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Branko Zorko

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Branko Zorko
Personal information
NationalityCroatian
Born (1967-07-01) July 1, 1967 (age 57)
Hodošan, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Sport
SportTrack
Event(s)1500 metres, 3000 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 metres: 3:33.30[1]
Mile: 3:52.64[1]
3000 metres: 7:48.72[1]
5000 metres: 13:43.04[1]
Medal record
Men’s athletics
Representing  Croatia
World Indoor Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Toronto 1500 m
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Helsinki 1500 m
European Indoor Championships
Silver medal – second place 1994 Paris 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Glasgow 3000 m
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Genoa 1500 m

Branko Zorko (born July 1, 1967) is a Croatian retired middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres. Zorko competed in the 1500 metres in five Olympic Games, from 1988 to 2004, making it through to the semi-finals in 1992 and 1996. He won bronze medals at the 1993 World Indoor Championships in Toronto and the 1994 European Championships in Helsinki. In 1992 he was awarded the Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport. He was born in Hodošan.

Running career

Competitive career

Before the breakup of Yugoslavia, Zorko was a formidable long-distance runner who was very competitive in the 3000 metres and 5000 metres disciplines. At his first major international competition, Zorko finished sixth in the men's 3000 metres race at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships. In 1990, he won his first major medal, winning bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Zorko began specializing in middle-distance disciplines, and eventually found his talent in the 1500 metres. In 1992, Zorko won the first international medal for the newly independent Croatia, winning a bronze medal at the 1992 European Indoor Athletics Championships. A year later he won the bronze medal for the men's 1500 metres at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships, finishing only 0.39 seconds behind winner Marcus O'Sullivan. Next year, Zorko finished second in the 1500 at the 1994 European Athletics Indoor Championships, and third at the 1994 European Championships in Athletics.

At the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships and at the 2002 European Indoor Athletics Championships, he finished in fourth place in the respective 1500 metre races.

Pacing career

By the late 1990s, Zorko was increasingly suffering from injuries, which prompted him to turn to professional pacemaking. As a pacemaker, he assisted in setting several world records, both indoors and outdoors, most notably for Haile Gebrselassie.

Retirement

On July 11, 2005 at IAAF Grand Prix Zagreb, Zorko announced his retirement from competitive running.

Personal bests

As of 2012.

Outdoors

Distance Mark Date Location
1000 m 2:18.97 2000-06-17 Zagreb
1500 m 3:33.30 NR 1998-08-08 Monte Carlo
Mile 3:52.64 NR 1998-08-05 Stockholm
2000 m 4:58.02 NR 1996-07-10 Nice
3000 m 7:48.72 NR 1998-06-01 Hengelo
5000 m 13:43.04 1989-06-04 Belgrade

Indoors

Distance Mark Date Location
1000 m 2:20.35 NR 1998-02-04 Erfurt
1500 m 3:38.05 NR 1997-02-02 Stuttgart
3000 m 7:49.29 NR 1990-03-07 Piraeus

Olympic results

Event Men's 1500 metres
Round Time
1988 Seoul heats (36th) 3:45.52
1992 Barcelona SF (18th) 3:39.71
1996 Atlanta SF (14th) 3:35.14
2000 Sydney heats (37th) 3:46.16
2004 Athens heats (31st) 3:48.28

Note: Result in brackets, indicates overall placement.

References

  1. ^ a b c d IAAF. "Athlete profile for Branko Zorko".
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