Sinković Brothers dominate in Plovdiv to claim World Cup gold

Martin and Valent Sinković delivered another outstanding performance, winning gold in the coxless pair final at the second World Rowing Cup regatta of the season in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

The Croatian brothers made a strong start and initially took the lead before being briefly overtaken by the Chinese crew. However, the Sinkovićs remained in control throughout the race, closely tracking their rivals while conserving energy. In the final 500 meters, they produced a powerful surge to pull away from the field and secure a convincing victory.

The reigning Olympic champions crossed the finish line in an impressive 6:00.97, finishing well ahead of New Zealand, which claimed silver in 6:05.36. China took bronze with a time of 6:06.44, followed by Italy (6:11.23), the United States (6:11.61), and Romania (6:20.79).

The result marks a significant turnaround for the Sinković brothers after a disappointing start to the World Cup season in Seville, where they finished 13th. Their performance in Plovdiv confirmed that their form in the coxless pair is steadily improving, as they delivered a race characterized by strength, composure, and tactical maturity.

“We’re really happy with this race,” said Valent Sinković after the final. “It’s always nice to be positively surprised. We performed exceptionally well, came close to the world record, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Martin Sinković also expressed his satisfaction, though in his trademark humorous style.

“I’m not satisfied because we didn’t break the world record,” he joked. “But since we own it, that’s fine. We showed that we’re still here, that we can still row at the highest level, and that makes me especially happy.”

With their victory in Plovdiv, the Sinković brothers concluded the first part of the World Cup season in the best possible way. They will skip the third World Cup regatta as part of their preparations for the upcoming European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy, scheduled for July 31 to August 2.

The latest triumph is further evidence that one of Croatia’s most successful sporting duos is once again finding top form as the season’s biggest challenges approach.