Хорват жүгіршісі Зорконың спортивтік жолы

Croatian retired middle distance runner (born 1967)

At his first major international competition, Zorko finished sixth in the men's 3000 metres race at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships. In 1990, he won his first major medal, winning bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Zorko began specializing in middle distance disciplines, and eventually found his talent in the 1500 metres. In 1992, Zorko won the first international medal for the newly independent Croatia, winning a bronze medal at the 1992 European Indoor Athletics Championships. A year later he won the bronze medal for the men's 1500 metres at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships, finishing only 0.39 seconds behind winner Marcus O'Sullivan. Next year, Zorko finished second in the 1500 at the 1994 European Athletics Indoor Championships, and third at the 1994 European Championships in Athletics. At the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships and at the 2002 European Indoor Athletics Championships, he finished in fourth place in the respective 1500 metre races.

By the late 1990s, Zorko was increasingly suffering from injuries, which prompted him to turn to professional pacemaking. As a pacemaker, he assisted in setting several world records, both indoors and outdoors, most notably for Haile Gebrselassie. On July 11, 2005, Zorko announced his retirement at the IAAF Grand Prix Zagreb.

as of 2012.

Distance Mark Date Location 1000 m 2:18.97 2000 06 17 Zagreb 1500 m 3:33.30 NR 1998 08 08 Monte Carlo Mile 3:52.64 NR 1998 08 05 Stockholm 2000 m 4:58.02 NR 1996 07 10 Nice 3000 m 7:48.72 NR 1998 06 01 Hengelo 5000 m 13:43.04 1989 06 04 Belgrade

Distance Mark Date Location 1000 m 2:20.35 NR 1998 02 04 Erfurt 1500 m 3:38.05 NR 1997 02 02 Stuttgart 3000 m 7:49.29 NR 1990 03 07 Piraeus

Representing 1987UniversiadeZagreb, Yugoslavia7th1500 m3:46.461988European Indoor ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary7th1500 m3:47.69Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea36th (h)1500 m3:45.521989European Indoor ChampionshipsThe Hague, Netherlands5th3000 m7:54.16World Indoor ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary6th3000 m7:52.26UniversiadeDuisburg, West Germany14th (h)1500 m3:48.421990European Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, United Kingdom3rd3000 m7:54.77European ChampionshipsSplit, Yugoslavia14th (h)1500 m3:40.86Representing 1992European Indoor ChampionshipsGenoa, Italy3rd1500 m3:42.85Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain18th (sf)1500 m3:39.711993World Indoor ChampionshipsToronto, Canada3rd1500 m3:45.39World ChampionshipsStuttgart, Germany21st (sf)1500 m3:43.121994European Indoor ChampionshipsParis, France2nd1500 m3:44.64European ChampionshipsHelsinki, Finland3rd1500 m3:36.881995World ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden36th (h)1500 m3:48.831996European Indoor ChampionshipsStockholm, Sweden5th1500 m3:46.82Olympic Games Atlanta, United States9th (sf)1500 m3:35.141997World Indoor ChampionshipsParis, France4th1500 m3:39.25Mediterranean GamesBari, Italy2nd1500 m3:45.17World ChampionshipsAthens, Greece19th (sf)1500 m3:41.631998European Indoor ChampionshipsValencia, Spain6th1500 m3:45.83European ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary10th1500 m3:43.951999Military World GamesZagreb, Croatia3rd1500 m3:41.062000European Indoor ChampionshipsGhent, Belgium10th (h)1500 m3:42.92Olympic Games Sydney, Australia36th (h)1500 m3:46.162001World Indoor ChampionshipsLisbon, Portugal9th (h)1500 m3:39.552002European Indoor ChampionshipsVienna, Austria4th1500 m3:50.662004Olympic GamesAthens, Greece31st (h)1500 m3:48.28