Perica Vlašić
Encyclopedia
Perica Vlašić was a Croatia
n rower
who competed for Yugoslavia
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
and at the 1960 Summer Olympics
. He also competed in seven European championships and won eight consecutive Yugoslav championships in the single scull
, as well as seven double scull
national championships.
Perica Vlašić was born in Vela Luka
on the island of Korčula
in Croatia. In 1947, he began rowing for VK Ošjak, a local rowing club that was founded in the same year. Racing for the club in a coxed four
, he had four consecutive wins at youth level in the Croatian national championships from 1948 to 1951 although in 1950 he turned to sculling
. In 1952, he went into compulsory military service in the Yugoslav Army, and served in Pula
, where he was spotted by Luka Marasović the rowing coach. Marasović persuaded him to join HVK Mornar, and in 1953, he won the single scull
for Mornar in the Croatian championship. He went on to win the Yugoslav national championship in single scull as well as double scull
, paired with Stevan Vaci, a rower from the VK Tamiš club based in Pančevo. He entered the Single scull in the European championship and finished first in the final on 18 August 1953 ahead of Teodor Kocerka
of Poland. He could achieve a very fast rowing rate of 58 strokes per minute. He won the Sportske novosti Sportsman of the Year
award in 1953.
In 1954, Vlašić went on a one month tour round Europe and competed in several races in borrowed boats. He won at Duisburg
and then at Groningen
, and won the Diamond Challenge Sculls
at Henley Royal Regatta
in England, beating Swiss rower A Colomb in the final. He had arrived in London a day before the competition without a trainer or boat, and borrowed a boat from an English trainer to compete.
Vlašić competed in the single scull rowing for Yugoslavia at the 1956 Summer Olympics
. Four years later, he partnered Joža Lovec in the double scull
rowing for Yugoslavia at the 1960 Summer Olympics
. Vlašić won eight consecutive Yugoslav championships in scull, as well as seven double scull national championships, in six of which he was paired with Nikola Lučin.
By the end of his career, Vlašić had won around 40 races in international competitions, and another 40 in national championships in single scull and double scull races.
In 1995, Vlašić was awarded the Croatian Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport
.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed for Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
and at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. He also competed in seven European championships and won eight consecutive Yugoslav championships in the single scull
Single scull
A single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....
, as well as seven double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
national championships.
Perica Vlašić was born in Vela Luka
Vela Luka
Vela Luka is a small town and a municipality in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in southern Dalmatia, Croatia. The town is located on the western side of the island of Korčula at the bottom of a wide bay which has many indented coves. Vela Luka developed at the beginning of the 19th century in a deep...
on the island of Korčula
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
in Croatia. In 1947, he began rowing for VK Ošjak, a local rowing club that was founded in the same year. Racing for the club in a coxed four
Coxed four
A coxed four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a cox....
, he had four consecutive wins at youth level in the Croatian national championships from 1948 to 1951 although in 1950 he turned to sculling
Sculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...
. In 1952, he went into compulsory military service in the Yugoslav Army, and served in Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
, where he was spotted by Luka Marasović the rowing coach. Marasović persuaded him to join HVK Mornar, and in 1953, he won the single scull
Single scull
A single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....
for Mornar in the Croatian championship. He went on to win the Yugoslav national championship in single scull as well as double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
, paired with Stevan Vaci, a rower from the VK Tamiš club based in Pančevo. He entered the Single scull in the European championship and finished first in the final on 18 August 1953 ahead of Teodor Kocerka
Teodor Kocerka
Teodor Kocerka was a Polish rower who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics, in the 1956 Summer Olympics, and in the 1960 Summer Olympics.He was born in Bydgoszcz and died in Warsaw....
of Poland. He could achieve a very fast rowing rate of 58 strokes per minute. He won the Sportske novosti Sportsman of the Year
Sportske novosti awards
Sportske novosti awards refer to a series of annual awards given out by Sportske novosti, a Croatian daily sports newspaper. It originated in the 1950s in the then-SFR Yugoslavia, and is today one of the most prestigious Croatian sport awards...
award in 1953.
In 1954, Vlašić went on a one month tour round Europe and competed in several races in borrowed boats. He won at Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
and then at Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
, and won the Diamond Challenge Sculls
Diamond Challenge Sculls
The Diamond Challenge Sculls is a rowing event for men's single sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England...
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in England, beating Swiss rower A Colomb in the final. He had arrived in London a day before the competition without a trainer or boat, and borrowed a boat from an English trainer to compete.
Vlašić competed in the single scull rowing for Yugoslavia at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Yugoslavia at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Athletes from the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.-Medalists:-Athletics:Men's 110m Hurdles*Stanko Lorger* Heat — 14.6s* Semifinals — 14.6s* Final — 14.5s...
. Four years later, he partnered Joža Lovec in the double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
rowing for Yugoslavia at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Yugoslavia at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Athletes from the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. 116 competitors, 107 men and 9 women, took part in 64 events in 14 sports....
. Vlašić won eight consecutive Yugoslav championships in scull, as well as seven double scull national championships, in six of which he was paired with Nikola Lučin.
By the end of his career, Vlašić had won around 40 races in international competitions, and another 40 in national championships in single scull and double scull races.
In 1995, Vlašić was awarded the Croatian Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport
Franjo Bucar State Award for Sport
Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport is the highest recognition that Republic of Croatia gives for extraordinary achievements and contributions of remarkable meaning for the development of sport in Croatia.This award has been given since 1991...
.