Zvonko Bezjak

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameAntun Petar "Zvonko"•Bezjak
Used nameZvonko•Bezjak
Other namesАнтун Петар "Звонко" Безјак
Born29 June 1935 in Varaždin, Varaždinska županija (CRO)
Died21 July 2022
Measurements184 cm / 95 kg
AffiliationsDinamo Zagreb, Zagreb (CRO)
NOC Yugoslavia
Nationality Croatia

Biography

Zvonko Bezjak was a Croatian hammer thrower who represented Yugoslavia. When Bezjak was in school, he competed in wrestling and fencing before his coach moved him into athletics. Bezjak became the junior state champion in the pentathlon. Bezjak excelled in the hammer throw due to his strength.

Bezjak was a four-time champion of Yugoslavia (1959–61, 63), and a four-time Balkan champion (1956, 60–61, 63). Bezjak competed in the hammer throw at the 1960 Roma Olympics where he finished in sixth place. Three years later, Bezjak won the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Napoli.

Bezjak set multiple state records in the hammer throw, and a junior world record in 1954. In 1958, Bezjak also set a state record in weightlifting.

Personal Best: HT – 65.38 (1960).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics YUG CRO Zvonko Bezjak
Hammer Throw, Men (Olympic) 6

Special Notes