Anti-vax Olympic gold medalist Szilveszter Csollany dies of Covid, aged 51
Szilveszter Csollany won gold on the rings at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A Hungarian Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast has died at the age of 51 from Covid-19.
Szilveszter Csollany won gold on the rings at Sydney 2000, improving a silver medal finish achieved in Atlanta at the previous Olympic Games.
Budapest newspaper Blikk has reported that Csollany fell ill in December and was put on a ventilator in hospital, before passing away on 24 January.
While Csollany had, according to the publication, expressed anti-vaccination views on social media, the six-time World Championship medallist had been vaccinated to allow him to continue to work as a gymnastics coach.
However, he contracted the virus soon after receiving his jab, Blikk suggested, and had thus not built sufficient levels of antibodies.
“It is with profound sadness that we inform you of the death of Szilveszter Csollany,” the Hungarian Olympic Committee confirmed.
Csollany was twice named Hungarian Sportsman of the Year (2000 and 2002).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments