The two teams crossed the finish line side by side after 22 kilometers, with the most decorated rowers in the competition's history rowing in a boat dedicated to Varaždin County and veteran units.
The Neretva River hosted the 29th edition of the Lađa Marathon on Saturday, August 9, 2026, and spectators witnessed a finish that will be remembered for a long time. After more than 22 kilometers of exhausting battle, the teams Gusari from Komin and Crni put from Metković crossed the finish line together, sharing first place and the golden glory of this year's competition.
From the very start, the race was extremely uncertain and without any calculations. The sound of drums, cheering from the shores, and the rhythmic strokes of the oars accompanied the rowers all the way to the spectacular finish. At the finish line, it was impossible to declare a single winner, so Crni put and Gusari Komin deservedly shared the winner's podium.
Second place went to the Baćina team, while Sveti Ilija Metković took third. For the town of Metković, this was a special moment because, for the first time in the history of the Lađa Marathon, two town teams simultaneously climbed onto the winner's podium.
The boat in which Gusari rowed added a special dimension to their performance. The vessel proudly bore the name of Varaždin County and featured the insignia of the 5th Battalion of the 1st Guards Brigade "Tigers" and the Special Police Unit "Roda" of the Varaždin Police Department. These are units whose members defended Croatia on the southern front during the Homeland War.
Varaždin County Prefect Anđelko Stričak revealed that the same boat had been donated to the Neretva Rowers' Association the day before. Gusari, who before this edition were the most decorated team in marathon history with seven gold, seven silver, and three bronze medals, thus competed with an extra charge.
Prefect Stričak emphasized the strong symbolism carried by both the race itself and its outcome.
In this year's Lađa Marathon, the Gusari team from Komin competed in a boat that we presented to the Neretva Rowers' Association the previous day. That boat bears the name of Varaždin County and is adorned with the insignia of the 5th Battalion of the Tigers and the SJP Roda, units whose members proved in the toughest situations what courage, determination, faith in teammates, and dedication to a common goal truly mean. We see that same unity in the boat. In this environment, no one can achieve success alone. Every stroke of the oar must be synchronized, every participant must trust the person beside them, and everyone must act as one cohesive unit.
Stričak noted that the joint finish sent a message that the desire to win does not exclude respect for the opponent. "Gusari and Crni put, with such a finish, showed the best of sports, fighting with all your heart for your colors while respecting the person and team fighting alongside you," the prefect said.
With the awarding of medals and the shields of Prince Domagoj, another edition of this spectacle officially came to a close. For those who followed the race from the shore, the marathon did not end with the last stroke of the oar, what remains are the images of exhausted rowers, the shared struggle, and the moment when it became clear that the history of the 29th Lađa Marathon would be written with two winners.
