Uschi Profanter

Austrian race and whitewater canoeist Uschi Profanter participated as a sprint canoer in the kayak singles event over 500 metres at the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. She placed fifth, sixth, and eighth respectively. Profanter was more successful as a whitewater canoeist at World Championships winning three gold medals (1993, 1995-96 kayak singles), three silver medals (1989 kayak singles, 1998 (team), 2002 kayak sprint), and three bronze medals (1991 kayak singles, 1996 (team), 2002 kayak sprint).

Profanter also won a silver medal in the kayak singles at the 1992 Canoe Marathon World Championships and two bronze medals at the 1997 Canoe Sprint World Championships (over 500 and 1,000 metres). At the 1997 European Championships Profanter won two silver medals in the 200 and 1,000 metres kayak singles, and a bronze medal over 500 metres. At European Whitewater Championships she added a silver medal in 2001 in the kayak sprint.

Profanter won the overall whitewater World Cup in the kayak singles in 1989, 1991, and 1993-95. She was a trained bookbinder, but after completing her training became a professional canoeist until 2003. Her partner was Rudi Stangl, best known for mountain guiding on Kilimanjaro. The pair raised a son who also became a whitewater canoeist.

After her active career, Profanter completed many courses for project management, communication and conversation skills with individual coaching, computer driving licence, basic training as a disabled sports coach, fitness instructor for children, and instructor for kayaking and ski touring.