ITU bids goodbye to Gabor Markus

Much-loved race organiser suffers heart attack

Published: August 16, 2013 at 4:23 pm

Dr Gabor Markus, one of the best-known and most popular organisers on the ITU race circuit, has passed away at the age of 64, just weeks after the 2013 instalment of the Tiszaujvaros World Cup event he helped popularise.

In a prepared statement the ITU described itself as "deeply indebted" to Dr Gabor, adding: "Our thoughts and prayers go to the family, including his wife Judith, and his two sons, Balazs and Gergely, the ITU Sport Director".

Commenting on the circumstances of his father's passing, Gergely said: "We learned not long ago that the official reason of the death is heart attack. It caught him when he was happy, relaxed and looking so much into the future."

It is believed that on the afternoon of Wednesday 14 August Dr Gabor Markus was returning from work and suffered a coronary thrombosis in front of the family home.

A dentist by profession, Dr Gabor played a key role in establishing the Tiszaujvaros Triathlon Club, and received the Michel Gignoux Award for outstanding contributions to the sport of triathlon in September 2006.

Earlier this year his hometown named him an Honorary Freeman of the City of Tiszaujvaros, and Dr Gabor's family will receive this award in his honour on 20 August - the day before his funeral is due to take place.