BRATISLAVA — Denisa Baránková, a two-time Olympic archer, died at age 24 on June 22, 2026, after being struck by a car in the Petržalka district of Bratislava. She died from her injuries at University Hospital.

The accident occurred on June 21, 2026. A 42-year-old driver lost control of his car and crashed into a parked vehicle. "He then crossed onto a grassy area, where he collided with two people," said Michal Szeiff, a Bratislava regional police spokesman. An 11-year-old girl was injured in the same accident. Baránková was transported to University Hospital following the crash. Slovakian police are investigating the incident.

The Slovak Archery Association confirmed her passing. "With profound emotion and deep sorrow, we received the shocking information that Denisa Hurban Baránková died on the night of Sunday to Monday at the age of 24, she became a victim of tragic circumstances," the association stated.

Baránková competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Games. In 2021, she became the first archer from Slovakia to win a medal at the European Championships, placing third. She also won a gold medal at The World Games in Chengdu, China, in 2025.

The International World Games Association expressed sadness at her death. "The International World Games Association is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Denisa Hurban Baránková, gold medallist in Field Archery — Recurve at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu," the organization stated. It added, "A two-time Olympian and proud representative of Slovakia, she embodied the spirit of The World Games — excellence, passion, and dedication." Baránková is survived by her husband, Vladimír Hurban Jr.