Denisa Hurban Baránková, a Slovak representative in archery, died at the age of 24.
On Monday, the Slovak Archery Association (SLZ) announced this on its official Facebook page.
“With deep emotion and deep sadness, we received the shocking information that Denisa Hurban Baránková died on the night of Sunday to Monday at the age of 24, she became a victim of tragic circumstances.
On behalf of the Slovak Archery Association and the sports community, we wish the husband Vladimír Hurban Jr., the whole family, all loved ones and friends of the two-time Olympian a lot of strength in coping with a sudden huge loss in these extremely difficult moments. We remember with respect. We will never forget,” reads the SLZ post.
Television Markíza subsequently made it more specificthat a young Slovak sportswoman succumbed to serious injuries she suffered in a traffic accident v Sunday (June 21) in Bratislava’s Petržalka.
“A young woman who was hit by a car was brought to us late in the evening. The patient was in a very critical condition, unconscious with multiple severe injuries. Despite the enormous efforts of our medical staff, unfortunately the patient could not be saved and succumbed to her injuries,” she told TASR Eva Kliská, spokeswoman for the Bratislava University Hospital (UNB).
The police are investigating the circumstances of the Sunday night accident in Bratislava’s Petržalka. A car and two people collided in the parking lot on Osuského street. They were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. In this connection, the police started a criminal prosecution for the crime of bodily harm.
Hurban Baránková represented Slovakia at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and in Paris 2024. At the European Championships in 2021, she won bronze in the discipline of the Olympic bow, which was Slovakia’s first ever precious metal at the continental championship.
Last year, she won a gold medal at the World Games in Chengdu, China, in field archery.
“This tragedy has deeply affected the entire archery and sporting community. We are very shaken by it and are still trying to process what happened. It is a sudden and painful event that is very difficult to find words for.”
Denisa was still young, but an experienced and successful archer. She had numerous national team performances and, in particular, two participations in the Olympic Games, last year she became the winner of the World Games, which are achievements of extraordinary importance not only within Slovak sports, but also on an international scale.
At the European Championships less than a month ago, she took an excellent sixth place, which is an extremely valuable result in the competition of the world’s top players. Her departure will have a big impact on our entire sport.
For many young male and female archers, she was a role model, motivation and proof that even from Slovakia it is possible to succeed at the highest world level,” SLZ further stated on its official website.
