Born in 1949, Ivan Patzaichin made his debut in 1967, before winning his first gold medal at the Olympic Games in Mexico a year later. Three more gold and three silver medals at the 1972, 1980 and 1984 Olympics followed, as well as nine world championship titles. “A champion has turned into a star, Ivan Patzaichin has passed away”, wrote the Romanian Olympic Committee in a message of condolence.
“Ivan was the greatest céiste on the planet and of all time, he won the most medals, both in singles and in doubles”, recalled the president of the Romanian Canoeing Federation Ioan Birladeanu.
A champion who aroused vocations
Born in Mila 23, in the Danube delta (south-east), he had helped transform this fishing hamlet into a nursery of champions: inspired by his example, hundreds of young people took the oars and paddles and around 20 ‘between them became Olympic, world or European champions.
In recent years, Ivan Patzaichin had invested in numerous sporting and environmental projects and had notably launched the steps for the construction of an “ecological” Olympic track in the delta.
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