“Be patient and work with honor. Hard work always pays off“
17th April 1996
Results highlights:
Olympic Games: 4th K2 1000 and 7th K4 1000 in Tokio 2020
World Championships: 1st K2 500 Halifax 2022, 3rd K1 500 Montemor 2018, 2nd K2 500 Racice 2017 and 1st 4xK1 200 Moscow 2014.
European Championships: 1st K2 500 Munich 2022, 1st K4 500 and 1st K2 500 Plovidv 2017, 1st K4 500 and 3rd K1 500 Moscow 2016.
Who is/was your canoeing idol?
My canoeing idol is Adam Van Koeverden
What’s your favorite distance and training?
My favorite distance is 500 meters and my favorite training is 5×100 meters.
Favorite paddle and boat?
My favorite boat is Nelo Cinco, and my favorite paddle is Braça 1.
Do you have and motivation song?
Yes! Gladiator by Zayde Wolf.
Could you give any advice for beginners?
I think that if someone falls in love with this sport, I can only tell him/her to enjoy it. Then, if you have serious goals, be patient and work with honor. Hard work always pays off.
Apart from physical training, do you have mental training scheduled in your routine?
Of course! I do mental training every day, it’s very useful to be mentally fit.
How do you manage to keep calm before and during a competition?
I learned to be just in the moment. I don’t really care about the competition until I get in the boat. That way I don’t waste my energy.
What is a normal day like as a professional paddler?
An average day for me looks like getting up, having breakfast and prepare for the training that awaits me. Paddling, strengthen and finally having lunch. After that, mental training and having some sleep. Before dinner, in the afternoon, some rowing to end the day.
What are your hobbies apart from sport? What other activities are part from your routine?
I am a big Formula 1 fan and, my friends and I, always watch the Grand Prix together and cheer. Last year I was at a Grand Prix for the first time, which was the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. We usually go karting after watching Grand Prix and we are planning to organize a home karting championship this year!
Is there a place you enjoy the most training? Why? And for competition?
I really like to be at home and sleeping in my own bed, and the Dunavarsányi Olympic Center is not far from there, where you have everything you need to prepare properly.
Is there and athlete you enjoy the most training with?
I can’t ask for anything better than my teammates, as we motivate each other and there is a kind of competition between us in training, which also helps.
Last year you became world champion in K2 500, which will be Olympic next year in Paris. What are your expectations for this year’s qualifier and the Olympic Games in Paris?
This year, the focus will probably be on the K4 500m and the goal will be getting the maximum quota number. Obviously, we want to make progress in K2 as well. At the Olympics, K2 500m and K4 500m will be in focus together. We work to bring out the best from ourselves and return home with an Olympic medal.
What are your objectives for this season?
The most important goal is to get the Olympic quota in K4, but I would be happier if we could return home with a medal in K4 from the World Championships in Duisburg.