Iztok Čop

Iztok Čop

Medal record
Men's rowing
Representing  Yugoslavia
World Championships
1991 Vienna Coxless pair
Representing  Slovenia
Olympic Games
2000 Sydney Double sculls
2004 Athens Double sculls
1992 Barcelona Coxless pair
2012 London Double sculls
World Championships
1995 Tampere Single sculls
1999 St. Catharines Double sculls
2005 Gifu Double sculls
2007 Munich Double sculls
2001 Lucerne Single sculls
2002 Seville Single sculls
2005 Gifu Quadruple sculls
2006 Eton Double sculls
1993 Račice Coxless Pair
1994 Indianapolis Single sculls
2003 Milan Single sculls
Gold Cup Challenge
2011 Philadelphia Single sculls

Iztok Čop (born 17 June 1972 in Kranj, SR Slovenia) is a Slovenian rower and Olympic gold medalist.

Biography

Iztok started rowing at the age of 13 in Bled, where Slovenia's best rowing club is located.

Originally rowing in the coxless pairs, Čop finished second in the World Championships in 1991, and won Bronze at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 with Denis Žvegelj (the first Olympic medal for independent Slovenia). He then switched to the single scull, winning gold at the 1995 World Championship, but came fourth at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. He then changed to the men's double sculls with Luka Špik, and won the 1999 World Championships, and gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, which was the first Olympic gold medal for Slovenia since its independence.

Špik and Čop were the favourites to win the men's double sculls at the 2004 Summer Olympics, but finished in the silver medal position.

Špik and Čop came into the 2012 Summer Olympics as not-favorites, however with a strong performance in the semifinals they announced they would be running for a medal. After taking an early lead and holding it until nearly 1500 m mark, they lost the lead to the Italians and the later winners from New Zealand. They finished in the third position, giving Slovenia the second medal of the Olympics after Urška Žolnir won the gold 2 days earlier.

Iztok lives in Radovljica with his wife Petra and daughters Ruby and Amber.

In 2008 he became the fourth Slovenian to compete at five Olympics, after shooter Rajmond Debevec (eight Olympics) in 2000, biathlete/cross country skier Sašo Grajf in 2002, and biathlete Janez Ožbolt in 2006.

Achievements

Olympic Games

  • 1992: Barcelona (ESP) – 3rd place (coxless pair with Denis Žvegelj)
  • 1996: Atlanta (USA) – 4th place (single scull)
  • 2000: Sydney (AUS) – 1st place (double scull with Luka Špik)
  • 2004: Athens (GRE) – 2nd place (double scull with Luka Špik)
  • 2008: Beijing (CHI) – 6th place (double scull with Luka Špik)
  • 2012: London (GBR) – 3rd place (double scull with Luka Špik)

Junior World Championships:

  • 1989: Szeged (HUN) – 1st place (coxless pair)
  • 1990: Aiguebelette (FRA) – 1st place (coxless pair)

World Championships:

  • 1990: Lake Barrington (AUS) – 7th place (coxless four)
  • 1991: Vienna (AUT) – 2nd place (coxless pair)
  • 1993: Roudnice (CZE) – 3rd place (coxless pair)
  • 1994: Indianapolis (USA) – 3rd place (single scull)
  • 1995: Tampere (FIN) – 1st place (single scull)
  • 1997: Aiguebelette (FRA) – 4th place (single scull)
  • 1998: Cologne (GER) – 4th place (single scull)
  • 1999: St. Catharines (CAN) – 1st place (double scull)
  • 2001: Lucerne (SUI) – 2nd place (single scull)
  • 2002: Seville (ESP) – 2nd place (single scull)
  • 2003: Milan (ITA) – 3rd place (single scull)
  • 2005: Gifu (JPN) – 1st place (double scull), 2nd place (quadruple scull)
  • 2006: Eton (GBR) – 2nd place (double scull)
  • 2007: Munich (GER) – 1st place (double scull)

See also

  • IztokCop.com – Official website (Slovene and English)
  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill. "Iztok Čop". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010.
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Brigita Bukovec		 Flagbearer for  Slovenia
Sydney 2000		 Succeeded by
Beno Lapajne
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Drew Ginn		 Thomas Keller Medal
2015		 Succeeded by
Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell
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