Croatia at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Croatia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics since the post-Yugoslav era. The Croatian Olympic Committee (Croatian: Hrvatski olimpijski odbor, HOO) sent the nation's smallest delegation to the Games since its debut in 1992. A total of 81 athletes, 66 men and 15 women, competed in 14 sports. Men's water polo, and men's handball were the only team-based sports in which Croatia had its representation in these Olympic Games.

Croatia at the
2004 Summer Olympics
IOC codeCRO
NOCCroatian Olympic Committee
Websitewww.hoo.hr (in Croatian and English)
in Athens
Competitors81 in 14 sports
Flag bearers Dubravko Šimenc (opening)[1]
Siniša Skelin (closing)
Medals
Ranked 44th
Gold
1
Silver
2
Bronze
2
Total
5
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 Austria (1900)
 Yugoslavia (1920–1988)

The Croatian team featured three Olympic medalists from Sydney: rowers and brothers Nikša and Siniša Skelin, and four-time Olympian and defending weightlifting champion Nikolaj Pešalov in the men's lightweight class. Table tennis player and Olympic silver medalist Zoran Primorac became the first Croatian to participate in five Olympic Games as an individual athlete (his first appearance competed under the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). Former Bosnian athlete and discus thrower Dragan Mustapić served as the team captain and oldest member of the team at age 41, while backstroke swimmer Sanja Jovanović was youngest at age 17. Three-time Olympic water polo player and two-time medalist Dubravko Šimenc was appointed by the committee to become the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.[1]

Croatia left Athens with a total of five medals (one gold, two silver, and two bronze), being considered as the nation's most successful Olympics in history based on the overall medal tally. All of these medals were awarded for the first time to the Croatian athletes in swimming, men's coxless pair in rowing, and men's tennis doubles. Meanwhile, Croatia men's handball team (led by team captain Venio Losert) proved particularly successful in Athens, as they beat the Germans for their only gold medal at these Games, adding it to their previous record from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[2]

Medalists edit

Medal Name Sport Event Date
  Gold Croatia men's national handball team
Handball Men's tournament August 29
  Silver Duje Draganja Swimming Men's 50 m freestyle August 20
  Silver Nikša Skelin
Siniša Skelin
Rowing Men's pair August 21
  Bronze Nikolaj Pešalov Weightlifting Men's 69 kg August 18
  Bronze Mario Ančić
Ivan Ljubičić
Tennis Men's doubles August 21

Athletics edit

Croatian athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard).[3][4]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Jurica Grabušić 110 m hurdles 13.87 8 Did not advance
Branko Zorko 1500 m 3:48.28 10 Did not advance
Field events
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Distance Position Distance Position
Siniša Ergotić Long jump 7.77 26 Did not advance
Edis Elkasević Shot put 18.44 36 Did not advance
András Haklits Hammer throw 74.43 21 Did not advance
Nedžad Mulabegović Shot put 19.07 29 Did not advance
Dragan Mustapić Discus throw 54.66 34 Did not advance
Edi Ponoš Javelin throw 71.43 33 Did not advance
Women
Field events
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Distance Position Distance Position
Vera Begić Discus throw 57.31 29 Did not advance
Ivana Brkljačić Hammer throw 68.21 13 Did not advance
Sanja Gavrilović 56.79 45 Did not advance
Blanka Vlašić High jump 1.95 7 Q 1.89 11

Boxing edit

Croatia sent two boxers to the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Marijo Šivolija Light heavyweight   Muñoz (VEN)
L 23–31
Did not advance
Vedran Đipalo Heavyweight   Forsyth (AUS)
L 22–32
Did not advance

Canoeing edit

Slalom edit

Athlete Event Preliminary Semifinal Final
Run 1 Rank Run 2 Rank Total Rank Time Rank Time Rank Total Rank
Danko Herceg Men's C-1 103.84 7 100.33 3 204.17 6 Q 203.49 12 Did not advance
Dinko Mulić Men's K-1 102.71 20 108.05 24 210.76 22 Did not advance

Sprint edit

Athlete Event Heats Semifinals Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Emanuel Horvatiček Men's C-1 500 m 1:55.528 5 q 2:06.347 8 Did not advance
Men's C-1 1000 m 4:27.662 7 q 4:24.604 7 Did not advance

Qualification Legend: Q = Qualify to final; q = Qualify to semifinal

Equestrian edit

Eventing edit

Athlete Horse Event Dressage Cross-country Jumping Total
Qualifier Final
Penalties Rank Penalties Total Rank Penalties Total Rank Penalties Total Rank Penalties Rank
Pepo Puch Banville d'Ivoy Individual 68.60 65 80.60 149.20 66 9.00 158.20 63 Did not advance 158.20 63

Handball edit

Summary

Key:

  • ET – After extra time
  • P – Match decided by penalty-shootout.
Team Event Group Stage Quarterfinal Semifinal Final / BM
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Croatia men's Men's tournament   Iceland
W 34–30
  Slovenia
W 27–26
  South Korea
W 29–26
  Russia
W 26–25
  Spain
W 30–22
1   Greece
W 33–27
  Hungary
W 33–31
  Germany
W 26–24
 

Men's tournament edit

Roster

The following is the Croatia roster in the men's handball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics.[5]

Head coaches: Lino Červar

No. Pos. Name Date of birth (age) Height App. Goals Club
1 GK Venio Losert (1976-07-25)25 July 1976 (aged 28) 1.91 m   BM Granollers
2 LW Nikša Kaleb (1973-03-09)9 March 1973 (aged 31) 1.84 m   RK Zagreb
4 CB Ivano Balić (1979-04-01)1 April 1979 (aged 25) 1.89 m   Portland San Antonio
6 LB Blaženko Lacković (1980-12-25)25 December 1980 (aged 23) 1.95 m   SG Flensburg
7 RW Vedran Zrnić (1979-09-26)26 September 1979 (aged 24) 1.88 m   RK Gorenje Velenje
9 P Igor Vori (1980-09-20)20 September 1980 (aged 23) 2.02 m   RK Zagreb
10 LB Davor Dominiković (1978-04-07)7 April 1978 (aged 26) 2.03 m   Kronau Ostringen
11 RW Mirza Džomba (1977-02-28)28 February 1977 (aged 27) 1.90 m   BM Ciudad Real
12 GK Vlado Šola (1968-11-17)17 November 1968 (aged 35) 1.94 m   Fotex Veszprem
14 RB Drago Vuković (1983-08-03)3 August 1983 (aged 21) 1.94 m   RK Zagreb
15 CB Slavko Goluža (1971-09-17)17 September 1971 (aged 32) 1.95 m   Fotex Veszprem
16 GK Valter Matošević (1970-06-11)11 June 1970 (aged 34) 1.93 m   Wilhelmshavener HV
17 LW Goran Šprem (1979-07-06)6 July 1979 (aged 25) 1.83 m   RK Zagreb
18 CB Denis Špoljarić (1979-08-20)20 August 1979 (aged 24) 1.94 m   RK Zagreb
19 RB Petar Metličić (1976-12-25)25 December 1976 (aged 27) 1.94 m   CB Ademar León
Group play
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Croatia 5 5 0 0 146 129 +17 10 Quarterfinals
2   Spain 5 4 0 1 154 137 +17 8
3   South Korea 5 2 0 3 148 148 0 4[a]
4   Russia 5 2 0 3 145 145 0 4[a]
5   Iceland 5 1 0 4 143 158 −15 2[b]
6   Slovenia 5 1 0 4 130 149 −19 2[b]
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b South Korea 35–32 Russia
  2. ^ a b Iceland 30–25 Slovenia
14 August 2004
19:30
Croatia   34 - 30   Iceland Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Lemme, Ullrich (GER)
Metličić 8 (16-12) Stefansson 8
  9×  [1]   7×  1× 
16 August 2004
11:30
Slovenia   26 - 27   Croatia Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Oie, Togstad (NOR)
Brumen 10 (10-13) Vori 8
  7×  2×  [2]   7×  1× 
18 August 2004
09:30
Croatia   29 - 26   South Korea Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Bord, Buy (FRA)
Džomba 9 (12-10) Yoon 8
  6×  [3]   3× 
20 August 2004
19:30
Russia   25 - 26   Croatia Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE)
Torgovanov, Rastvortsev 6 (14-10) Lacković 9
  5×  [4]   3× 
22 August 2004
11:30
Croatia   30 - 22   Spain Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Baum, Goralczyk (POL)
Džomba 7 (15-9) García 5
  1×  [5]   4× 
Quarterfinal
24 August 2004
16:30
Croatia   33 - 27   Greece Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Lemme, Ullrich (GER)
Džomba 11 (19-11) Balomenos, Alvanos 6
  [6]   2× 
Semifinal
27 August 2004
14:30
Croatia   33 - 31   Hungary Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Arnaldsson, Vidarsson (ISL)
Balić 9 (18-16) Pérez 8
  3×  [7]   2× 
Gold Medal Final
29 August 2004
16:45
Croatia   26 - 24   Germany Sports Pavilion, Athens
Referees: Hansson, Olsson (SWE)
Džomba 9 (11-12) Kretzschmar 9
  2×  [8]   5× 
  Won Gold Medal

Rowing edit

Croatian rowers qualified the following boats:

Men
Athlete Event Heats Repechage Semifinals Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Nikša Skelin
Siniša Skelin
Pair 7:01.28 2 SA/B Bye 6:23.57 2 FA 6:32.64  
Igor Boraska
Marko Dragičević
Petar Milin
Damir Vučičić
Four 6:34.05 4 R 5:58.48 3 SA/B 6:05.54 6 FB 5:57.36 12

Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; R=Repechage

Sailing edit

Croatian sailors have qualified one boat for each of the following events.

Men
Athlete Event Race Net points Final rank
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 M*
Karlo Kuret Finn 6 2 10 8 12 18 7 5 3 3 5 61 4
Tomislav Bašić
Petar Cupać
470 16 10 19 5 20 26 21 25 1 7 12 136 19
Open
Athlete Event Race Net points Final rank
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 M*
Mate Arapov Laser 6 11 2 22 OCS 13 3 25 29 25 3 139 14

M = Medal race; OCS = On course side of the starting line; DSQ = Disqualified; DNF = Did not finish; DNS= Did not start; RDG = Redress given

Shooting edit

Women
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Mirela Skoko-Ćelić 10 m air pistol 381 15 Did not advance
25 m pistol 569 =27 Did not advance

Swimming edit

Croatian swimmers earned qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the A-standard time, and 1 at the B-standard time):

Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Nenad Buljan 400 m freestyle 4:02.76 37 Did not advance
1500 m freestyle 15:56.54 29 Did not advance
Krešimir Čač 200 m individual medley 2:05.33 34 Did not advance
Mario Delač 200 m freestyle 1:55.82 54 Did not advance
Duje Draganja 50 m freestyle 22.28 5 Q 22.19 8 Q 21.94 NR  
100 m freestyle 49.07 4 Q 49.14 6 Q 49.23 6
100 m butterfly 52.56 6 Q 52.74 8 Q 52.46 7
Saša Imprić 400 m individual medley 4:32.02 32 Did not advance
Gordan Kožulj 100 m backstroke 55.80 16 Q 56.02 14 Did not advance
200 m backstroke 2:00.94 12 Q 1:59.61 9 Did not advance
Vanja Rogulj 100 m breaststroke 1:03.16 26 Did not advance
200 m breaststroke 2:18.81 37 Did not advance
Igor Čerenšek
Mario Delač
Duje Draganja
Ivan Mladina
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:21.01 13 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Petra Banović 200 m freestyle 2:04.24 32 Did not advance
200 m individual medley 2:20.83 25 Did not advance
Anita Galić 400 m freestyle 4:26.09 37 Did not advance
800 m freestyle 9:10.91 28 Did not advance
Sanja Jovanović 100 m backstroke 1:02.47 =17 Did not advance
200 m backstroke 2:15.01 16 Q 2:13.76 13 Did not advance
Smiljana Marinović 100 m breaststroke 1:11.00 20 Did not advance
200 m breaststroke 2:32.52 17 Did not advance

Table tennis edit

Three Croatian table tennis players qualified for the following events.

Men
Athlete Event Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Zoran Primorac Men's singles Bye   Miličević (BIH)
W 4–1
  Ma L (CHN)
L 1–4
Did not advance
Tamara Boroš Women's singles Bye   Kravchenko (ISR)
W 4–0
  Pavlovich (BLR)
W 4–2
  Zhang Yn (CHN)
L 0–4
Did not advance
Cornelia Vaida   Lay (AUS)
L 0–4
Did not advance
Tamara Boroš
Cornelia Vaida
Women's doubles Bye   Štrbíková /
Vachovcová (CZE)
W 4–1
  Bátorfi /
Tóth (HUN)
W 4–1
  Kim B-R /
Kim K-A (KOR)
L 0–4
Did not advance

Taekwondo edit

Two Croatian taekwondo jin qualified for the following events.

Athlete Event Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage 1 Repechage 2 Final / BM
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Opposition
Result
Rank
Sandra Šarić Women's −67 kg   Solheim (NOR)
L 2–5
Did not advance
Nataša Vezmar Women's +67 kg Bye   Dawani (JOR)
L 4–5
Did not advance

Tennis edit

Croatia nominated three male and two female tennis players in the tournament.

Athlete Event Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Opposition
Score
Rank
Mario Ančić Men's singles   Haas (GER)
L 1–6, 5–7
Did not advance
Ivo Karlović   Pavel (ROM)
W 6–4, 6–7(10–12), 6–2
  Clément (FRA)
W 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–4
  Moyá (ESP)
L 6–4, 6–7(3–7), 4–6
Did not advance
Ivan Ljubičić   Sargsian (ARM)
W 6–3, 6–2
  Johansson (SWE)
W 7–6(7–3), 6–4
  Dent (USA)
L 4–6, 4–6
Did not advance
Mario Ančić
Ivan Ljubičić
Men's doubles   Björkman /
Johansson (SWE)
W RET
  Damm /
Suk (CZE)
W 7–6(8–6), 6–7(2–7), 7–5
  Llodra /
Santoro (FRA)
W 4–6, 6–3, 9–7
  González /
Massú (CHI)
L 5–7, 6–4, 4–6
  Bhupathi /
Paes (IND)
W 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 16–14
 
Jelena Kostanić Women's singles   Brandi (PUR)
L 5–7, 1–6
Did not advance
Karolina Šprem   Dulko (ARG)
W 6–4, 7–6(8–6), 7–5
  Widjaja (INA)
W 6–3, 6–1
  Sugiyama (JPN)
L 6–7(6–8), 1–6
Did not advance
Jelena Kostanić
Karolina Šprem
Women's doubles   Prakusya /
Widjaja (INA)
W 6–3, 6–2
  Asagoe /
Sugiyama (JPN)
L 3–6, 5–7
Did not advance

Water polo edit

Men's tournament edit

Roster

The following is the Croatian roster in the men's water polo tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics.[6]

Head coach: Zoran Roje

Name Pos. Height Weight Date of birth 2004 club
1 Frano Vićan GK 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 24 January 1976   Sportiva Nervi
2 Damir Burić CB 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 112 kg (247 lb) 2 December 1980   VK Primorje
3 Tihomil Vranješ D 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 10 November 1977   VK Jug Dubrovnik
4 Dubravko Šimenc CB 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 115 kg (254 lb) 2 November 1966   Bissolati Cremona
5 Goran Volarević GK 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 2 April 1977   VK Jug Dubrovnik
6 Ratko Štritof (C) CB 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 14 January 1972   Circolo Nautico Posillipo
7 Mile Smodlaka CF 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 115 kg (254 lb) 1 January 1976   VK Jug Dubrovnik
8 Danijel Premuš CF 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 15 April 1981   VK Primorje
9 Nikola Franković D 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 9 November 1982   VK Primorje
10 Samir Barač D 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 2 November 1973   Leonessa Brescia
11 Igor Hinić CF 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 110 kg (240 lb) 4 December 1975   Leonessa Brescia
12 Elvis Fatović D 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 8 May 1971   VK Jug Dubrovnik
13 Vjekoslav Kobešćak D 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 20 January 1974   HAVK Mladost
Group play
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Hungary 5 5 0 0 44 27 +17 10 Qualified for the semifinals
2   Serbia and Montenegro 5 4 0 1 37 26 +11 8 Qualified for the quarterfinals
3   Russia 5 3 0 2 32 28 +4 6
4   United States 5 2 0 3 32 37 −5 4
5   Croatia 5 1 0 4 35 41 −6 2
6   Kazakhstan 5 0 0 5 21 42 −21 0
Source: [citation needed]
15 August 2004
22:15
[9] Croatia   6–7   United States Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Tulga (TUR), Bookelman (NED)
Score by quarters: 0-0, 0-3, 2-1, 4-3
Štritof 3 Goals Azevedo 3

17 August 2004
22:15
[10] Hungary   10–8   Croatia Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Borrell (ESP), Bookelman (NED)
Score by quarters: 1-0, 4-2, 4-4, 1-2
Kásás, Biros 3 Goals Burić, Štritof 2

19 August 2004
22:15
[11] Croatia   8–9   Russia Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Stavropoulos (GRE), Kratochvil (SVK)
Score by quarters: 2-2, 2-3, 1-1, 3-3
Franković, Fatović 2 Goals Zinnourov 2

21 August 2004
21:00
[12] Serbia and Montenegro   11–8   Croatia Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Petronilli (ITA), Bookelman (NED)
Score by quarters: 2-1, 4-2, 3-3, 2-2
Šapić 5 Goals 3 players with 2

23 August 2004
10:45
[13] Croatia   5–4   Kazakhstan Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Matache (ROU), Rezek (CZE)
Score by quarters: 2-2, 2-0, 0-0, 1-2
Smodlaka 2 Goals 4 players with 1

7th-12th Classification Quarterfinal
25 August 2004
10:45
[14] Croatia   12–1   Egypt Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Zhong (CHN), Pinker (RSA)
Score by quarters: 4-0, 2-0, 4-0, 2-1
Burić 3 Goals Rezk 1

7th-10th Classification Semifinal
27 August 2004
17:00
[15] Italy   11–7   Croatia Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Afanasiev (RUS), Koryzna (POL)
Score by quarters: 2-1, 3-4, 1-1, 5-1
Bencivenga 3 Goals Franković 3

9th-10th Place Classification
29 August 2004
09:30
[16] Australia   8–7   Croatia Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
Referees:
Kiszelly (HUN), Sayed Mahmoud (EGY)
Score by quarters: 2-0, 3-4, 1-1, 2-2
Whalan 5 Goals Franković 3

Weightlifting edit

Athlete Event Snatch Clean & Jerk Total Rank
Result Rank Result Rank
Nikolaj Pešalov Men's −69 kg 150 3 187.5 =2 337.5  

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Dubravko Šimenc stjegonoša hrvatske zastave u Ateni" [Dubravko Šimenc is the flag bearer for Croatia in Athens] (in Croatian). Croatian Olympic Committee. 3 August 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2014.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Croatia break through for handball gold". ABC News Australia. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  3. ^ "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – Athens 2004 Entry Standards". IAAF. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Men's Handball Team Roster – Croatia (CRO)" (PDF). 2004 Athens. LA84 Foundation. 17 September 2015. p. 211.
  6. ^ "Men's Water Polo Team Roster – Croatia (CRO)" (PDF). 2004 Athens. LA84 Foundation. 21 September 2015. p. 192.

External links edit