Danuta Kozak wins the 2016 Best Female Canoe Sprint award in an Olympic year.
DANUTA KOZAK (Hungary) - Winner of the ‘Best Female Canoe Sprint 2016’ award in an Olympic year.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KozakDanuta
Born: 1987, sport(s): canoe sprint (K1W, K2W, K4W), represents: Hungary
2016: Olympic Champion K1W 500m, K2w 500m, K4W 500m
2015: European Champion K1W 200m and 500m, K4W 500m; World Cups: gold K1W 500m and gold K4W 500m (Szeged)
The 2016 Rio Olympic Games saw Hungary's Danuta Kozak etch her name in the history books forever where she became the first female canoe sprint athlete to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games. Taking out the K1, K2 and K4 500, Danuta's amazing achievements were recognised at the World Paddle Awards ceremony in Portugal, with her winning the Best Female Canoe Sprint award in an Olympic year.
Whilst Danuta was unable to attend the ceremony due to her pregnancy, she spoke to us about this award, her record breaking 2016 and her future plans.
"It’s really fantastic to win and I am very happy about it. Sorry I cannot join you, I am pregnant. It will be a very exciting new thing in my life and I am very happy about it. Have a great evening and enjoy the party," she said excitedly.
Winning three out of three races in Rio, a feat that only Danuta and Vladimir Parfenovitch have achieved, the Hungarian superstar said that the feeling of satisfaction following each race was overwhelming.
"Honestly I was just happy and satisfied but I was not shocked because I was training for this. But it was really a big thing to reach my goals," Danuta said.
Spoken like a true champion, she also added that the hard work and sacrifice needed to achieve this wasn't any different to her competitors.
"The feeling is a little bit strange because even when you get second you give almost the same or sometimes more in the whole year," she said.
"I think everybody does the same hard work and we should give more value and respect for every result and every hard job."
Whilst that is true, Danuta's resume of achievements is nothing short of amazing. With five Olympic gold medals and one Olympic silver medal to her name already, Birgit Fischer's target of 8 gold and 4 silver medals is in arms reach for Danuta and is a goal she is working towards.
"It's a nice dream, yes. But I think at this stage it's really just a dream. But many of us work all life just for her dream and I do the same."
Speaking of dreams, winning four gold medals at one Olympic Games is a feat we haven't yet seen, and Danuta said should anyone achieve this, she will be their biggest fan.
"To tell the truth I think it's almost impossible. But on the other hand nothing is impossible. So you never know. If someone will have a chance to do it I will honestly cheer for her."
With one of her most remarkable seasons behind her and a baby on the way, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding Danuta's kayaking career but she seems more focused than ever.
"I will skip 2017 and my plan is to be there in Tokyo 2020. And of course coming back step by step in 2018 and 2019."
As one of the most decorated kayak Olympians, Danuta Kozak’s powerful style and strong finishes have seen her dominate canoe sprint over the last 10 years. We can't wait to see what she can achieve into the future.
Read Danuta's full profile here.