Hungarian Olympics canoeing champ dies

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Two-time Olympics canoeing gold medalist Gyorgy Kolonics died earlier today after collapsing in his canoe during a training session, the Associated Press reported. The Hungarian athlete was 36.

Kolonics lost consciousness and paramedics were unable to revive him, the Hungarian Olympic Committee said. The probable cause of death was heart failure.

Kolonics won the Olympic gold medal in the 500-meter canoe doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He followed up with another gold in the 500-meter singles at the 2000 Sydney Games. He also won bronze medals in Atlanta and at the Athens Games.

Kolonics was training for Beijing Games, which would have been his fifth Olympics.