Branko Zorko
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Branko Zorko (born 1967-07-01) is a Croatian middle distance runner, a notable 1500 m competitor in the 1990s. Probably his biggest accomplishment is winning the first international medal for the country of Croatia, winning a bronze medal at the 1992 European Indoor Athletics Championships. His other major sports achievements include:
- 6th place at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships (3000 m)
- Bronze medal at the 1992 European Indoor Athletics Championships
- Bronze medal at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships
- Silver medal at the 1994 European Indoor Athletics Championships
- Bronze medal at the 1994 European Championships in Athletics
- 4th place at the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships
- 4th place at the 2002 European Indoor Athletics Championships
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.
Zorko ran 1500 m in five Summer Olympic Games, from 1988 to 2004, but without particular success.
On 2005-07-11, at IAAF Zagreb Grand Prix, Zorko announced his retirement from competitive running.
[edit] Personal bests
[edit] Outdoors
Distance | Mark | Date | Location |
---|---|---|---|
1000 m | 2:18.97 | 2000-06-17 | Zagreb |
1500 m | 3:33.30* | 1998-08-08 | Monte Carlo |
Mile | 3:52.64* | 1998-08-05 | Stockholm |
2000 m | 4:58.02* | 1996-07-10 | Nice |
3000 m | 7:48.72* | 1998-06-01 | Hengelo |
5000 m | 13:43.04 | 1989-06-04 | Belgrade |
Note: * — Croatian national record as of August 2006.
[edit] Indoors
Distance | Mark | Date | Location |
---|---|---|---|
1000 m | 2:20.35* | 1998-02-04 | Erfurt |
1500 m | 3:38.05* | 1997-02-02 | Stuttgart |
3000 m | 7:49.29* | 1990-03-07 | Piraeus |
Note: * — Croatian national record as of August 2006.
[edit] External links
- IAAF profile for Branko Zorko
- Croatian National Records - Men
- Croatian National Records - Men Indoors
Categories: Croatian athletes | Middle distance runners | Olympic competitors for Croatia | Olympic competitors for Yugoslavia | Athletes at the 1988 Summer Olympics | Athletes at the 1992 Summer Olympics | Athletes at the 1996 Summer Olympics | Athletes at the 2000 Summer Olympics | Athletes at the 2004 Summer Olympics | 1967 births | Living people