Ivan Patzaichin

Ivan Patzaichin (* November 26, 1949 in Mila 23, Tulcea County ) is a former Romanian canoeist, coaches and officials. He took from 1968 to 1984 five times at the Olympics in part. With four gold medals and three silver medals at the Olympic Games Patzaichin is the most successful male athletes according Medals of Romania. In front of him are just the gymnast Nadia Comaneci and the rower Elisabeta Lipa with five gold medals.

Career

Like most of his generation Romanian canoeists Patzaichin was trained by Radu Hutan.

At the Olympic Games 1968, the eighteen- year-old Ivan Patzaichin the one-man canoes could occupy the seventh place over 1000 meters. Together with the five years older Serghei Covaliov he won gold in the two - Canadians. In 1970, the two world champions.

At the Olympic Games in 1972 Patzaichin won the competition in one - Canadians with more than three seconds ahead. Two hours later, two's finale, there was a photo finish decision after Covaliov and he lay three hundredths of a second behind the winning boat from the Soviet Union. 1973 Patzaichin world champion on one of the 1,000 - meter course.

At the 1976 Olympic Games medals were awarded over 500 meters and 1000 meters in the Canadian first. Patzaichin competed in both the one - competitions. About 500 meters he finished seventh, more than 1000 meters he finished fifth.

1977 Patzaichin world champion in one over 1000 meters, a year later he won the title in the 10,000 meters. In 1979 he was with Petre Capusta World Champion over 500 meters. Together with Capusta Patzaichin won at the 1980 Olympic Games silver over 500 meters. The next day he won with Toma Simionov gold over 1000 meters.

Patzaichin and Simionov were 1981 and 1983 world champion in the 1000 meters and 1982 they jointly won the title in the 10,000 meters. At the Olympic Games in 1984, the two won silver over 500 meters and gold over 1000 meters.

Following Patzaichin ended his active career and became a coach. He was in charge from 2000 to 2009, the Romanian canoe racing team and was until 2009 also Vice- President of the Romanian Association canoe. In the elections on 6 August 2009 Patzaichin was voted as Vice President, on 11 September 2009, he also resigned as coach because he felt let down by the association's management down.