing a second behind the Polish team.{{cite web |last1=Hina |title=Četverac na pariće srebrni, Kešerac i Anić bronćane |url=https://www.tportal.hr/sport/clanak/cetverac-na-parice-srebrni-keserac-i-anic-broncane-20100912 |website=tportal.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}}

They further took part in the 2012 European Rowing Championships as well, likewise competing in the quadruple sculls category. They held the leading position throughout the race, with 2.21 seconds ahead of the second placed team at 1500 meters, and went finished the race 0.92 seconds ahead of the second placed team. The winning time was 6:14.25.{{cite web |title=Braća Sinković europski prvaci, Martin srebrni! |url=https://www.tportal.hr/sport/clanak/braca-sinkovic-europski-prvaci-martin-srebrni-20120916 |website=tportal.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}} Valent was forced to miss part of the 2015 season with a rib injury and the brothers did not compete at the European championships.

Together with his brother, he competed in the double sculls category during the 2016 European Rowing Championships. They dominated the final race, holding the leading position from the start, with a 2 second lead after 500 meters, and finishing with a 3.68 second lead. Their winning time was 6:56.52.{{cite web |title=BRANDENBURG: Braća Sinković, Radonić i Martin u finalu |url=https://objektivno.hr/brandenburg-braca-sinkovic-radonic-i-martin-u-finalu-80579 |website=objektivno.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}}

In the 2018 European Rowing Championships, Valent competed with his brother Martin in the coxless pair category. They were second best for the first three quarters of the race, before taking over in the last 500 meters and finishing first, with a time of 6:26.42.{{cite web |last1=Delač |first1=Hrvoje |title=Braća Sinković osvojila zlatnu medalju na Europskom prvenstvu |url=https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/uzivo-braca-sinkovic-u-borbi-za-zlatnu-medalju-1262205 |website=vecernji.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}} The two brothers continued competing in the coxless pair in the 2019 European Rowing Championships as well, holding the leading position throughout the race, and finishing first with a time of 6:22.46.{{cite web |title=SJAJNA VIJEST IZ LUZERNA: Braća Martin i Valent Sinković ponovno zlatni – dominantna obrana naslova europskih prvaka |url=https://fenix-magazin.de/sjajna-vijest-iz-luzerna-braca-martin-i-valent-sinkovic-ponovno-zlatni-dominantna-obrana-naslova-europskih-prvaka/ |website=fenix-magazin.de |date=2 June 2019 |access-date=7 February 2021}} He and his brother competed in the coxless pair once again during the 2020 European Rowing Championships, finishing in the second place, behind the Romanian Tudosa/Cozmiuc pair.{{cite web |title=Sinkovići srebrni na Europskom prvenstvu |url=http://radio101.hr/sinkovici-srebrni-na-europskom-prvenstvu/ |website=radio101.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}}

=Olympic games=

Together with David Šain, Damir Martin and his brother, he participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, in the quadruple sculls event. The team had no issue qualifying to the final race, coming into it as favorites. However, the German representatives would hold almost a boat lengths lead in the final race, with the Croatian team just barely winning the silver medal, as the Australians finished close behind.{{cite web |title=PRVA HRVATSKA MEDALJA U LONDONU Četverac na pariće uzeo SREBRO! |url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/sport-mix/prva-hrvatska-medalja-u-londonu-cetverac-na-parice-uzeo-srebro-4275600 |website=sportske.jutarnji.hr |date=3 August 2012 |access-date=7 February 2021}}

He would change disciplines for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, competing in the double sculls event together with his brother. In the final race of the event, the brothers held a narrow lead over the Lithuanian representatives, who overtook them by the 1500 meter mark. They would in turn overtake the Lithuanian team in the final 500 meters of the race, finishing the race first with a time of 6:50.28,{{cite web |title=Braća Sinković - opravdali status 'nedodirljivih' |url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/olimpijske-igre-2016/martin-i-valent-sinkovic-glavni-favoriti-za-zlatnu-medalju-u-riju---445074.html |website=gol.dnevnik.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}} 1.11 seconds ahead of the second placed team.{{cite web |title=Braća Sinković upravo su osvojili zlato na Olimpijskim igrama u Riju (ovo nam je, zasad, drugo) |url=https://www.telegram.hr/sport/braca-sinkovic-upravo-su-osvojili-zlato-na-olimpijskim-igrama-u-rio-de-janeiru/ |website=telegram.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}} Following this victory, the World Rowing Federation would award them the "Team of the Year" award.{{cite web |title=Drugi put u karijeri! Braća Sinković izabrana za posadu godine |url=https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/drugi-put-u-karijeri-braca-sinkovic-izabrana-za-posadu-godine-1361405 |website=vecernji.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}}

Sinković competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, entering the coxless pair event with his brother Valent. The pair entered the final race as overwhelming favorites to win the gold medal, with a betting coefficient of 1,03 and won with a time of 6:15.29.{{cite web |last1=Deželić |first1=Vanja |title=Nezaustavljiva braća Sinković pomela konkurenciju, Hrvatska ima još jedno zlato! |url=https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/nezaustavljiva-braca-sinkovic-pomela-konkurenciju-hrvatska-ima-jos-jedno-zlato-1511471 |access-date=30 July 2021 |website=vecernji.hr}} The Sinković brothers competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the coxless pair event. The pair trailed the other teams for a majority of the final race before overtaking the British leading team during the final 200 metres to win with a time of 6:23.66.{{Cite web |title=Rowing recap, Aug. 2: Sinkovic brothers make history, lightweight sculls go out in style |url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/rowing-recap-aug-2-sinkovic-brothers-make-history-lightweight-sculls-go-out-style |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=NBC Olympics |language=en}}{{cite web |date=2 August 2024 |title=Men's Pair – Final A results |url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/ROW/OG2024_ROW_C73_ROWMNOCOX2------------FNL-000100--.pdf |access-date=11 August 2024 |website=Olympics}}

=World championships=

His first appearance in the world championships came at the 2010 World Rowing Championships, when he competed in the quadruple sculls. The Croatian team won the gold medal, finishing with a time of 6:15.78, 1.26 seconds ahead of the second placed team.{{cite web |title=Croatian team wins gold medal at World Rowing Championships |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/croatian-team-wins-gold-medal-at-world-rowing-championships-20101105 |website=tportal.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}} In the 2011 World Rowing Championships, he won the sole bronze medal of his career, failing to defend his gold medal from the previous year.{{cite web |title=Croatia's team win bronze at world championships in Bled |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/croatia-s-team-win-bronze-at-world-championships-in-bled-20110903 |website=tportal.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}} The same team competed in the 2013 World Rowing Championships, in the same category, finishing with a time of 5:53.57 and winning the gold medal.{{cite web |title=Gold for Croatia's Men's Quadruple Sculls at World Rowing Champs in Korea |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/gold-for-croatias-mens-quadruple-sculls-at-world-rowing-champs-in-korea/ |website=croatiaweek.com |date=31 August 2013 |access-date=7 February 2021}}

During the 2014 World Rowing Championships, he switched to the double sculls, competing together with his brother. They broke the world record in the qualifying race, managing to cover the distance of 2 kilometers in under six minutes (5:59.72). In the final race, they finished first.{{cite web |title=Braća Sinković osvojila zlato u Amsterdamu |url=https://www.novilist.hr/sport/ostali-sportovi/braca-sinkovic-osvojila-zlato-u-amsterdamu/ |website=novilist.hr |date=31 August 2014 |access-date=7 February 2021}} They competed in the same category in the 2015 World Rowing Championships, once again winning the gold medal.{{cite web |title=SVJETSKO PRVENSTVO U AIGUEBELETTE-U, FRANCUSKA |url=https://vkt.hr/wordpress/2015/08/31/svjetsko-prvenstvo-u-aiguebelette-u-francuska/ |website=vkt.hr |date=31 August 2015 |access-date=7 February 2021}}

In the 2017 World Rowing Championships, he competed in the coxless pair for the first time in his career, once again with his brother. The pair finished in the second place, winning the silver medal.{{cite web |title=Svjetsko seniorsko prvenstvo – Sarasota, 24.09.-01.10.2017. |url=https://www.vk-croatia.hr/?p=1936 |website=vk-croatia.hr | date=26 March 2018 |access-date=7 February 2021}} The two of them competed in the same category in the 2018 World Rowing Championships. They won the gold medal, finishing with a time of 6:14.96, 1.94 seconds ahead of the second placed team.{{cite web |title=Braća Sinković ispisala povijest u Plovdivu |url=http://www.veslanje.hr/vijesti_2018/sp_seniora_plovdiv.html |website=veslanje.hr |access-date=7 February 2021}} They defended their gold medal at the 2019 World Rowing Championships, finishing with a time of 6:42.28.{{cite web |title=Braća Sinković obranili zlato! |url=https://sibenski.slobodnadalmacija.hr/sibenik/sport/ostalo/braca-sinkovic-obranili-zlato-621120 |website=sibenski.slobodnadalmacija.hr |date=31 August 2019 |access-date=7 February 2021}}

Valent and his brother Martin Sinković competed in the double sculls event of the 2022 World Rowing Championships. They placed fourth in the A final, finishing five seconds behind the winning French crew.{{cite web |title=MARTIN I VALENT SINKOVIĆ SLAVILI U UTRCI DVOJCA NA PARIĆE NA PRESTIŽNOJ UTRCI SVJETSKOG KUPA U LUZERNU |url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/sport-mix/vodeni-sportovi/veslanje/martin-i-valent-sinkovic-slavili-u-utrci-dvojca-na-parice-na-prestiznoj-utrci-svjetskog-kupa-u-luzernu-15220698 |website=sportske.jutarnji.hr |date=10 July 2022 |access-date=1 August 2022}} They stayed in the double scull for the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade and finished with a silver medal in the A final, earning a 2nd placing in the world rankings and qualifying that boat class for Croatia for the 2024 Paris Olympics.