Liese Prokop

Liesel "Liese" Prokop-Sykora (27 March 1941 – 31 December 2006) was an Austrian athlete and, later in her life, a politician. She competed mainly in the pentathlon.

Biography 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. In 1965 she married her former coach, Gunnar Prokop. The couple had two sons and a daughter. Later she was made honorary president of the assembly. She served in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Wolfgang Schüssel until her death on 31 December 2006.

She was the sister of Maria Sykora, who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics, and aunt of Winter Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Sykora. Her daughter, Karin Prokop is a professional handball player and politician.