Tamas Buday Sr - Hungary
Tamas Buday Sr - Member of the World Paddle Awards Academy
In a career that spans more than four decades, Tamas Buday Sr. has devoted his life to sprint canoeing. As a National champion, Olympic medallist, decorated coach and inspiring mentor, Tamas’ skill, determination and compassion have distinguished him as one of the most respected figures in the sport worldwide.
Tamas was born in Budapest, Hungary in July 5, 1952. He is a two-time Olympian with an enviable record of achievement at the ICF championships, winning 13 medals (four gold, five silver and four bronze) over his career.
In 1987, after his retirement from competition, the Canadian Kayak/Canoe Association asked Tamas to come to Canada to assume the position of National Team Canoe Coach, a position which he held for 25 years. Initially, Tamas’ primary task was to coach Canadian canoe legend Larry Cain who was the first in a long line of athletes who benefited from being coached by Tamas Buday. That list includes two of Tamas’ sons, Attila and Tamas Jr., who were themselves three-time Canadian Olympians.
In addition to Tamas’ highly regarded coaching skills, he was responsible for establishing an enduring and strong relationship between the paddling communities in Canada and Hungary. His efforts in this area resulted in significant benefits for both countries over Tamas’ many years of coaching. He is, even today, held in the highest of regard in both countries by management and athletes alike.
He is a coach for whom no task was too small. His heart is as big as his talent. He has hauled trailers, organized training camps where international paddlers were always welcomed, housed, nurtured and taken care of athletes who would otherwise been unprepared for races. Above all, Tamas is universally regarded as a kind, a humble gentleman who is always ready to lend a hand, within the sport or even outside of it.
Tamas Buday Senior's personal achievements as an athlete, his continued and relentless love of the sport, his accomplishments as a coach and his boundless capacity to help, make him a valued member of the World Paddle Awards Academy.