Bohumil Golián

Bohumil Golian is considered Czechoslovakia’s greatest ever volleyball player. In addition to his two Olympic medals, he led Czechoslovakia to World Championships in 1956 and 1966 and to European Championships in 1958. He also won silvers at the 1960 and 1962 World and 1967 European Championships. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, he was voted Slovak Volleyballer of the Century, and was ranked 12th among Slovaks for Athlete of the Century. He later earned a Ph.D. in sports stuides and lectured on physical education and sports, and also coached. In 2006 he was given the Pierre de Coubertin medal by the International Olympic Committee and in 2007 the Slovak Olympic Committee awarded him the Golden Rings.