Stepanka Hilgertova

An ex-Czechoslovak-Czech canoe slalom competitor is Stepanka Hilgertova. She is a renowned Olympian who has participated in six Summer Games.

In Barcelona for the 1992 Olympic Games, Stepanka represented Czechoslovakia. After that, from Atlanta in 1996 until London in 2012, the slalom racer repeatedly represented the Czech Republic.

About Stepanka Hilgertova |  Family and Education

Stepanka Hilgertova, the Proseks’ daughter, was born there in Prague, Podol, on April 10, 1968. South of the city center is the Prague neighborhood of Podol.

For unfamiliar people, Prague is located very near the Vltava river.

In the Podolská maternity hospital, which is located on the Vltava embankment and immediately below the Vyehrad walls, Stepanka was born.

As a result, Stepanka was raised near the water. She was an adventurous young lady who showed a strong interest in athletics.

The Olympian began gymnastics when she was a small girl. That explains why she continues to like gymnastics and yoga now.

Additionally, Stepanka’s mom was a ski champion.

At the first World Ski Championships for competitors who are physically and visually challenged, held in Grand Bornand, her mother took home four gold medals.

Consequently, she got her love of skiing from her mother. Moreover, She began putting all of her efforts into downhill skiing in the winter.

Stepanka loved being by the river because she was born and reared there.

Professional Life and Career

Stepanka first saw the kayak on the sea, the ship that would decide the course of her life, when she was just twelve years old.

Hilgertova’s kayaking adventure began entirely by coincidence. Stepanka’s mother once got to know Renata Knyova. Kayaker Renata was a longtime acquaintance of Stepanka’s mother.

Renata enquired about Stepanka’s mother while speaking with her old buddy. The kayaker requested that Stepanka be brought to the shipyard after asking if she was interested in sports.

Hilgertova recalls that her mother unexpectedly asked her if she would want to ride on the lake when she got home.

Stepanka had never considered kayaking at the moment. She was unable to think of anything else than a rowboat on the Vltava.

After that, she began training in the spring of 1980 with the TSM Teslaikov squad of young kayakers.

She immediately grasped it and developed a passion for the activity. She earned the first medal in the patrolling competition for Czechoslovak students in 1981.

Sadly, Stepanka developed jaundice after the victory and was forced to stop participating in sports for a year.

She did, however, make a comeback in 1983, winning the junior youth title in Czechoslovakia. Moreover, She quickly made it to the senior national races and joined the junior national team.

Initial Olympic Gold

The athlete won her first medal in the Summer Olympics in 1996. The Ocoee Whitewater Center, which is close to Ducktown, Tennessee, hosted the Olympic slalom competition.

An ancient Indian river called the Ocoee flows through Tennessee’s forested valley. The river is ideal for canoeing because it is large, lovely, and has strong waves.

However, it is challenging. In Ocoee, chance has no place. It is similar to a sieve that only specialists can get through.

On the Ocoee River in 1996, her life transformed. She had her first significant triumph by winning the Olympic gold medal, which brought with her all the fame and attention.

On Saturday, July 27, 1996, five minutes after three o’clock in the afternoon, near the Tennessee state line, she eventually reached the whirlpools and rapids of the Ocoee River in the American Cherokee Nature Reserve.

At the Olympics, she took first place in the kayaking sport. In 1968, a lengthy 28 years after Mexico, she became the first woman in Olympic history to have the Czech national anthem performed in her honor.

Olympic gold medallist Stepanka said, “I felt the same feelings of happiness during the anthem as when I gave birth to a healthy kid after the Chernobyl tragedy.”

Another Olympic gold

In the year 2000, the Summer Olympics were hosted in Sydney, Australia. Stepanka was competing in the Olympics once more on behalf of her native Czech Republic.

She was composed and focused on giving it her all to win the gold.

Additionally, Stepanka gave the impression that she could barely be defeated by anyone when she completed her first ride in the frothy water.

In Penrith, a suburb of Sydney, on the third day of the closing Olympic Games in 2000, a Czech canoe racer danced through the gates of an artificial canal.

Stepanka finished the incredibly challenging track without making a single error or hesitation.

As a result, she was able to successfully defend her Olympic gold title for the second time.

She was admired throughout the Czech Republic. She was also just the fourth athlete from the Czech Republic to win the gold medal twice in the sport’s lengthy history.

Similarly, Stepanka was beaming as she stood there in front of her nation, accepting the gold medal for the second time. She also had a happy, satisfied look on her face.

You might also be interested in learning more about Jonathan Isaac

Relationship Status

Lubos Hilgertova is the Olympian’s husband. Stepanka is coached by Lubos, who is a devoted husband.

She married Lubos at a relatively young age after falling in love with him.

The young couple met virtually daily on the riverfront before getting married. Their initial encounters for training and romance were witnessed by the river.

They both had the same enthusiasm. They grew closer as a result of their shared objectives and passions. Stepanka was pregnant and deeply in love at the time of her marriage to Lubos.

In the dead of winter, just seven days before Christmas, Stepanka gave birth to a son. In Bourg St. Maurice, the kayakers were hard at work getting ready for the World Cup.

Stepanka left the game, though, to care for her son Jr. Lubos.

The level of women’s water slalom at that time in Czechoslovakia was not particularly high. Nevertheless, Stepanka kept up her devotion while nursing Lubos for nearly a year.

She didn’t prepare for the season, so it was surprising how well she was doing.

Her comeback to kayaking was also a huge inspiration for young girls. Moreover, She demonstrated that even after giving birth, one can bike and compete.

Net Worth and Salary | Stepanka Hilgertova

Stepanka retired at the age of 49 and now works in an office while leading a contented life with her husband and kid.

Although Stepanka’s precise net worth is unknown, it is safe to assume that the slalom racer has enough money to lead a comfortable life.

However, the Olympian is believed to advocate for a healthy lifestyle rather than a lavish one.

Stepanka also collaborates with several nonprofit organizations in her native nation. She is also renowned for making donations and performing other charitable deeds.

Body Measurement | Hair, Height, Weight

Competitor in the Slalom, Stepanka was born in 1968. She was born in the year of the monkey, according to the Chinese horoscope.

Moreover, The ninth year of the Chinese zodiac’s twelve-year animal cycle is referred to as the “monkey year.”

Regarding Stepanka’s physical attributes, her body is incredibly flexible. Through regular exercise, yoga, gymnastics, and a nutritious diet, she keeps his physique in good condition.

I am glad, that I can support such a great event – Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 https://t.co/Ufd7393qkr #Make2017Better pic.twitter.com/iYzaxG6qVk

— Štěpánka Hilgertová (@shilgertova) January 13, 2017

Furthermore, she is 1.65 meters tall and weighs roughly 56 kilograms. With blonde hair and blue eyes, the 54-year-old looks stunning. She is of Czechoslovak descent.

Similarly, Her zodiac sign is Aries, as well. Aries-born humans are imaginative, passionate, dedicated, and enthusiastic.

They are also personable, extremely handsome, and determined. Stepaka is the same.

Social Media

Facebook: 1.3K followers

Twitter: 556 followers

Frequently Asked Question:

Is Stepanka a believer in superstitions?

Stepanka doesn’t have a lot of superstitions. She does, however, think that deep breathing improves concentration. It is more appropriately characterized as a ritual she regularly performs than as a superstitious belief.

What are Stepanka Hilgertova’s most famous successes?

Stepanka’s first Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 stands out as her most notable accomplishment. She gained confidence from the gold and began to have faith in herself.

She also found carrying the national flag during the Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremony and taking part in the London Olympics to be highly unforgettable experiences.

Who has the most influence over Stepanka Hilgertova?

Similarly, Renata Knová, one of the many persons Stepanks met on her life’s journey, has made a lasting impression on her. Kayaker Renata was active in the 1960s.

Quick Facts | Stepanka Hilgertova

Full Name	Stepanka Hilgertova
Nickname	Stepana
Birth Place	Prague, Czechia
Residence	Prague, Czechia
Nationality	Czech
Birth Date	April 10, 1968
Hobbies	Yoga, Dancing, Reading
Food Habit	Non-vegetarian
Education	Charles University, Prague
Zodiac Sign	Aries
Chinese Zodiac	Monkey
Father’s Name	Not Available
Mother’s Name	Not Available
Niece	Amalie Hilgretova
Age	54 years old
Height	1.65 m (165 cm)
Weight	56 kg
Hair Color	Blonde
Eye Color	Blue
Marital Status	Married
Husband	Lubos Hilgert (her coach as well)
Profession	Canoeist, Sports instructor, Hiko team manager
Senior Debut Country	USA
Senior Debut Year	1998
Children	Son (Lubos Jr. Hilgert)
Social Media	Facebook, Twitter
Website	hilgertova.cz
Net Worth	Not Available
Merch	Paddle, Gloves
Last Update	October 2022