Václav Kozák (14 April 1937 – 15 March 2004) was a

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus *Czech (surnam ...

rower Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are ...

who competed for

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Olympics. In 1960, he won the gold medal in

double scull A double scull, also abbreviated as a 2x, is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars each, one in each hand. Racing boats (often called "shells") ar ...

s together with Pavel Schmidt. In 1964 and 1968 he placed 12th and 9th in the

single scull A single scull (or a scull), abbreviated as a 1x, is a racing shell designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand. Racing boats (often called "shells") are long, narrow, and broadly semi-circular in cross-se ...

s, respectively. At the European championships Kozák won four medals in various events between 1959 and 1965, including a gold in single sculls in 1963. The same year he was named Czechoslovak athlete of the year. Kozák started as a cyclist, and changed to rowing in 1952 motivated by the gold medal of the Czech coxed fours at the 1952 Olympics. In 1955 he won a national junior title in single skulls, and in 1957 won his first national senior title; he later added 14 more in various disciplines. After retiring from competitions he worked as a rowing coach at the Dukla club in Prague, raising several world championship and Olympic medalists. He was also a military officer and retired in 1991 as lieutenant colonel. In his later life he developed an addiction to alcohol and became homeless for a while. He died aged 66.

References

1937 births 2004 deaths Czech male rowers Czechoslovak male rowers Olympic rowers for Czechoslovakia Rowers at the 1960 Summer Olympics Rowers at the 1964 Summer Olympics Rowers at the 1968 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for Czechoslovakia Olympic medalists in rowing Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics People from Louny District European Rowing Championships medalists Rowers from the Ústí nad Labem Region {{Czechoslovakia-rowing-bio-stub