Police have reportedly launched a probe into the shocking death of former Olympian and world champion canoeist Miklos Dudas.
Dudas was found dead at the age of 34 at his home in Budapest, Hungary, of mysterious circumstances on January 5.
While police initially said there were no signs of foul play or criminal activity, new information now suggests other people may have been involved in his death.
Experts identified injuries that could lead to criminal proceedings during his autopsy, according to Origo.
Additionally, the outlet reported that an employee that worked at Dudas’ residence saw him bleeding on the stairwell two days before he died. The man reportedly said that he was bleeding from his head, and he appeared disoriented at the time of their interaction.
The man said he asked Dudas about the injury, and he allegedly replied that he had fallen over. Dudas then allegedly closed the door, marking the end of their conversation.
Police have now summoned the worker to testify in light of the new findings, according to Origo. Additionally, authorities are investigating a case of bodily harm that may have resulted in his death, according to local reports.
Dudas previously competed in the London Olympics in 2014, where he finished in sixth place in the K-1 200m. That same year, he won gold at the 2014 World Championships in Russia while competing as part of the K-1 4x200m relay team.
K-1 refers to a type of racing canoe, designed for competitive paddling. It features a closed cockpit for the paddler and is typically used in sprint or marathon races.
Additionally, Dudas won bronze medals at the World Championships and earned various European medals throughout his athletic career.
Despite finding a lot of success as an athlete, Dudas also experienced some setbacks. After he won a gold medal in the K-1 200m event at the 2015 European Games, he was stripped of the honor after traces of a banned hormone were found in his body. As a result of the findings, he was banned from competing for 36 months.
Dudas eventually retired from the sport in 2021.
He is survived by his two children, daughter Nara and son Milo, as well as his longtime partner, Ivett Szigligeti. The former athlete and model had been romantically involved since 2015.
The investigation into Dudas’ death remains ongoing.
More than one year before Dudas’ death, his father, Istvan Dudas, was violently attacked by a group of six men at a petrol station in Budapest, according to Yahoo Sports. He suffered severe head injuries amid the attack, and he ultimately fell into a coma. Istvan died months later in early 2025 from the injuries.
Following his father’s death, Dudas took over his family’s business at the Pesterzsebet market in order to make sure it stayed open.
“He was a very good man, I met him several times. He came here regularly to help after his father died. He was always direct, everyone liked him,” one employee said of Dudas. “We loved his father the same way, he was here a lot, he was an integral part of the life of the market. We are very sorry about everything. This market is like a big family….”
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