Ivan Patzaichin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Medal record
Ivan Patzaichin
Men's Canoeing
Competitor for  Romania
Olympic Games
Gold	1968 Mexico City	C-2 1000 m
Gold	1972 Munich	C-1 1000 m
Gold	1980 Moscow	C-2 1000 m
Gold	1984 Los Angeles	C-2 1000 m
Silver	1972 Munich	C-2 1000 m
Silver	1980 Moscow	C-2 500 m
Silver	1984 Los Angeles	C-2 500 m

Ivan Patzaichin (born November 26, 1949) is a retired Romanian flatwater canoer who won seven Olympic medals, four gold and three silver, more than any other competitor in the history of the Canadian canoeing events.

He also won eight world championship gold medals:-

• C1 1000m (1973, 1977)
• C1 10,000m (1978)
• C2 500m (1979)
• C2 1000m (1970, 1981, 1983)
• C2 10,000m (1982)

Born in Mila 23, Tulcea County, to a Russian Lipovan family, he was a member of the Dinamo Bucharest canoe club. When he retired, Patzaichin became a coach and is now head of the Romanian national team, known as Amiralul ("The Admiral"). His pupils, including Olympic champion Florin Popescu, have won over one hundred sprint canoe titles.