The Jurković sisters are Croatia representatives competing in the coxless pairs discipline. They are the current European and World U-23 champions and overall winners of the 2021 Senior World Cup.
“We are completely different; you would not know that we are twins. I’m more into sports, and she’s more modern things. Even though I sometimes like to put on make-up, nothing will stand in my way if I put my head to something. If she and I decided to break up a workout and try for our ‘personal best’, we would do it no matter the weather. Because we have that type of mentality,” said Ivana for HRT.
About the advantages of being twins in a sport like rowing:
“I think it’s a plus for both sisters and brothers because we know each other. And the fact that we sometimes quarrel because we are always together is normal, and it only elevates us,” said Josipa.
“When the race is over, I feel exactly when she is in crisis, I know exactly when I have to tell her something. And that is the advantage of our relationship – that we are sisters and know each other at heart,” added Ivana.
How did they get into rowing?
“We started rowing a long time ago. A friend encouraged us in 2011 when we had been training handball for five years. We immediately won a bronze medal in the first regatta. That’s how it became fun for us,” Josipa said.
Where are they from, and how are their training conditions?
“We are from Vela Luka on Korčula. When the day came when we were world and European junior champions in 2017, and we no longer had the conditions, unfortunately, we had to move to Zagreb to continue rowing with the best and create Croatian rowing history,” said Ivana.
How much effort does it take to achieve results and to be able to compete with the best?
“We can fight with the best. But, you have to grit your teeth and go your own way. Otherwise, there would be no success,” explains Josipa.
“They told us that when girls get into rowing, your shoulders broaden and so on. We currently have no blisters or wounds. But we prefer more blisters because then we see that we are doing well. If there are no blisters and blood, then something is not good,” Ivana added.
Finally, the Jurković sisters spoke about the Sinković brothers and hopes for the future:
“The Sinković brothers should be a role model for everyone. Therefore, we tip our hats and hope that we will be able to be even close to their success one day. We hope that we will be able to qualify for Paris and be the first women’s team in that discipline at the Olympic Games,” concludes Ivana.
You can watch the full video on HRT.
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