Matija Ljubek (November 22, 1953 – October 11, 2000) was a successful canoe

Canoe

A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...

r from Belišće

Belišce

Belišće is a city in Croatia, located in the region of Slavonia, Osijek - Baranja county, at the altitude of 93 m. The population of the city is 6,493 , with 10,790 in the municipality. In 2001 census, the majority were Croats...

, Croatia

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 ...

 who later became a sports official for Croatia.

Born in Belišće

Belišce

Belišće is a city in Croatia, located in the region of Slavonia, Osijek - Baranja county, at the altitude of 93 m. The population of the city is 6,493 , with 10,790 in the municipality. In 2001 census, the majority were Croats...

, Osijek-Baranja

Osijek-Baranja County

Osijek-Baranja county is a county in Croatia, located in northeastern Slavonia and Baranja. Its center is Osijek; other cities include Đakovo, Našice, Valpovo, Belišće, Beli Manastir.-Administrative divisions:Osijek-Baranja county is divided into:...

, Ljubek competed in four Summer Olympics where he won four medals. This included two golds (C-1 1000 m: 1976

1976 Summer Olympics

The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...

, C-2 500 m: 1984

1984 Summer Olympics

The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...

), one silver (C-2 1000 m: 1984), and one bronze (C-1 500 m: 1976). His trainer was Laszlo Hingl. He also won ten medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with four golds (C-1 1000 m: 1978

1978 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1978 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia for a record third time. The Yugoslavian city had previously hosted the championships in 1971 and 1975....

, C-2 500 m: 1982

1982 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1982 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia for the record fourth time. The Yugoslavian city had host the championships previously in 1971, 1975, and 1978....

, 1983

1983 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1983 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Tampere, Finland for the second time. The Finnish city had host the championships previously in 1973.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events...

; C-2 10000 m: 1985

1985 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1985 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Mechelen, Belgium.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events. Three events were held for the women, all in kayak....

), three silvers (C-1 10000 m: 1981

1981 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1981 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Nottingham, Great Britain.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events. Three events were held for the women, all in kayak....

, C-2 1000 m: 1982, 1985), and three bronzes (C-1 10000 m: 1975

1975 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1975 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia for the second time, having hosted them in 1971. This also equaled the most times a city had done so with Copenhagen, Denmark ....

, 1978; C-2 1000 m: 1983).

In 1976

1976 in sports

1976 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Rosi Mittermaier, West Germany-American football:...

 he was received a golden badge award for best athlete of 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,...

.

Ljubek later became vice-president of the Croatian Olympic Committee

Croatian Olympic Committee

The Croatian Olympic Committee is the non-profit organization representing Croatian athletes in the International Olympic Committee. The COC organizes Croatia's representatives at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. It also organizes the Croatian contingent at smaller events such as the...

 and served as chef de mission

Head of Mission

In diplomatic usage, Head of Mission or Chief of Mission from the French "Chef de Mission Diplomatique" is the generic term used to refer to the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an Ambassador, High Commissioner, Nuncio, Chargé d'affaires, Permanent Representative, and sometimes to a...

for the Croatian Olympic team

Croatia at the Olympics

Croatia competed at the Olympic Games for the first time as an independent nation in 1992, and has participated in every Games since then...

.

Ljubek died in 2000 when he was shot by an estranged brother-in-law while trying to defend his mother in Valpovo

Valpovo

Valpovo is a town in Slavonia, Croatia. It is close to the Drava river in the region of Slavonia, northwest of Osijek. The population of Valpovo is 7,396, with a total of 11,570 in the municipality.-Demographics:...

, Osijek-Baranja six days after returning from the 2000 Summer Olympics

2000 Summer Olympics

The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...

.