 |
|
| Marko
BIJAC |
| Sport |
Water Polo |
| NOC |
Croatia
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 12 Jan 1991
in Dubrovnik, YUG |
| Height | 1.99 m |
| Weight | 88 kg |
|
|
|
|
|
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Olympiacos: Piraeus, GRE |
General Interest |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning gold at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. (rtl.hr, 29 Jul 2017) |
Famous relatives |
His father Maro played water polo at international level. Both father and son have served as captain of the VK Jug side in Croatia. (hrt.hr, 05 Dec 2016; dubrovniknet.hr, 10 Jan 2015; dnevnik.hr, 03 Aug 2014) |
Awards and honours |
He was named Best Goalkeeper of the 2019 World League Super Finals in Belgrade, Serbia. (fina.org, 23 Jun 2019)
He was chosen as Best Goalkeeper of the 2019 World League Europa Cup in Zagreb, Croatia. (fina.org, 07 Apr 2019)
In 2017 he was named Male Water Polo Player of the Year by the European Swimming Federation [LEN]. (swimswam.com, 22 Jan 2018)
Croatian publication 'Vecernji' named him Croatian Water Polo Player of the Year in 2016. He also won the 'Rudi Res' trophy in the same year for being judged Best Croatian Player. (dance.hr, 14 Feb 2017; vecernji.hr, 17 Dec 2016)
He was named Best Goalkeeper of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (dulist.hr, 24 Aug 2016)
He was named Best Goalkeeper of the 2015/16 Champions League. (hrt.hr, 05 Dec 2016; 24sata.hr, 04 Jun 2016)
He was named Best Goalkeeper of the 2013/14 Adriatic League. (dnevnik.hr, 03 Aug 2014) |
Sport Specific Information |
Name of coach |
Ivica Tucak [national], CRO |
Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Goalkeeper |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
Croatian, English |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Water polo is a way of life." (dnevnik.hr, 03 Aug 2014) |
Sport Specific Information |
Handedness |
Right |
Why this sport? |
His father was a water polo player for VK Jug, so he was naturally involved in the sport. His grandmother used to take him to watch his father's matches. "As a child I was going to watch games of my father. At age six I started swimming, but it was boring for me so at age 11, logically, I took up water polo." |
General Interest |
Injuries |
He fractured a cheekbone in October 2019 and required surgery. He was out of competition for six weeks. (rtl.hr, 28 Jan 2019; 24sata.hr, 30 Oct 2019)
In 2018 he suffered a fractured finger in his right hand during a training session in Genoa, Italy. (totalinfo.hr, 01 Dec 2018) |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Dubrovnik, CRO |
General Interest |
Ambitions |
To win the Champions League with Olympiacos. (france-waterpolo.fr, 09 Jun 2021) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He took up water polo at age 11 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 5 |
2021 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
Team |
|
World Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2024 |
Doha, QAT |
Team |
|
| 9 |
2023 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 5 |
2018 |
Berlin, GER |
Team |
|
European Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2024 |
|
Team |
|
| 1 |
2022 |
Split, CRO |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2020 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2018 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
| 7 |
2016 |
Belgrade, SRB |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2014 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| |
|
