Iztok Čop
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's rowing | ||
Competitor for  Yugoslavia
| ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 1991 Vienna | Coxless Pair |
Competitor for  Slovenia
| ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 2000 Sydney | Double Sculls |
| 2004 Athens | Double Sculls |
 | 2012 London | Double Sculls |
| 1992 Barcelona | Coxless Pair |
| World Championships | ||
| 1995 Tampere | Single Sculls |
| 1999 St. Catherines | 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 1500m 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 (seven Olympics) in 2000, biathlete/cross country skier Sašo Grajf in 2002, and biathlete Janez Ožbolt in 2006.
Achievements
- 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
External links
- IztokCop.com - Official website (Slovene and English)
- Sports-Reference Profile
| Olympic Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brigita Bukovec |
Flagbearer for Slovenia Sydney 2000 |
Succeeded by Beno Lapajne |
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