Liesel "Liese" Prokop-Sykora (27 March 1941 – 31 December 2006) was an Austrianathlete who competed mainly in the pentathlon and, later in her life, a politician.
Born as Liese Sykora in Tulln District, Lower Austria, on 27 March 1941, she graduated from the University of Vienna with a degree in biology and sport.[1][2] In 1965 she married her former coach, Gunnar Prokop. The couple had two sons and a daughter.[2] in 1967, she became student world champion in Tokyo.[2] She competed for Austria in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico in the Pentathlon where she won the silver medal.[3] In 1969, she became European champion in Athens, breaking the world pentathlon record.[2] In addition, she was Austrian champion in pentathlon, long jump, high jump, hurdles, relay and shot putting.[2]
Prokop began her political career in 1969 and became a member of the Parliament of Lower Austria.[4] She served as regional minister from 1981 to 1992 and vice president of Lower Austria during the period between 1992 and 2004.[4]
She joined Assembly of European Regions (AER) in 1996 and held different administrative positions in the AER, including the president of the AER which she assumed from 2001 to 2004.[4] Later she was made honorary president of the assembly.[4]
Beginning in December 2004 she was Austrian minister of interior for the conservative ÖVP, becoming Austria's first female interior minister.[3][5] She served in the cabinet led by Prime MinisterWolfgang Schüssel until her death on 31 December 2006.[3] She died unexpectedly of aortic dissection while being rushed to a Sankt Pölten hospital on New Year's Eve, 2006.[3] Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel became acting interior minister upon this incident.[6]
She was the sister of Maria Sykora, who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics,[1] and aunt of Winter Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Sykora.
Referencesedit
^ ab"Olympic silver medalist Prokop dies at 65". IAAF Athletics. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
^ abcde"Interior Minister Liese Prokop". Mauthausen Memorial. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
^ abcd"Austrian Interior Minister Liese Prokop, a former Olympian, dead at 65". USA Today. Vienna. AP. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
^ abcd. Assembly of European Regions. 2 January 2007. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
^"Obituaries in the News". The Washington Post. Vienna. AP. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
^"Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel". Bertelsmann Stiftung. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
liese, prokop, liesel, liese, prokop, sykora, march, 1941, december, 2006, austrian, athlete, competed, mainly, pentathlon, later, life, politician, foto, june, 2006minister, interiorin, office, december, 2004, december, 2006presidentheinz, fischerchancellorwo. Liesel Liese Prokop Sykora 27 March 1941 31 December 2006 was an Austrian athlete who competed mainly in the pentathlon and later in her life a politician Liese ProkopFoto June 2006Minister of the InteriorIn office 22 December 2004 31 December 2006PresidentHeinz FischerChancellorWolfgang SchusselPreceded byErnst StrasserSucceeded byWolfgang Schussel Acting Personal detailsBorn 1941 03 27 27 March 1941Tulln District Austria under the German Empire Died31 December 2006 2006 12 31 aged 65 Sankt Polten AustriaPolitical partyPeople s PartyAlma materUniversity of Vienna Liese Prokop Medal record Representing Austria Women s Athletics Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City Pentathlon European Championships 1969 Athens Pentathlon Universiade 1967 Tokyo PentathlonBiography editBorn as Liese Sykora in Tulln District Lower Austria on 27 March 1941 she graduated from the University of Vienna with a degree in biology and sport 1 2 In 1965 she married her former coach Gunnar Prokop The couple had two sons and a daughter 2 in 1967 she became student world champion in Tokyo 2 She competed for Austria in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City Mexico in the Pentathlon where she won the silver medal 3 In 1969 she became European champion in Athens breaking the world pentathlon record 2 In addition she was Austrian champion in pentathlon long jump high jump hurdles relay and shot putting 2 Prokop began her political career in 1969 and became a member of the Parliament of Lower Austria 4 She served as regional minister from 1981 to 1992 and vice president of Lower Austria during the period between 1992 and 2004 4 She joined Assembly of European Regions AER in 1996 and held different administrative positions in the AER including the president of the AER which she assumed from 2001 to 2004 4 Later she was made honorary president of the assembly 4 Beginning in December 2004 she was Austrian minister of interior for the conservative OVP becoming Austria s first female interior minister 3 5 She served in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Wolfgang Schussel until her death on 31 December 2006 3 She died unexpectedly of aortic dissection while being rushed to a Sankt Polten hospital on New Year s Eve 2006 3 Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel became acting interior minister upon this incident 6 She was the sister of Maria Sykora who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics 1 and aunt of Winter Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Sykora References edit a b Olympic silver medalist Prokop dies at 65 IAAF Athletics Retrieved 20 October 2013 a b c d e Interior Minister Liese Prokop Mauthausen Memorial Retrieved 20 October 2013 a b c d Austrian Interior Minister Liese Prokop a former Olympian dead at 65 USA Today Vienna AP 1 January 2007 Retrieved 20 October 2013 a b c d Liese Prokop AER Honorary President dies at age 65 Assembly of European Regions 2 January 2007 Archived from the original on 10 May 2013 Retrieved 20 October 2013 Obituaries in the News The Washington Post Vienna AP 1 January 2007 Retrieved 20 October 2013 Dr Wolfgang Schussel Bertelsmann Stiftung Retrieved 20 October 2013 Awards Preceded by nbsp Olga Pall Austrian Sportspersonality of the year1969 Succeeded by nbsp Karl Schranz Political offices Preceded byErnst Strasser Interior Minister of Austria2004 2006 Succeeded byGunther Platter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liese Prokop amp oldid 1207045911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
