Matija Ljubek (; 22 November 1953 – 11 October 2000) was a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

n sprint canoeist who competed in the 1970s and 1980s and later became a sports official. Born in

Belišće Belišće () is a town in Croatia, located in the region of Slavonia, Osijek-Baranja County, at the altitude of 93 m. The population of the town is 6,518 (2011), with 10,825 in the municipality. In 2011 census, the majority were Croats. This indus ...

, Osijek-Baranja, Ljubek competed in four

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

where he won four medals. This included two golds (C-1 1000 m:

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

, C-2 500 m:

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...

with

Mirko Nišović Mirko Nišović (; born July 2, 1961) is a Serbian retired sprint canoeist who competed from the late 1970s to the late 1980s. Competing in three Summer Olympics, he won two medals at Los Angeles in 1984 with a gold in the C-2 500 ...

), one silver (C-2 1000 m: 1984 with

), and one bronze (C-1 500 m: 1976). His trainer was Laszlo Hingl. He also won ten medals at the

ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships The ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships are an international event in canoe racing, one of two Summer Olympic sport events organized by the International Canoe Federation (the other being the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships). The World Cham ...

with four golds (C-1 1000 m:

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd go ...

, C-2 500 m:

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street bridges, 14th Street Bridge in ...

, 1983; C-2 10000 m:

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...

), three silvers (C-1 10000 m:

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

, C-2 1000 m: 1982, 1985), and three bronzes (C-1 10000 m:

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

, 1978; C-2 1000 m: 1983). In

he was awarded a

Golden Badge ''Sport'' ( sr-Cyrl, Спорт) was a Serbian daily sports newspaper. The first edition was published on 5 May 1945 under the name ''Fiskultura'' and the last edition went out on 17 September 2016. Since the mid-2000s it was billed as "Dnevni s ...

award for best athlete of

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

. Ljubek later became vice-president of the

Croatian Olympic Committee The Croatian Olympic Committee ( hr, Hrvatski olimpijski odbor (HOO)) is the non-profit organization representing Croatian athletes in the International Olympic Committee. The COC organizes Croatia's representatives at the Summer and Winter Olymp ...

and served as ''

chef de mission In diplomatic usage, head of mission (HOM) or chief of mission (COM) from the French "chef de mission diplomatique" (CMD) is the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an ambassador, high commissioner, nuncio, chargé d'affaires, perman ...

'' for the Croatian Olympic team. Ljubek died in 2000 when he was shot by an estranged brother-in-law while trying to defend his mother in

Valpovo Valpovo is a town in Slavonia, Croatia. It is close to the Drava river, northwest of Osijek. The population of Valpovo is 7,406, with a total of 11,563 in the municipality. Name In Hungarian the town is known as ''Valpó'' and in German as ''Wa ...

, Osijek-Baranja, six days after returning from the

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...

Olympic results

References

* * * * Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Canoeing: Men's Canadian Singles 1000 Meters". In ''The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition''. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 480.

Footnotes

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ljubek, Matija 1953 births 2000 deaths Burials at Mirogoj Cemetery Canoeists at the 1976 Summer Olympics Canoeists at the 1980 Summer Olympics Canoeists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Canoeists at the 1988 Summer Olympics Competitors at the 1979 Mediterranean Games Croatian male canoeists Croatian murder victims Croatian sports executives and administrators Deaths by firearm in Croatia ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships medalists in Canadian Male murder victims Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Yugoslavia Mediterranean Games medalists in canoeing Olympic bronze medalists for Yugoslavia Olympic canoeists of Yugoslavia Olympic gold medalists for Yugoslavia Olympic medalists in canoeing Olympic silver medalists for Yugoslavia People murdered in Croatia Yugoslav male canoeists