In 1948 Václav Pafkovič was just 12-years-old when he started rowing under the supervision of Ladislav Smolík. During his military service Pafkovič improved significantly, representing several Army rowing clubs. By 1955 he was part of the eight crew that won the Břeclav championship, before becoming the Czechoslovakia champion in the same event in 1959. Now rowing in the eight for the national team, Pafkovič won silver at the 1959 European Rowing Championships in Mâcon, France, before winning bronze a year later at the Roma Olympics. After retiring in 1963 he worked as a coach for many years, eventually becoming the chair of the Břeclav Rowing Club. His many students included future Olympians Zdeněk Kuba and Oldřich Kruták.
Czechoslovakia
Czechia