Matylda Pálfyová was a gymnast who became the first Slovak athlete to win a medal at the Olympics. Pálfyová competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. She was part of the team that won the silver medal in the all-round event. Two years later Pálfyová won a gold and bronze medal at the 1938 World Championships in the team and all-round events respectively. Pálfyová died in September 1944 after a horse-riding accident. She was 32. Since 2005 the Slovak Olympic Committee have presented the Matylda Pálfyová Award to women for their sporting achievements.