Stepanka Hilgertova (CZE)
2009 Class | Champion
Stepanka Hilgertova started to compete in whitewater slalom in 1980 at the age of 12. Since that time she has competed in five straight Olympic Games.
Stepanka Hilgertova has won two Gold Medals in Olympic K1 Women competition: 1996 in Atlanta and 2000 in Sydney. Additionally, Stepanka has won two World Championship Gold Medals in K1 Women: 1992 in Augsburg and 1996 in Barcelona. Further, she has won many European Championship races. The huge popularity of whitewater slalom in the Czech Republic is also attributable to Stepanka and her popularity in the country after her Olympic victories.
In 2000-2001, Stepanka created and organized the “Hilgertova Cup” Charity Event Fundraiser. This event, named after her, is a parallel slalom competition that took place in an indoor pool with other sport disciplines. The event attracted international participation. Proceeds of admission were donated to a local Nursery School that was affected by floods those years. She has been regarded as the “First Lady of the Olympics” in the Czech Republic.
