Who is Michal Martikan?
Michal Martikan is a Slovakian slalom canoeist who has competed internationally since 1994.
Michal became the first Slovakian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal following the country’s independence in 1993.
Michal also has the most Olympic medals of any slalom paddler, with two gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze.
Furthermore, the slalom canoeist has won four World Championships in the C1 individual category.
Today, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about Michal Martian. So stick with us until the end to learn everything there is to know about this fearless Slovak kayaker.
Relationship Details, Michal Martikan is Married?
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Lenka Martikanova |
| Active Years | Not Available |
| Children | Not Available |
Quick facts about Michal Martikan
| Full Name | Michal Martian |
| Birth Date | May 18, 1979 |
| Birth Place | Liptocsky Mikulas, Czechslovakia |
| Nickname | Michal |
| Nationality | Slovak |
| Ethnicity | Not Available |
| Hobbies | Ice Hockey, Golf, Ski mountaineering, Windsurfing |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Education | Not Available |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Favorite Food | “bryndzove halusky”, sushi |
| Hero/Idol | British paddler Richard Fox |
| Senior International Debut Location | Nottingham, UK |
| Senior International Debut Competition | World Cup |
| Senior International Debut Year | 1994 |
| Club | Kanoe Tatra Klub Dukla Liptovsky Mikulas |
| Father’s Name | Jozef Martian |
| Mother’s Name | Katarina Martikanova |
| Siblings | Not Available |
Michal Martikan: Early Life, Age, Wiki, Parents, Ethnicity
Michal was born on May 18, 1979, in Liptocsky Mikulas, Czechoslovakia. It is a small town in northern Slovakia on the Váh River, about 285 kilometers north of Bratislava.
Furthermore, the town is located in the Liptov region, close to the Low Tatra and Tatra mountains, in the Liptov Basin.
Katarina Martikanova is his mother’s name. His father’s name is also Jozef Martikan. However, there is currently no information available about Michal’s sibling.
Education, Schooling, University
There is no information about his education and schooling.
Professional Career, (Professional Canoeist)
Olympics
Michal Martikán, at the age of 16, became the youngest World Cup slalom canoeing champion.
Michal went all out on the second run, knowing he had nothing to lose, and narrowly defeated defending champion Czech Republican Luká Pollert.
Furthermore, three months later, at the age of 17, he finished sixth in the canoe slalom singles event at the 1996 Olympics.
Michal became Slovakia’s first independent Olympic medalist.
Furthermore, he entered the 2000 Olympics as the overwhelming favorite, having consistently finished first in every major competition and World Cup series.
Similarly, Michal had the highest qualifying score in the Sydney Games. However, after the first run of the final, he was only in fifth place.
Michal paddled an error-free route in the second run, and his time was the fastest of the round.
Furthermore, he was able to finish second to France’s Tony Estanguet for the silver medal.
Michael was competing in his third Olympics in 2004, and he dominated the qualifying round. Similarly, he won the semi-finals, which served as the first run of the final.
Michal also reclaimed his Olympic title at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also took bronze in the Summer Olympics in London in 2012.
Furthermore, between 1996 and 2012, the Slovak canoeist was the first slalom canoeist to win five Olympic medals, one in each of the five games.
Championship of the World
Michal had an unbroken run of medals at the World Championships in the individual C1 event between 1995 and 2010.
Michal finished outside the medals in an Olympic or World Championship individual event for the first time in his career at the 2011 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
In addition, his failure occurred in front of a home crowd on the Cunovo course near Bratislava.
Michal, on the other hand, extended his medal tally by winning gold in the team event with his Slovak teammates.
Between 2013 and 2019, the Slovak athlete won six more gold medals in the C1 team event, bringing her total to 17 World Championships with a medal.
Championship of Europe
Michal won four consecutive individual gold medals at the European Championships between 2007 and 2010.
Furthermore, with him on the team, Slovakia won the C1 team event 11 times.
Michal also has six silver medals (4 individual, two teams) and two bronze medals (1 in the team event and 1 in the particular event).
Michal Martikan: Accolades
Between 2003 and 2014, Michal was named Slovak Canoe Association whitewater Athlete of the Year eight times.
In addition, in 2010, he was inducted into the Whitewater Hall of Fame in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA.
Michal has also been named Slovakian Athlete of the Year four times: in 1996, 1997, 2007, and 2008.
Conviction for Manslaughter
Martian was in a car accident in Velké Záluie, Slovakia, in November 1997.
He was driving when he collided with and killed a pedestrian. According to the investigation, Michal was exceeding the 40 km/h speed limit.
Similarly, the dead man was discovered to be heavily intoxicated at the time of the accident, which occurred in the dark outside of a populated area.
Martian was about to be imprisoned for violating his probation terms. Despite widespread criticism, Michael was granted a presidential pardon by then-President Rudolf Schuster.
In addition to keeping him out of jail, the president effectively cleared his name of the conviction.
Martika’s positive sporting image of the country abroad, according to Rudolf Schuster, merited the pardon.
However, critics pointed to a double standard and Michal’s special treatment as a sports celebrity.
Net Worth, Salary, Assets
Throughout his canoeing career, the Slovak canoeist has amassed enough. Michal’s earnings from canoeing were supplemented by his earnings as a coach.
After failing to qualify for Tokyo, the Slovak canoeist accepted a position as a coach for Nadine Weratschnigová.
Michal also served as a coach for Austria’s Olympic team. Michal also earns money from various sponsorships and endorsements.
The Slovak canoeist’s exact wealth, assets, and salary earnings are currently being investigated. His net worth, however, is estimated to be between $1 and $5 million.
Rumors and Controversy
Talking about his rumors and controversy, he has not been in any part of rumors as well as controversy to date.
What is the Height of Michal Martian? Weight, Full Body Status
| Age | 43 years old |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) |
| Reach | Not Available |
| Weight | 159 lb (72 kg) |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Profession | Professional Canoeist |
Social Media Accounts
The canoeist can be found on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Michal Martikan OLY can be found on Facebook, where his page has 3.2k followers.
Michal can also be found on Instagram as @michalmartikan. He has nearly 3000 Instagram followers.
There is no YouTube channel for the slalom canoeist. Many of his videos, however, have been posted on the Olympic website.
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