György Kolonics
Encyclopedia
György Kolonics (June 4, 1972 – July 15, 2008), nicknamed Kolo, was a Hungarian
sprint canoer
who won two gold and two bronze medals at four Summer Olympics. He also won a record fifteen gold medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
He was born and died in Budapest
.
and remained at the club for his entire career. He first represented Hungary at the 1991 World Championships
, and achieved a fifth and the sixth place in the C-4 events. At the 1992 Summer Olympics
he achieved a fifth and the seventh place in the C-2 events with Attila Pálizs
.
After the 1992 Olympics he teamed up with Csaba Horváth
, and the pair dominated the doubles for several years. They won their first gold together at the 1993 World Championships
, and after winning a record of five gold medals at the 1995 World Championships
they crowned their cooperation at the 1996 Summer Olympics
by winning the gold in C-2 500 m in a photo finish and a bronze medal in C-2 1000 m. They won a total of 11 World Championships gold medals together in C-2 and C-4 events, and between 1993 and 1998
there were only two major international competitions where they did not win the C-2 500 m gold medal.
After Horváth's retirement in 1998, Kolonics started to focus on the singles and at the 2000 Summer Olympics
he won the C-1 500 m gold medal. Afterwards he returned to doubles again, teaming up with the younger György Kozmann
. The pair won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in C-2 1000 m, and a gold medal at both the 2006 World Championships and the 2007 World Championships in C-2 500 m. They were also to represent Hungary in both C-2 500 m and C-2 1000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics
. This would have been the fifth Olympic Games for Kolonics, who was also being considered to carry the Hungarian flag at the opening ceremony (this honour later went to kayaker Zoltán Kammerer
).
in his coronary arteries which might explain his death. Following his death, a press debate evolved between his long-time trainer Róbert Ludasi and the Hungarian National Ambulance Service (OMSz). Ludasi blamed the ambulance for arriving to the spot allegedly only after 37 minutes and having no defibrillator in the car, while the OMSz claimed that paramedics came in 17 minutes and started to defibrillate Kolonics almost immediately afterwards. They also said that bandages were found on the canoer's body (the existence of which was denied by the trainer) to reduce muscular fatigue, which is potentially dangerous for people having heart problems. Finally the Hungarian Canoe Federation (MKKSz) and the OMSz settled the matter with a joint statement on July 21, with Ludasi rendering thanks to the paramedics for their "conscientious and high standard" attempts to revive Kolonics, and the MKKSz declaring that the bandages were pre-tested and their procurement authorized by the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
After the death of Kolonics some (including world champion canoeist Attila Vajda
) suggested that his spot should not be filled in the Hungarian Olympic team, thus Hungary should not start a unit in the C-2 events of the 2008 Olympics. Kozmann himself initially refused to take part in the Olympics, but eventually changed his mind after consulting with his coach, friends and Kolonics's friends. He competed in the C-2 1000 m with Tamás Kiss
finishing in third place, while the C-2 500 m spot went to brothers Mihály and Mátyás Sáfrán
.
Vajda wore a black armband in memory of Kolonics during the 2008 games.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
sprint canoer
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
who won two gold and two bronze medals at four Summer Olympics. He also won a record fifteen gold medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
He was born and died in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
.
Sporting career
Kolonics started canoeing at the Budapesti Spartacus sport club, but as a youth he moved to Csepel SCCsepel SC
Csepel SC is a Hungarian sports club based in the XXI district of Budapest, Csepel, which is on an island in the Danube in the south of the city...
and remained at the club for his entire career. He first represented Hungary at the 1991 World Championships
1991 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1991 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Paris, France.The men's competition consisted of eight Canadian and nine kayak events. Five events were held for the women, all in kayak...
, and achieved a fifth and the sixth place in the C-4 events. At the 1992 Summer Olympics
Canoeing at the 1992 Summer Olympics
The canoeing competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona was composed of 16 events in two disciplines, slalom and sprint. The slalom events returned to the Olympic program after a 20 year absence, since the 1972 Munich Games...
he achieved a fifth and the seventh place in the C-2 events with Attila Pálizs
Attila Pálizs
Attila Pálizs is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed in the early 1990s. He won two medals in the C-2 500 m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with a gold in 1991 and a bronze in 1990....
.
After the 1992 Olympics he teamed up with Csaba Horváth
Csaba Horváth
Csaba Horváth is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed in the 1990s. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he won two medals with teammate György Kolonics...
, and the pair dominated the doubles for several years. They won their first gold together at the 1993 World Championships
1993 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1993 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Copenhagen, Denmark for the third time. The Danish city had hosted the event previously in 1950 and 1970....
, and after winning a record of five gold medals at the 1995 World Championships
1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Duisburg, Germany for the third time. The German city had hosted the event previously in 1979 and 1987 when it was part of West Germany....
they crowned their cooperation at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Canoeing at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The canoeing competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was composed of 16 events in two disciplines, slalom and sprint...
by winning the gold in C-2 500 m in a photo finish and a bronze medal in C-2 1000 m. They won a total of 11 World Championships gold medals together in C-2 and C-4 events, and between 1993 and 1998
1998 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1998 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Szeged, Hungary.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events. Women competed in eight events, all in kayak....
there were only two major international competitions where they did not win the C-2 500 m gold medal.
After Horváth's retirement in 1998, Kolonics started to focus on the singles and at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics was held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre for the sprint events and the Whitewater Stadium in Penrith for the canoe and kayak slalom disciplines. The repechage rounds that ran from the 1960 to the 1996 Games were eliminated in the sprint events while...
he won the C-1 500 m gold medal. Afterwards he returned to doubles again, teaming up with the younger György Kozmann
György Kozmann
György Kozmann is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed since the late 1990s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won two bronze medals in the C-2 1000 m event, earning them in 2004 and 2008....
. The pair won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre for the sprint events and the Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre at the Helliniko Olympic Complex for the canoe and kayak slalom disciplines....
in C-2 1000 m, and a gold medal at both the 2006 World Championships and the 2007 World Championships in C-2 500 m. They were also to represent Hungary in both C-2 500 m and C-2 1000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. This would have been the fifth Olympic Games for Kolonics, who was also being considered to carry the Hungarian flag at the opening ceremony (this honour later went to kayaker Zoltán Kammerer
Zoltán Kammerer
Zoltán Kammerer is a Hungarian sprint canoer who has competed since the mid 1990s. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he won three gold medals ....
).
Death
Kolonics died on July 15, 2008 in Budapest of cardiac arrest. He lost consciousness during training and the attending paramedics could not save him. Autopsy found a small amount of plaqueAtheroma
In pathology, an atheroma is an accumulation and swelling in artery walls that is made up of macrophage cells, or debris, that contain lipids , calcium and a variable amount of fibrous connective tissue...
in his coronary arteries which might explain his death. Following his death, a press debate evolved between his long-time trainer Róbert Ludasi and the Hungarian National Ambulance Service (OMSz). Ludasi blamed the ambulance for arriving to the spot allegedly only after 37 minutes and having no defibrillator in the car, while the OMSz claimed that paramedics came in 17 minutes and started to defibrillate Kolonics almost immediately afterwards. They also said that bandages were found on the canoer's body (the existence of which was denied by the trainer) to reduce muscular fatigue, which is potentially dangerous for people having heart problems. Finally the Hungarian Canoe Federation (MKKSz) and the OMSz settled the matter with a joint statement on July 21, with Ludasi rendering thanks to the paramedics for their "conscientious and high standard" attempts to revive Kolonics, and the MKKSz declaring that the bandages were pre-tested and their procurement authorized by the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
After the death of Kolonics some (including world champion canoeist Attila Vajda
Attila Vajda
Attila Vajda is a Hungarian sprint canoer who has competed since the early 2000s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he has won two medals in the C-1 1000 m event with a gold in 2008 and a bronze in 2004....
) suggested that his spot should not be filled in the Hungarian Olympic team, thus Hungary should not start a unit in the C-2 events of the 2008 Olympics. Kozmann himself initially refused to take part in the Olympics, but eventually changed his mind after consulting with his coach, friends and Kolonics's friends. He competed in the C-2 1000 m with Tamás Kiss
Tamás Kiss
Tamás Kiss is a Hungarian sprint canoer who has competed since the late 2000s. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he won a bronze medal in the C-2 1000 m event with teammate György Kozmann....
finishing in third place, while the C-2 500 m spot went to brothers Mihály and Mátyás Sáfrán
Mátyás Sáfran
Mátyás Sáfrán is a Hungarian sprint canoer who has competed since 2007. He won a bronze medal in the C-4 1000 m event at the 2007 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg....
.
Vajda wore a black armband in memory of Kolonics during the 2008 games.