Ján Michalko

{{Short description|Slovak cross-country skier (1947–2024)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Ján Michalko

| full_name =

| image =

| caption =

| nationality = Slovak

| sport = Cross-country skiing

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1947|11|18}}

| birth_place = Východná, Czechoslovakia

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|9|24|1947|11|18}}

| death_place = Slovakia

}}

Ján Michalko (18 November 1947 – 22 September 2024) was a Czechoslovak cross-country skier of Slovak ethnicity. He competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics and the 1976 Winter Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mi/jan-michalko-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418090114/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mi/jan-michalko-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Ján Michalko Olympic Results |accessdate=27 June 2019}}

Michalko studied to be an electrotechnician at SOU elektrotechnické in Liptovský Hrádok.{{Cite book |last=Fronko |first=Milan |title=Olympionici Liptova |date=2003 |isbn=80-89130-13-5 |location=Liptovský Mikuláš |pages=34 |language=sk |trans-title=Olympians of Liptov}} Michalko was the inaugural winner of Biela stopa SNP race in Kremnica in 1974, repeating the victory in 1977. In 1975/76 World Cup season, he won bronze with František Šimon and Milan Jarý in Davos 3 × 10 kilometers relay race. As an athlete of Červená hviezda Štrbské Pleso club, he was a member of Public Security from 1967 onwards. After retirement, he was the chief of police in Dolný Kubín. Between 1990 and 1992, he served as deputy Minister of Interior to Vladimír Mečiar, who recalled him failing to follow orders. On 1 September 1999, Ladislav Pittner promoted him into a rank of General.{{Cite web |last=Pašuth |first=Peter |date=24 September 2024 |title=Zomrel prvý víťaz Bielej stopy SNP a dvojnásobný olympionik |url=https://www.olympic.sk/clanok/jan-michalko-lyzovanie-umrtie |access-date=24 September 2024 |website=olympic.sk |language=sk}}

Michalko died in Slovakia on 22 September 2024, at the age of 76.