Josef Holeček

Already one of the Czechoslovakia’s best canoeists before the outbreak of World War II, Josef Holeček had to wait until 1948 before he could compete in a major international competition. In London, he won the canoe sprint (C1 1000 m), with a margin of over 10 seconds. He confirmed his status as the best canoe sprinter in 1950, winning the world title in Denmark, while also taking silver over 10,000 m. In 1952, he successfully defended his Olympic title, once again with a comfortable victory margin. He retired shortly afterwards to focus on his career in foreign trade.