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

Police reported that a 42-year-old driver was involved in the accident on June 21. The driver crashed into a parked vehicle before striking pedestrians. Bratislava regional police spokesman Michal Szeiff said, "He then crossed onto a grassy area, where he collided with two people." An 11-year-old girl was injured in the same incident. The Slovak Archery Association confirmed her death, stating, "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." Baránková is survived by her husband, Vladimír Hurban Jr.

During her career, Baránková competed in two Olympic Games, participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also achieved a bronze medal at the 2021 European Championships, marking her as the first Slovakian archer to earn a medal at that event. In 2025, she secured a gold medal at the World Games. The International World Games Association released a statement regarding her passing. "Denisa was one of the brightest talents in archery," the association said. "Her gold medal in Chengdu last August was a moment of pure brilliance that the entire The World Games family celebrated alongside her, and it will forever remain part of the legacy of TWG 2025."