Katalin Kovács

Katalin Kovács (born 29 February 1976) is a Hungarian canoe sprinter. She competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and won eight medals, with three golds (K-2 500 m: 2004, 2008, K-4 500 m: 2012) and five silvers (K-2 500 m: 2000, 2012, K-4 500 m: 2000, 2004, 2008).

Katalin Kovács
Kovács in 2016
Personal information
NationalityHungarian
Born (1976-02-29) 29 February 1976 (age 48)
Budapest, Hungary
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
SportCanoe sprint
ClubBp. Honvéd (2009–2016)
MTK Budapest (2001–2008)
Újpesti TE (1997–2001)
BKV Előre SC (1995–1996)
Budapest SE (–1994)
Bp. Spartacus (1987–)
Coached byFerenc Csipes
Medal record
Representing  Hungary
Event1st2nd3rd
Olympic Games350
World Championships3073
European Championships2911
European Games000
Total62114
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2004 AthensK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2008 BeijingK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2012 LondonK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place2000 SydneyK-2 500 m
Silver medal – second place2000 SydneyK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place2004 AthensK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place2008 BeijingK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place2012 LondonK-2 500 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1998 SzegedK-4 200 m
Gold medal – first place1999 MilanK-4 200 m
Gold medal – first place1999 MilanK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2001 PoznańK-4 200 m
Gold medal – first place2001 PoznańK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2002 SevilleK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2002 SevilleK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2002 SevilleK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2003 GainesvilleK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2003 GainesvilleK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2003 GainesvilleK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2005 ZagrebK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2005 ZagrebK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2005 ZagrebK-2 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2006 SzegedK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2006 SzegedK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2006 SzegedK-2 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2006 SzegedK-4 200 m
Gold medal – first place2006 SzegedK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2006 SzegedK-4 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2007 DuisburgK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2007 DuisburgK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2009 DartmouthK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2009 DartmouthK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2009 DartmouthK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2009 DartmouthK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2010 PoznańK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2010 PoznańK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2011 SzegedK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2011 SzegedK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place1997 DartmouthK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place1998 SzegedK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place2007 DuisburgK-4 200 m
Silver medal – second place2007 DuisburgK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place2009 DartmouthK-4 200 m
Silver medal – second place2010 PoznańK-1 1000 m
Silver medal – second place2013 DuisburgK-2 500 m
Bronze medal – third place1999 MilanK-1 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place1999 MilanK-2 500 m
Bronze medal – third place2001 PoznańK-1 500 m
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1999 ZagrebK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2000 PoznańK-4 200 m
Gold medal – first place2001 MilanK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2001 MilanK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2002 SzegedK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2002 SzegedK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2002 SzegedK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2004 PoznańK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2005 PoznańK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2005 PoznańK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2005 PoznańK-2 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2006 RačiceK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2006 RačiceK-4 200 m
Gold medal – first place2006 RačiceK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2006 RačiceK-4 500 m
Gold medal – first place2006 RačiceK-2 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2006 RačiceK-4 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2008 MilanK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2009 BrandenburgK-4 200 m
Gold medal – first place2009 BrandenburgK-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place2009 BrandenburgK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2009 TrasonaK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2009 TrasonaK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2011 BelgradeK-1 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2011 BelgradeK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2011 BelgradeK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2012 ZagrebK-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place2013 Montemor-o-VelhoK-2 200 m
Gold medal – first place2013 Montemor-o-VelhoK-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place2012 ZagrebK-4 500 m
Bronze medal – third place2013 Montemor-o-VelhoK-2 500 m

Kovács also won a record 40 medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships including 30 golds (K-1 500 m: 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009; K-1 1000 m: 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009; K-2 200 m: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011; K-2 500 m: 2005, 2006; K-2 1000 m: 2005, 2006; K-4 200 m: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006; K-4 500 m: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011; K-4 1000 m: 2006), seven silvers (K-1 1000 m: 2010, K-2 500 m: 2013, K-4 200 m: 2007, 2009, K-4 500 m: 1997, 1998, 2007), and three bronzes (K-1 500 m: 2001, K-1 1000 m: 1999, K-2 500 m: 1999).

She was elected Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year in 2002 and 2003. Together with Natasa Dusev-Janics, she earned the title Hungarian Sportsteam of the Year in 2005, 2006, and 2010.

Awards

  • Hungarian kayaker of the Year (10): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year (2) – votes of sports journalists: 2002, 2003
  • Hungarian Athlete of the Year (2) – the National Sports Association (NSSZ) awards: 2003, 2009
  • For Budapest award (2004)
  • Perpetual champion of Hungarian Kayak-Canoe (2005)
  • Member of the Hungarian team of year (with Natasa Janics): 2005, 2006, 2010
  • Príma Primissima award (2006)
  • Papp László Budapest Sport awards (2012)
Orders and special awards
  • Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Knight's Cross (2000)
  • Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Officer's Cross (2004)
  • Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Commander's Cross (2008)
  • Order of Merit of Hungary – Commander's Cross with Star (2012)

See also

References

  • Canoe09.ca profile
  • Kamber, Raymond, ed. (2008). Medal Winners – Olympic Games and World Championships (1936–2007) – Part 1: flatwater (now sprint). CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. pp. 1–41 at the Wayback Machine (archived 5 January 2010). Additional archives: BCU.org.uk.
  • Kamber, Raymond, ed. (2008). Medal Winners – Olympic Games and World Championships (1936–2007) – Part 2: rest of flatwater (now sprint) and remaining canoeing disciplines. CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. pp. 42–83 at WebCite (archived 9 November 2009). Additional archives: BCU.org.uk.
  • Kamber, Raymond, ed. (2008). "Medal Winners – Olympic Games and World Championships (1936–2007)" (PDF). CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. pp. 1–83. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2018.
  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Katalin Kovács". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
Awards
Preceded by Hungarian Sportswoman of The Year
2002–2003
Succeeded by