Szilveszter Csollany: Anti-vax Hungarian Olympic gold medallist dies of Covid aged 51

52-year-old Covid-19 victim, an Olympic gold medalist from Hungary and conspiracy theorist in anti-vax politics, has passed away. This happened just weeks after he was given the shot to keep his job as a coach.

Szilveszter Csollany fell sick in December and was hospitalised and placed on a ventilator for weeks, with local authorities announcing his death on Monday. 

Csollany posted several anti-vax posts to his Facebook page. However, Budapest newspaper Blikk reports that he was vaccinated for work as a coach in gymnastics.

Hungary’s 2000 Olympics gold medal winning gymnast Szilveszter Csollany (pictured left and right holding his gold medal on the podium in Sydney, September 24, 2000) has died of Covid-19 aged 51, local authorities said on Monday

According to the publication, he was ill just before falling ill and that had prevented him from developing sufficient antibodies.

The Hungarian Olympic Committee stated, “It is with deep sadness that I inform you about the death of SzilveszterCsollany.” 

Csollany earned a silver on rings medal at the Atlanta Games 1996. Four years later, he won the gold in Sydney against Dimosthenis Tsokokos of Greece.

He was the European Champion in 1998 and also took home gold in 2002 at the World Championships Debrecen.

According to the Hungarian Gymnastics Federation, “The Olympic champion gymnast not only achieved outstanding results but also as an athlete, husband, and father,” 

Csollany retired and went to work in Austria as a coach.

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister wrote: “Farewell Champion” in a message that was accompanied with a black-and-white photo.

Zoltan Magiar, the Hungarian Olympic gold medalist in 1976-80, was also a colleague gymnast. 

Csollany last Facebook post, on August 10, showed Csollany speaking with a physician on the phone to discuss the vaccination. 

In the caption below, he wrote:  ‘I just want to understand! While I am not in favour of or against vaccine …. I really don’t understand what good is… this video shows why.

Pictured: Szilveszter Csollany (second-right) with his wife Jutka and her two children. Facebook states that he was married just months prior to August 12, 2021.

He posted a photo on Instagram of what appears to him with vodka. ‘I vaccinated myself!’ He said. He added that he didn’t need to wait for weeks for the repeater. This could be referring to either a booster jab, or a second dose. [Note: Google translate translated the Olympian’s name to New Year’s Eve]

“The information they provide is absurd.” Everyone will be surprised if they are able to explain the situation logically.

He shared an Instagram picture in which he was holding vodka. ‘I vaccinated myself!’ He said. He wrote, “And you didn’t have to wait weeks to get the repeater,” presumably to refer to a booster jab or second dose.

According to Facebook, he married his wife – Jutka Csollány – only months ago on August 12, 2021.

Hungary, like many European countries, is seeing a rise in Covid-19-related infections. This spike was mainly caused by Omicron, which can be highly contagious. 

Monday saw almost 40 000 new infections reported in the United States.

Csollany’s death comes after a Czech anti-vax folk singer died after deliberately catching Covid to obtain a health pass to allow her to visit the sauna and theatre.

Jan Rek, her son, said that Hana Horka was the singer for Asonance. She had contracted the Delta variant in 2005 at age 57.

Rek said that she voluntarily contracted the virus from her son and husband, who were both vaccinated.

To be able to use cultural and sporting facilities, as well as travel or for visits to bars and restaurants within the EU member states that are facing an increasing Covid count, you must have proof of vaccinations. 

Hana Horka (pictured), Czech folk singer, died after intentionally catching Covid in an attempt to gain a health permit to enter the saunas and theatres.

Jan Rek reports that Asonance singer, the Delta variant, was diagnosed at the age 57. Jan Rek says her father, Jan Rek. Jan Rek said she died January 16, after succumbing to the disease.

Horka took an outside walk, but soon began complaining about back pain. She then died in bed from chokes shortly afterward, as her son explained.

Rek connected the cause of his death to an anti-vax organization in the area. He claimed that its leaders had brainwashed Rek’s mother and had “blood on their hands”.

I know who she was inspired by… Rek expressed regret that Rek believed more in strangers than her true family.

He added that “It was not just total disinformation, but views on natural immunity as well as antibodies acquired by infection,”

This country, home to 10.7million people, announced close to 13,000 Covid-related infections Monday. It also reported an average of 22,000 cases per day over the course of seven days.