Michal Martikán is a Slovak slalom canoeist with a staggeringly impressive sporting record. Considered by many within the sporting community to be the greatest living C1 slalom paddler. Competing at an international level since 1994, he made history as the first athlete to take home an Olympic gold medal for Slovakia after the nation became independent in 1993. Since then he has won 5 Olympic medals, the world record among slalom paddlers, a total that includes two golds, two silvers and one bronze.

In addition to his achievements at the Olympic Games, Martikán has racked up almost too many medals to name. Beginning with his record-breaking achievement at the age of 16, where he became the youngest canoeist to win a World Cup slalom event, he has since competed in 18 World Cup events, achieving 1st position in the Men’s C1 event a total of 19 times. He has taken the overall World Cup title five times, a record that remains unbeaten among those competing in the C1 event.

Martikán has found similar success in the ICF European Championships, winning four consecutive individual golds between 2007 and 2010 – his home nation won the C1 team event a total of ten times thanks in part to his efforts on the course. He also has six silvers and two bronzes from the European tournament to his name. One of the world’s most revered slalom canoeists, Michal Martikán is a titan not only within canoeing, but the international sporting community as a whole.