Matija Ljubek

Matija Ljubek (Croatian pronunciation: [ʎǔbek]; 22 November 1953 – 11 October 2000) was a Croatian sprint canoeist who competed in the 1970s and 1980s and later became a sports official.^[1]

Key Information

Ljubek's grave at Mirogoj Cemetery.
Personal information
Born	(1953-11-22)22 November 1953 Belišće, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Died	11 October 2000(2000-10-11) (aged 46) Valpovo, Croatia
Resting place	Mirogoj Cemetery, Zagreb
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
Country	Yugoslavia
Sport	Canoeing
Medal record Men's canoe sprint Representing  Yugoslavia Olympic Games 1976 Montréal C-1 1000 m 1984 Los Angeles C-2 500 m 1984 Los Angeles C-2 1000 m 1976 Montréal C-1 500 m World Championships 1978 Belgrade C-1 1000 m 1982 Belgrade C-2 500 m 1983 Tampere C-2 500 m 1985 Mechelen C-2 10000 m 1981 Nottingham C-1 10000 m 1982 Belgrade C-2 1000 m 1985 Mechelen C-2 1000 m 1975 Belgrade C-1 10000 m 1978 Belgrade C-1 10000 m 1983 Tampere C-2 1000 m Mediterranean Games 1979 Split C-1 500 m 1979 Split C-1 1000 m 1979 Split C-2 500 m
Men's canoe sprint
Representing  Yugoslavia
Olympic Games
	1976 Montréal	C-1 1000 m
	1984 Los Angeles	C-2 500 m
	1984 Los Angeles	C-2 1000 m
	1976 Montréal	C-1 500 m
World Championships
	1978 Belgrade	C-1 1000 m
	1982 Belgrade	C-2 500 m
	1983 Tampere	C-2 500 m
	1985 Mechelen	C-2 10000 m
	1981 Nottingham	C-1 10000 m
	1982 Belgrade	C-2 1000 m
	1985 Mechelen	C-2 1000 m
	1975 Belgrade	C-1 10000 m
	1978 Belgrade	C-1 10000 m
	1983 Tampere	C-2 1000 m
Mediterranean Games
	1979 Split	C-1 500 m
	1979 Split	C-1 1000 m
	1979 Split	C-2 500 m
Show more

Born in Belišće, Osijek-Baranja, Ljubek competed in four Summer Olympics where he won four medals. This included two golds (C-1 1000 m: 1976, C-2 500 m: 1984 with Mirko Nišović), one silver (C-2 1000 m: 1984 with Mirko Nišović), 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 with four golds (C-1 1000 m: 1978, C-2 500 m: 1982, 1983; C-2 10000 m: 1985), three silvers (C-1 10000 m: 1981, C-2 1000 m: 1982, 1985), and three bronzes (C-1 10000 m: 1975, 1978; C-2 1000 m: 1983).

In 1976 he was awarded a Golden Badge award for best athlete of Yugoslavia.

Ljubek later became vice-president of the Croatian Olympic Committee and served as chef de mission 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, Osijek-Baranja, six days after returning from the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Olympic results
Event	1976 Montreal	1980 Moscow	1984 Los Angeles	1988 Seoul
C-1 500 m	3rd (1:59.60)	9th (2:03.43)	—	—
C-1 1000 m	1st (4:09.51)	8th (4:22.40)	—	—
C-2 500 m	—	—	1st (1:43.67)	—
C-2 1000 m	—	4th (3:51.30)	2nd (3:41.56)	12th (3:59.04)

• Matija Ljubek at Olympics.com
• Matija Ljubek at Olympic.org (archived)
• Matija Ljubek at Olympedia

Awards
Preceded by Nenad Stekić	The Best Athlete of Yugoslavia 1976	Succeeded by Šaban Sejdi
Preceded by Nenad Stekić	Yugoslav Sportsman of the Year 1976	Succeeded by Šaban Sejdi
Olympic Games
Preceded by Hrvoje Horvat Dražen Dalipagić	Flagbearer for  Yugoslavia Moscow 1980 Seoul 1988	Succeeded by Dražen Dalipagić Igor Milanović (for  Yugoslavia)