Jozef Pribilinec

Slovak Jozef Pribilinec came into prominence after winning the 10 km walk gold at the 1979 European Junior Championships. Representing Czechoslovakia for most of his career Pribilinec was the leading 20 km walker in the 1980s. He won the Olympic 20 km walk gold in 1988, two 20 km silvers at the World Championships (1983 and 1987) and one gold (1986) and one silver (1982) at the European Athletics Championships. He also won 5,000 m track walk silver at the 1987 World Indoor Championships, 3,000 m track walk gold at the 1987 European Indoor Championships and 5,000 m track walk gold 1988 European Indoor Championships. Pribilinec also won the 20 km event at the 1983 IAAF World Race Walking Cup with a world record time of 1-19:30. Before retiring, Pribilinec represented his native Slovakia at the 1993 World Championships, placing 17th in the 20 km walk.

During his sporting career, Pribilinec worked at the Czechoslovakian police force and entered politics after his retirement from athletics. As a member of Party of the Democratic Left, he served at the Slovak National Council (parliament) from 1994-2002. Later Pribilinec became a successful businessman, owning multiple companies, most notably DUPRI that manages multiple hotels and bookkeeping firm SPS Ihráč.

Personal Best: 20kmW – 1-:30 (1983).