A couple of days after the passing away of former World Champion, Craig Fallon (GBR), and a week after the sudden death of young Kim Akker (NED), the judo community is mourning the passing away of Slovak former international referee Marian Hefka, aged 69 (SVK).

After he was an athlete in the former Czechoslovakia, Marian Hefka became a well known and recognized international referee. Thus he was present on the occasion of several European Championships and of the 1995 World Championships in Chiba, Japan. Marian was selected to be a referee at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Hefka was the President of the Slovak Judo Federation for 13 years and later became an active expert for the Czech Judo Federation. He was also a refereeing expert for the European Judo Union.

The International Judo Federation and the entire judo family present their deepest condolences to Marian Hefka's family and friends.

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