Tiit Sokk
Encyclopedia
Tiit Sokk (born November 15, 1964 in Tartu
) is a retired Estonia
n professional basketball
player who played mostly at the point guard
position.
His most notable achievements include winning the Olympic gold medal as a member of the Soviet Union
team
in the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, South Korea
and the silver medal with the same team twice in the 1986
and 1990
World Championships. He won the Soviet Union league championship in 1991 as a member of the Tallinn Kalev basketball team and ended his professional career as a player in 1997, after playing a season with the Aris BC
in Greece.
During his playing time in Greece, mostly with Panathinaikos, he acquired Greek citizenship and his Greek name is Tout Giannopoulos.
Sokk was awarded the Estonian best male athlete award in 1988. Since then he has founded a basketball school in Estonia, coached in Estonian Basketball League and has been the coach of the Estonian National Basketball
team since 2004.
Tiit Sokk has two sons, Tanel
and Sten
, who also play basketball at international level for Estonian top teams BC Kalev/Cramo
and Tartu Ülikool/Rock
respectively. In august 2011, Tiit Sokk was introduced to Estonias Basketball Hall Of Fame.
Panathinaikos BC
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
) is a retired Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played mostly at the point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
position.
His most notable achievements include winning the Olympic gold medal as a member of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
team
Soviet Union national basketball team
The Soviet national basketball team was the basketball side that represented the Soviet Union in international competitions. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the successor countries all set up their own national teams...
in the 1988 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at the Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea. The United States won the gold medal in the women's competition, thus repeating their performance from the 1984 tournament. In the men's tournament, the Soviet Union took home their second gold medal in...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the silver medal with the same team twice in the 1986
1986 FIBA World Championship
The 1986 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Spain from July 5 to 19 1986.The Final phase of the tournament was held at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid...
and 1990
1990 FIBA World Championship
The 1990 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Argentina from August 8 to August 20, 1990.The competition final phase was held at the Luna Park, Buenos Aires.Yugoslavia emerged as the tournament winner...
World Championships. He won the Soviet Union league championship in 1991 as a member of the Tallinn Kalev basketball team and ended his professional career as a player in 1997, after playing a season with the Aris BC
Aris BC
Aris Basketball Club is the professional basketball team of the Thessaloniki-based Greek sport club Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of Aris Thessaloniki....
in Greece.
During his playing time in Greece, mostly with Panathinaikos, he acquired Greek citizenship and his Greek name is Tout Giannopoulos.
Sokk was awarded the Estonian best male athlete award in 1988. Since then he has founded a basketball school in Estonia, coached in Estonian Basketball League and has been the coach of the Estonian National Basketball
Estonia national basketball team
The Estonian National Basketball Team is the basketball team that represents Estonia in international competitions.-Eurobasket 1937:The Estonians took fifth place, with an overall record of 3–2, at the second European basketball championship, the Eurobasket 1937 held by the International Basketball...
team since 2004.
Tiit Sokk has two sons, Tanel
Tanel Sokk
Tanel Sokk is an Estonian professional basketball player. He is a point guard like his father Tiit Sokk and younger brother Sten-Timmu Sokk. Tanel Sokk has played most of his career in Estonian League team Nybit. In 2006 he signed with Estonian top team BC Kalev/Cramo...
and Sten
Sten-Timmu Sokk
Sten Sokk is an Estonian professional basketball player. He is a point guard like his father Tiit Sokk and his older brother Tanel Sokk. Like his brother, Sten has played most of his career in Estonian League team Nybit...
, who also play basketball at international level for Estonian top teams BC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and VTB United League. Kalev/Cramo plays their home games at Saku Suurhall and Kalevi Spordihall. The club was previously known under the name Ehitustööriist,...
and Tartu Ülikool/Rock
Tartu Ülikool/Rock
Tartu Ülikool is an Estonian professional basketball club, based in Tartu, currently participating in the Korvpalli Meistriliiga, the Baltic Basketball League and the EuroChallenge. The basketball team belongs to The University of Tartu and plays their home games at the Tartu Ülikooli Spordihoone ...
respectively. In august 2011, Tiit Sokk was introduced to Estonias Basketball Hall Of Fame.
Achievements with club
Tallinna Kalev- Soviet Union Championship: 1991
- Soviet Estonian Championship: 1984, 1985
- Estonian Championship: 1992
Panathinaikos BC
- Greek ChampionshipA1 EthnikiThe Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
- Runner-up: 1993, 1995, 1996
- Greek Basketball CupGreek basketball CupThe Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
: 1993, 1996