IVAN PATZAICHIN, THE CHAMPION OF WATERS

A true legend of Romanian sport, Ivan Patzaichin is the most famous Romanian canoist, who competed in five Olympic Summer Games where he was a quadruple gold laureate (in 1968, 1972, 1980 and 1984) and a triple silver laureate. He holds multiple accolades such as 22 titles at 11 World Championships, winning 9 gold medals and 4 silver medals. He is Sport Emeritus Master, International Sports Master and Emeritus Coach. In 1990, the International Olympic Committee awarded him the highest distinction in the world for an athlete, the Olympic Order, being the third Romanian sportsman to receive this order. He is decorated with the National Order "Faithful Service" as Officer and honored with the Royal Decoration "Nihil Sine Deo", received by order of His Majesty King Michael I, Head of the Royal House of Romania. He was declared the 20th Century Athlete by the International Kaiac-Canoe Federation.

 

In 1984 he retired from the competitional activity, dedicating himself to coaching in Dinamo Club, where he also started his career. He has been part of the Dinamo Sport Club for 43 years, 18 years as a sportsman and 25 years as a coach. As coach, Ivan Patzaichin and his students have won over 150 Olympic, World and European medals over time. 

 

Out of love for his homeland, the Danube Delta, Ivan Patzaichin has been involved in campaigns and projects aimed at promoting the Delta and ecotourism through the associations: "Ivan Patzaichin - Mila 23" and Rowmania. Also, throughout his projects, he thought of creating a boat to resemble the Delta fishermen's boat, and so came the “canotca”, also called the "water bike", unique in Europe.

 

In 2018, the great champion joins the representative images of contemporary Romanians photographed by Radu Chindris in the “100 de chipuri” project right in the lobby of Athénée Palace Hilton.

 

What does this moment of the Centenary that everyone is talking about mean to you?

”For me it is an honor and a satisfaction to be amongst those photographed by you during these special moments for all of us, for Romania. We are a generation of sacrifice; those who come after us should not make the same mistakes as we did, and should fight for what Romania deserves.”

 

Is there any memory that takes you back to Athenee Palace?

”Of course, there are many memories, many meetings, many parties ... I also have a friend, my neighbor, who was a restaurant manager here, so I know the hotel very well.”

 

FISHERMAN’S PLATE MILA 23

During the meeting at Athénée Palace Hilton, Ivan Patzaichin confessed that he is a fan of fish. For that reason, our chefs created in his honor a plateau with two traditional Romanian recipes, reinterpreted with Mediterranean influences: Mackerel "Estufado" with fried polenta and Danubian Carp "Escabeche" with saffron and coriander. These traditional recipes are cooked all over the Danube, from the stream to the Black Sea, but especially on the enchanting canals of the Delta, cooked leisurely in a fire of wood at dusk. 

 

We invite you to taste this dish in Café Athénée during 1-7 October 2018.