The FIS have paid tribute to Petr Honzl who has died at the age of 72 ©FIS

Petr Honzl, the former President of the Czech Ski Association and of the Czech Cross-Country Skiing Board, has died aged 72 after a long illness.

Honzl devoted his entire life to cross-country skiing and was also the former head of the ski club Nove Mesto in Morave.

After a career as a Nordic Combined athlete, Honzl went on to become a coach of the Czech national men’s and ladies’ cross-country teams.

He was also in charge of the Czechoslovakian men’s 4x10 kilometre relay team who won the bronze medal at the Winter Olympic Games in 1988 in Calgary.

For many years Honzl worked as a cross-country skiing and Nordic Combined official, serving as the President of the Czech Ski Association from 1998 to 2001.

Honzl was in charge of the Czechoslovakian men’s relay team which won bronze at Calgary 1988 ©FIS
Honzl was in charge of the Czechoslovakian men’s relay team which won bronze at Calgary 1988 ©FIS

As the President of Nove Mesto, Honzl helped to get thousands of kids into Nordic skiing, developed a modern cross-country skiing and Nordic Combined arena and organised numerous International Ski Federation (FIS) cross-country skiing World Cups.

On their website, the FIS said they "would like to express sincere condolences to the family and friends of Petr Honzl".