Jozef Pribilinec

Jozef Pribilinec (born July 6, 1960 in Kremnica ) is a former Slovak walker who, starting for Czechoslovakia , became an Olympic champion .

In 1979 Pribilinec became Junior European Champion in the 10 km walk. The following year, he finished 20th in the 20 km walk at the Olympic Games in Moscow . Pribilinec won his first international medal at the European Championships in 1982 when he won silver behind the Spaniard José Marín . At the 1983 World Championships , he won silver again when he was just 10 seconds behind the Mexican Ernesto Canto . The Mexican won the Olympic Games the following year, while Pribilinec was unable to participate because of the Olympic boycott .

1986 Pribilinec won his first title at the European Championships in Stuttgart when he prevailed in an exciting fight against Maurizio Damilano from Italy, who was two seconds behind Pribilinec at the finish. At the World Championships in 1987 Damilano was able to return the favor and won ahead of Pribilinec. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul , Pribilinec won gold in an Olympic record time of 1:19:57 h, three seconds ahead of Ronald Weigel from the GDR. Damilano was third ahead of Marin.

With two titles and three silver medals, the Slovak was one of the outstanding walkers of the 1980s.

Web links

• Jozef Pribilinec in the database of World Athletics (English)