Branko Zorko (born July 1, 1967 in Hodošan) is a Croatian middle distance runner, a notable 1500 m competitor in the 1990s. Probably his biggest accomplishment is winning the first international medal for the country of Croatia, winning a bronze medal at the 1992 European Indoor Athletics Championships. His other major sports achievements include:
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.
Zorko ran 1500 m in five Summer Olympic Games, from 1988 to 2004, making through to the semi-finals in 1992 and 1996.
On July 11, 2005 at IAAF Grand Prix Zagreb, Zorko announced his retirement from competitive running.
As of September 2009[update].
| 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 |