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In ancient Greece, the home of the Olympic Games, the period between the two festivals of the most prepared athletes was called the Olympics. It lasted four years. When the games took place, the wars were interrupted. Peace reigned. The modern games were renewed in Athens in 1896. They were not at the end of the Olympics only when peace was broken in modern civilization.
Olympism suffered because of the First and Second World Wars. Today, in peacetime, the war of humanity with the corona virus has taken its toll.
For the first time in history, the competitors will not be reflected in the leap year, but in the so-called idle. Tokyo was supposed to host the XXXII Olympic Games 2020, but necessity postponed the celebration of a healthy body and a healthy spirit for this summer (July 23 – August 8).
Rowing has a long Olympic tradition. If the weather conditions allowed, the races would have been held at the first games of the modern age in Athens in 1896. Furthermore, since Paris in 1900, rowers have been regular participants. Yugoslavia took them to Berlin for the first time in 1936. The duo Ivo Fabris and Elko Mrduljaš with coxswain Pava Ljubičić reached the finals. They arrived last, sixth, but they surpassed six crews in the overall standings.
Equal “master”
At the first Games after the Second World War, in London in 1948, the rowers, 21 of them, were the most numerous in the Yugoslav team. None of the five boats made it to the medal race. And then, in Helsinki in 1952, not only did one crew row in the finals, but they also won the first post-war Yugoslav gold. The foursome without a coxswain, consisting of Duje Bonačić, Velimir Valenta, Mate Trojanović and Petar Šegvić, succeeded in what only the famous Slovenian gymnast Leon Štukelj had achieved before them, who won two gold medals in Paris in 1924 (returned all-around), and one in Amsterdam after four years (circles). The Golden Boys were members of the Gusar club in Split. They were coached by Davor Jelaska, from Split, a participant in the skiff in Berlin.
The foursome first had to fight to go to the regatta track in the Helsinki settlement of Meilahti through the domestic qualifications on Lake Bled, but also to satisfy the Olympic norm of 6: 43.00 minutes. The only real competitor to the “Pirates” was Zagreb’s Mladost. It was necessary to win in two fights. Šegvić, a naval engineer from Split and Bonačić (Valenta was born in Klis, and Trojanović in Metković) once testified about how the competition took place:
– We were convinced that we could in Helsinki, although Mladost then received one of the best boats in the world, the famous “Karlezi”, weighing only 62 kg. It was like a straw in relation to our old and worn-out German “pier” of 81 kg, which was damaged in several places during the war. In the first race in Bled, the best we have ever rowed, and before the Olympics we tried on two European championships on the big stage. In Milan in 1950 and Macon in France in 1951, we won for the length of the boat (12.5 m). Mladost made a tactical mistake, paying attention to Split’s Mornar, and much less to us. Halfway down the trail, at 1,000 meters, I felt my hand tingle. I gritted my teeth with a damn effort.
The next day, in the second race, the people of Zagreb learned their lessons. They won easily, with better tactics, for half the boat.
– The next day, the “master” was supposed to decide who goes to the Games. We protested against the heavier boat. We asked both teams to ride in the same lighter boat, on time, so whoever is better, every part of him. Stoppers from the Rowing Federation of Yugoslavia came. Everything was regular. We scored 6:41, and Mladost 6:48 minutes – Šegvić recounted.
At that time, the greatest hope of Yugoslav rowing was the eight with the helmsman of the Split Sailor. For that crew, there was no uncertainty at all about going to Helsinki, and according to some realistic forecasts, a medal was predicted for them. A compromise was found for two members of the four to be reported as reserves to the eight, and two more as officials. There were no funds for coach Jelaska. Although all four of his chickens were ready to give up their daily allowance, he remained in Split.
Four orphans
“Pirates” won in their qualifying (6: 34.40) and semifinal race (7: 01.10 minutes). The final was held on July 23. The Poles, the British, the Finns and the main favorites, the French, were also at the start.
– We thought that in addition to the French, we have the strength for silver. As four orphans, without a coach, with only a few fans, we entered the boat firmly determined to sell leather at a high price. The weather got worse that day. A strong and unpleasant wind was blowing straight into the bow. It was known that the times would not be good. We agreed that each of us would follow one of the opponent’s boats and report to the others on the order. I was the first in charge of the French in the boat – Šegvić’s memories flooded in.
The start was deadly. Everyone started violently except the Yugoslavs! Panic, however, did not stir up our boat. When it got to the second half of the track, the “pirates” started rowing for their coach. As if someone was pushing them underwater, they caught up with the French.
– At 200 meters to the finish, we had a small advantage, and at 100, even for two boat lengths. The race was decided even if two oars broke. We passed through the finish line, but we paddled another 30 meters just in case, fearing that someone would not move the border – Segvic described.
Yugoslavia achieved a time of 7:16, and France 7: 18.90 minutes. The Finns also took the first rowing medal with 7: 23.30. At the finish, the conquerors were greeted by the President of the VSJ, Cedo Konstantinović, and several other souls. The welcome on the Split waterfront was magnificent in front of 50,000 fellow citizens. They were also greeted by Jelaska, who bet in gold the day before the final.
Eighth sixth
The eight with the rowers of the Split Sailor, our second crew in Helsinki, consisted of: Ladislav Maletić, Branko Belačić, Vladimir Horvat, Vojko Šeravić, Karlo Pavlenč, Boris Beljak, Stanko Despot, Drago Husjak and coxswain Zdenko Bego. They won in their quarterfinal group. From the semi-final group, they had to go to the repechage like the others, but they did not reach the final with five crews from there. In total, they took the sixth place in time.
Silver diplomacy
In 1952, water polo players won the first Olympic medal – silver. They were second in the final group with four teams, equal in points with the Hungarians, who won the gold due to more goals scored (2: 2).
Yugoslavia almost fell out in the first part. The Netherlands won 3: 2, but our leadership filed a protest with FINA, believing that the Belgian referee committed two material violations of the rules. Although reluctantly, the Dutch agreed to a new duel. Ours won with 2: 1, crucial for going to the second round with two semifinal groups.
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