Canoeing gold medallist dies

Hungary's two-time Olympic canoe champion Gyorgy Kolonics died yesterday, most likely due to heart failure, during a practice session for the Beijing Games, the Hungarian Kayak-Canoe Federation said. Kolonics, 36, who won Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000 and bronze medals in 1996 and 2004, fell unconscious and could not be resuscitated, Etele Barath, the federation's president told state news agency MTI. Kolonics was set to compete in Beijing, his fifth Olympics, in the 500 metres and 1,000 metres double events with Gyorgy Kozmann.