György Zala (canoer)

György Zala (born September 1, 1969 in Budapest) is a retired Hungarian flatwater canoer, who won two Olympic bronze medals in the Canadian canoe C-1 1000 metre event.

Zala, a hyperactive child, took up canoeing at the age of 11. A great natural athlete despite suffering from asthma, it seemed he was only truly motivated by the Olympics. Between Olympiads he tended to fall out of sight, focussing instead on his other passions such as extreme sports.

It was not until later in his career that he won any world or European championship titles. He took to his new role as the "old man" of the Hungarian four-man crew with enthusiasm, helping his younger teammates to victory in the C-4 1000m at the 2001 European Championships in Poznań. The following year he returned to Poznań, this time for the world championships and, despite injury, won two golds (C-4 200m and C-4 1000m).

He is 172 cm (5'8) tall and raced at 81 kg (180 lbs).

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