 Ljubek's grave atMirogoj Cemetery. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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
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Matija Ljubek (Croatian pronunciation:[ʎǔbek]; 22 November 1953 – 11 October 2000) was aCroatiansprint canoeist who competed in the 1970s and 1980s and later became a sports official.[1]
Born inBelišće,Osijek-Baranja, Ljubek competed in fourSummer Olympics where he won four medals. This included two golds (C-1 1000 m:1976, C-2 500 m:1984 withMirko Nišović), one silver (C-2 1000 m: 1984 withMirko Nišović), and one bronze (C-1 500 m: 1976). His trainer wasLaszlo Hingl. He also won ten medals at theICF 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).
In1976 he was awarded aGolden Badge award for best athlete ofYugoslavia.
Ljubek later became vice-president of theCroatian Olympic Committee and served aschef de mission for theCroatian Olympic team.
Ljubek died in 2000 when he was shot by an estranged brother-in-law while trying to defend his mother inValpovo, Osijek-Baranja, six days after returning from the2000 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) |
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |  The Best Athlete of Yugoslavia1976 | Succeeded by |
| 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 |
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