Maria Sykora

Track and field athlete Maria Sykora won 23 Austrian titles in the 400 metres (1967-1971), 800 metres (1968-69, 1971-72), cross country (1968-1971), 4×100 relay (1964, 1970-73), 4×400 relay (1971, 1973), 100 metres hurdles (1970), and pentathlon (1970-71). She participated in the 1972 München Olympics over 400 and 800 metres and with the 4x400 relay, but without reaching any of the finals.

In 1969, Sykora won the bronze medal over 400 metres at the European Championships. She added three more bronze medals (400 metres in 1971, and 4x200 metres relays in 1970 and 1972) at the European Indoors, but her greatest moment was in winning the 800 metres gold medal in 1970.

Maria’s second love was handball. She returned to the Olympics in this sport in 1984 when Austria placed sixth, and last, overall. She was the sister of Liese Sykora-Prokop, and the aunt of handball player Karin Prokop, and alpine skier Thomas Sykora.

Sykora remained loyal to handball. After her retirement from active sport, among other things she worked as a junior sports officer within the Austrian Handball Federation, delegation leader, and as an assistant coach at World Cup and Olympic tournaments. By profession she trained as a primary and secondary schoolteacher in geography and natural history.

Personal Bests: 400 – 52.7 (1972); 800 – 2:01.5 (1972).