Croatian twin sisters Ivana and Josipa Jurković have etched their names in the annals of European rowing history by clinching the bronze medal in the women’s double sculls event at the European Rowing Championship held in Szeged, Hungary.
The Jurković sisters, hailing from Croatia, showcased their prowess on the water with a remarkable performance, crossing the finish line with a time of 8:03.13 minutes. Their journey to the podium was not without its challenges, as they battled fiercely against formidable opponents throughout the race.
Initially positioned fourth until the 1500-meter mark, the Jurković sisters summoned their inner strength and unleashed a breathtaking surge in the final 500 meters, propelling themselves past their rivals to seize the coveted bronze medal. The gold medal was claimed by Romania, clocking in at 7:52.05, while Greece secured silver with a time of 8:00.87.
Reflecting on their achievement, Josipa Jurković remarked, “It was intense, probably more so for the spectators than for us! We can say we sneaked into the last 500 meters, but then we showed our island’s blood and grit. We’re extremely satisfied; this is our first senior-level medal, and we’ll keep building from here.”
Expressing gratitude to their support system, Ivana Jurković added, “Thanks to mom and dad, thanks to grandma if she watched the race, thanks to our family and friends, and thanks to everyone who supported us and believed in us.”
The bronze medal not only symbolizes a significant milestone in the Jurković sisters' careers but also serves as a promising harbinger of success as they set their sights on the upcoming Olympic qualification regatta in Paris, slated for May 19th to 21st in Lucerne, Switzerland.
However, amidst the jubilation, there were also moments of disappointment for Croatian rowing enthusiasts as Martin and Valent Sinković narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the double sculls event with a time of 7:10.52 minutes.
Despite falling short of their aspirations, Martin Sinković expressed resilience, stating, “I can’t say the race went as we expected. After the qualifiers and semifinals, we hoped to be closer to the medal fight, but this is another lesson. We’ll take some rest now and continue preparing for the rest of the season and Paris.”
His sentiments were echoed by Valent Sinković, who emphasized, “We’re definitely not satisfied with the race; we expected more. The first two races were better; we tried some new things, but this is a good lesson, sometimes you really need to see what doesn’t work. We’re still positive, we know we can improve, and we’re eager for further preparations. We believe in ourselves and we’re moving forward even stronger.”
As the Croatian rowing fraternity reflects on the highs and lows of the European Rowing Championship, the triumph of the Jurković sisters stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering determination that fuel their pursuit of excellence on the water. With their eyes firmly set on future endeavors, they epitomize the essence of resilience and resilience in the face of adversity.