Quick Facts
| 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 | July 2022 |
Stepanka Hilgertova is a former Czechoslovak-Czech slalom canoeist. She is a leading athlete who has competed in six Summer Olympics.
Stepanka represented Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Following that, the slalom racer represented the Czech Republic five times in a row, from Atlanta in 1996 to London in 2012.
Moreover, Stepanka won gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Stepanka loves being in the water. The feeling of being close to nature and meeting many people from all around the world are her driving forces.
In her long career with the river, Stepanka broke a lot of boats, experienced moments of fear, and got to know her husband by the water. And she became one of the leading slalom skiers.
In this article, we have summed up everything that you need to know about the Czechoslovak-Czech slalom canoeist. But before that, have a look at some quick facts about her.
Stepanka Hilgertova’s Childhood and Family
Stepanka Proseks was born on April 10, 1968, in Prague, Podol. Podol is a Prague district located south of the city center.
For those who are unfamiliar with Prague, it is located near the Vltava River. Stepanka was born on the Vltava embankment, just below the Vyehrad walls, in the Podolská maternity hospital. As a result, Stepanka was born in close proximity to the water. She was a daring child with a keen interest in sports.
The olympian began gymnastics as a child. It’s no surprise that she still enjoys yoga and gymnastics to this day! Stepanka’s mother was also a ski champion. Her mother won four gold medals in Grand Bornand at the first World Ski Championships for physically and visually impaired athletes.
As a result, she inherited her mother’s passion for skiing. During the winter, she began to devote herself to downhill skiing. Stepanka grew up on the riverbank and has always loved being near water.
Introduction to Kayaking
Stepanka first saw a ship on the water, a ship that would become her destiny, when she was only twelve years old.
Stepanka’s kayaking adventure began entirely by chance. Her mother met Renata Knyova one day. Renata, a kayaker, was Stepanka’s mother’s old friend.
Renata inquired about Stepanka’s mother during her conversation with an old friend. Stepanka was interested in sports, so the kayaker asked her to bring her to the shipyard.
She recalls her mother unexpectedly coming home and asking her if she wanted to ride on the water. Stepanka had never considered kayaking before. She couldn’t think of anything else but a rowboat on the Vltava.
Following that, in the spring of 1980, she began training with the TSM Tesla ikov team of young kayakers.
She quickly grasped it and became enthralled by the sport. She won the first medal at the Czechoslovak pupils in patrols championships in 1981.
Unfortunately, Stepanka developed jaundice after her victory and had to withdraw from sports for a year.
She made a comeback as the Czechoslovak junior youth champion in 1983. She quickly advanced to national adult races and was named to the junior national team.
Personal Life of Stepanka Hilgertova
Lubos Hilgertova is the Olympian’s wife. Lubos is a caring husband as well as Stepanka’s coach.
She fell in love with Lubos at a young age and the two exchanged marriage vows.
Before marriage, the young couple used to meet almost every day on the riverbank. Their first joint training and love meetings took place in the river.
They both had the same interest. Their shared goals and interests drew them even closer together. Stepanka was madly in love and pregnant at the time she married Lubos.
Stepanka had a son in the winter, exactly seven days before Christmas.
The kayakers were hard at work getting ready for the World Cup in Bourg St. Maurice. Stepanka, on the other hand, left the game to care for her son, Jr. Lubos.
Women’s water slalom was not particularly popular in Czechoslovakia at the time. Stepanka, on the other hand, breastfed Lubos for nearly a year and continued her passion.
Despite the fact that she went into the season unprepared, she surprised herself with how well she performed.
Her return to kayaking was also a great source of inspiration for young women. She demonstrated that it is possible to ride and compete after giving birth.
First Olympic gold medal
Her first Olympic gold medal came in the Summer Olympics of 1996. The Olympic slalom event was held at the Ocoee Whitewater Center near Ducktown, Tennessee.
The Ocoee is an ancient Indian river in Tennessee’s forested valley. The river is beautiful and wide, but it also has big waves and is a great place to canoe.
It is, however, difficult. There is no room for chance in Ocoee. It’s like a sieve through which only masters can pass.
Her life changed on the Ocoee River in 1996. She won an Olympic gold medal, her first great success, and all the fame and recognition that came with it.
And She finally arrived at the vortices and rapids of the Ocoee River in the American Cherokee Nature Reserve on the Tennessee border on Saturday, July 27, 1996, exactly five minutes after three o’clock in the afternoon.
She won gold in the Olympic kayaking race. Furthermore, after a long 28-year wait since Mexico 1968, she became the first woman to have the Czech national anthem played at the Olympics in her honor.
“During the anthem, I felt similar feelings of happiness as when I gave birth to a healthy son after the Chernobyl disaster,” said Olympic champion Stepanka.
Gold in the second Olympics
Sydney, Australia hosted the Summer Olympics in 2000. Stepanka was back in the Olympics, this time representing her home country, the Czech Republic.
She was composed and determined to do her best and bring home the gold. Furthermore, when Stepanka finished her first ride in the foamy water, onlookers perceived her as someone who could not be defeated by anyone.
On the third day of the 2000 Olympic Games, the Czech canoe racer danced between the gates of an artificial canal in Penrith, near Sydney.
Stepanka finished the extremely difficult course without making a single mistake or hesitation. As a result, she was able to successfully defend her gold medal for the second time at the Olympic Games.
The Czech Republic was extremely proud of her. Furthermore, she was only the fourth Czech athlete in the sport’s long history to win gold medals twice.
Stepanka smiled as she stood there representing her country and receiving the gold medal for the second time. Her face was also filled with joy and satisfaction.
Stepanka Hilgertova’s Age, Body Measurements, and Other Facts
Stepanka, the slalom racer, was born in 1968. According to the Chinese calendar, she was born in the year of the Monkey. Monkey year is the ninth year of the Chinese zodiac’s 12-year cycle of animals.
When it comes to Stepanka’s physical appearance, she has an extremely flexible body. She keeps his body in shape through daily exercise, yoga, gymnastics, and a healthy diet.
She also weighs about 56 kg and stands 1.65 meters tall. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, the 54-year-old looks stunning. Czechoslovak is his nationality.
Her zodiac sign is also Aries. Sapiens born under the sign of Aries are creative, passionate, hardworking, and energetic. They are also determined, stunningly beautiful, and charismatic. Stepaka is no exception.
Net Worth
She currently works in an office and lives a happy and healthy life with her husband and son after retiring at the age of 49.
Although Stepanka’s exact net worth is unknown, the slalom racer has earned enough money to live a life of luxury. The Olympian, on the other hand, is seen to promote a healthy lifestyle rather than a luxurious one.
She also volunteers with several charitable foundations in her home country. She is also known for making donations and doing other philanthropic work.
Presence on Social Media
You can follow the slalom racer on Facebook and Twitter. Her Facebook page has approximately 1.4K followers. Similarly, approximately 600 people follow the athlete on Twitter.
Stepanka is more active on Facebook than she is on Twitter. She frequently posts content on Facebook about her personal and professional life.
FAQs
Does Stepanka have any superstitious beliefs?
Stepanka is not a very superstitious person. However, she believes that breathing deeply increases concentration level. It can properly be understood as a ritual that she usually practices rather than a superstitious belief.
What are Stepanka Hilgertova’s most memorable achievements?
Stepanka’s most memorable achievement is her first Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996. The gold fueled her with confidence and she started to believe in herself.
Likewise, carrying the national flag during the Opening ceremony in Bejing 2008 and participating in London Olympics were also very memorable to her.
Who is Stepanka Hilgertova’s most influential person?
Among many people that Stepanks encountered in her journey of life, her first coach Renata Knýová has left a deep imprint in her heart. Renata is a kayaker from the sixties.
You may also like: Lindsay Schweitzer