The International Canoeing and Olympic families are in mourning today following the passing of four-time Romanian Olympic canoe sprint gold medalist Ivan Patzaichin.
Ivan was a titan of our sport, dominating the sport as an athlete for almost two decades, and then attending another fove Olympics as a coach. Our thoughts today are with Ivan's family and friends, the Romanian canoeing and wider sporting family, and lovers of our sport throughout the world.
We publish below a letter from the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee to the International Olympic Committee.
Dear Mr. President, dear Olympic friend,
It is with great sadness that we announce to you and the whole Olympic world that one of the
most loved and iconic figures of the Romanian sports and Olympic movement passed away
this morning.
Ivan Patzaichin was one of the most prolific Romanian Olympian athlete (canoe), taking part as
an athlete in five consecutive Olympic Games (Mexico-City 1968 to Los Angeles 1984) and
winning 7 Olympic medals, of which 4 were Gold, beside 22 world championship medals. This
made him the most decorated Romanian canoeists of all times and placed him in top 5
worldwide.
On top of that, he took part in 5 other Olympic Games as main coach of the
Romanian Olympic canoe team. As you already know, he was awarded the Olympic Order
(silver) in 1990, by the IOC President at the time, Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Through all his sports career, athlete and coach, he was one of those who inspired many into
taking sports, not only canoe, as a way of life. Besides his brilliant results in sports and at the
Olympics, which considerably helped our small country raise among the most recognized
Olympic nations, through his conduct in life, as a human being, Ivan was also an example to
look up to and a highest standard role model for us to follow.
His genuine modesty, honesty, loyalty and his great heart, full of love for sports and its people, made him one of the all-times top favorite sports figures of the Romanian people. We shall always respect and cherish his memory and his legacy.
Please receive, dear Mr. President, dear Olympic friend, our most sincere Olympic feelings,
along with our warmest wishes of good health for you and your loved ones.
