Rita Kőbán

Rita Kőbán (born 10 April 1965) is a Hungarian canoe sprinter. She competed at the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics and won six medals, with two golds (1992: K-4 500 m, 1996: K-1 500 m), three silvers (1988: K-4 500 m, 1992: K-1 500 m, 2000: K-4 500 m), and one bronze (1992: K-2 500 m).

Kőbán has also been successful in the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships collecting 26 medals. This includes nine golds (K-1 200 m: 1994, 1995; K-1 500 m: 1995, K-2 200 m: 1994, K-4 200 m: 1994, 1998, 1999; K-4 500 m: 1986, 1999), ten silvers (K-1 500 m: 1991, 1994; K-1 5000 m: 1993, K-2 200 m: 1998, K-2 500 m: 1985, K-4 500 m: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994), and seven bronzes (K-1 200 m: 1999, K-1 500 m: 1999, K-2 200 m: 1999, K-2 500 m: 1998, K-4 500 m: 1985, 1993, 1995).

She was elected Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year in 1994 and 1995, ending the string of six consecutive titles by Krisztina Egerszegi. After retiring from competitions, she briefly worked as a TV presenter.

Kőbán has been a vegetarian since 1991.

Awards

 * Masterly youth athlete: 1982, 1983
 * Hungarian kayaker of the Year (7): 1984, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996
 * HUN Order of Labor 2kl BAR.png Work Order of Merit of Hungarian People's Republic – Silver Cross (1988)
 * Csepel SC – Athlete of Year (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
 * HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 4class BAR.svg Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Officer's Cross (1992)
 * Member of the Hungarian team of year (with Erika Mészáros, Éva Dónusz, Kinga Czigány): 1992
 * Perpetual champion of Csepel SC (1994)
 * Hungarian Sportwoman of the Year (2) – votes of sports journalists: 1994, 1995
 * MOB Golden ring (1995)
 * Honorary Citizen of Csepel (1996)
 * HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 3class BAR.svg Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Commander's Cross (1996)
 * Hungarian Heritage Award (1999)
 * Príma Primissima award (2016)