There was no way Lili Kolozsvari was missing a second of watching her mum challenge for a world title on home waters.
Not even losing a tooth would stop her from remaining fixed to her seat in the packed stands in Gyor.
“I was in first grade at school, and I remember that my first tooth fell out,” she said.
“I left it in school as I wanted to go to the competition to see my mum.
“As my mum was so far ahead of everyone else, I told my dad to go back to my school and pick it up.”
Lili Kolozsvari was just seven years old at that time when the Hungarian city of Gyor last staged the International Canoe Federation Canoe Marathon World Championships in 2015.
And her mum was no ordinary paddler. Lili and her brother Bruno Kolozsvari are the children of Canoe Marathon royalty.
Their mum, Renata Csay, is a 20-time world champion, winning women’s kayak titles over the course of a 20-year period.
Their dad, Gabor Kolozsvari, is a multiple world medallist, notably claiming men’s canoe gold in 1992.
Now, Lili and Bruno are starting to shine on the international stage, with dreams of following in their parents’ footsteps.
“I started paddling around eight years ago,” said Lili.
“My parents are really inspiring me.
“They have always told me that you can do sport but if you don’t want to practice you don’t have push yourself so it is always me pushing myself to do it.
“She is a great mum.
“She is kind and she always tells me to stay humble which is really important.
“I’m happy because they are my parents.”
As well as having talented paddlers for parents, Lili’s brother is also making great strides in the sport.
Bruno is a double junior world champion, securing the men’s kayak double title in 2021 with Csanad Sellyvei and in 2022 with Oliver Varga.
“Me are my brother are a little bit competitive but before my race he tell me “let’s go” so he supports me. He is so good,” said Lili.
Ten years after cheering on her mum, roles have been reversed in Gyor. This time, it is Csay who is encouraging her daughter at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships.
The 17-year-old responded by becoming junior world champion in the women’s K1 short distance and women’s K1 long distance.
“This is my first World Championships,” said Lili.
“I was a little bit nervous as my whole family are world champions but I am happy as they always told me that I could do this.”
Lili struggled to keep a lid on her emotions in the women’s K1 short race final as she wiped away her tears before winning gold in 15:54.42.
One day later, the 17-year-old was celebrating on top of the podium for the second time after powering to the women’s K1 long distance title in 1:26:46.04.
“The short race was hard because my start was so bad,” said Lili.
“After that, I was crying in my boat but I told myself that I can do it and I went for it.
“Before the start of the long distance race, my classmates wrote to me to tell me that they would be here and I am so happy about that.
“At the start, I did well and after that I did my thing as I had gained confident from the previous day.”
Lili leaves Gyor as a two-time junior world champion but knows she cannot afford to rest on her laurels if she wants to repeat the feats of her parents.
“I will train a lot as I want to get more medals,” said Lili.
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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