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Beijing 2008

The beginnings of the Olympic movement in Hungary go back further than the Games in Athens. Ferenc Kemeny, a great pacifist and member of the International Peace Bureau, was one of Pierre de Coubertin's first kindred spirits, with whom he struck up a friendship in the 1880's. He took an active part in the Congress for the re-establishment of the Games held in Paris in 1894 and was one of the founder members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coubertin supported Kemeny's suggestion to hold the first Olympics in Budapest in 1896 in honor of Hungary's 1000 years of statehood.Hungarian Olympic Triumph!
by Bryan Dawson

Did you know...as of 2012, Hungary ranks 8th in the world in medals at the Summer Olympic Games despite its being torn apart after WWI and losing half her total population and 2/3 of her territory. This does not include an additional 6 medals won in the Winter Olympics nor the Hungarians that won medals as nationals of other countries after borders were artificially redrawn or after emigration.

Magyar Olimpiai BiztottsagThe beginnings of the Olympic movement in Hungary go back further than the Games in Athens. Ferenc Kemeny, a great pacifist and member of the International Peace Bureau, was one of Pierre de Coubertin's first kindred spirits, with whom he struck up a friendship in the 1880's. He took an active part in the Congress for the re-establishment of the Games held in Paris in 1894 and was one of the founder members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coubertin supported Kemeny's suggestion to hold the first Olympics in Budapest in 1896 in honor of Hungary's 1000 years of statehood. Thanks to the Hungarian Olympic Committee and the IOC for many of the pictures here.

Hungary in the Olympics - Select a Year:

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Please ask for permission and CITE this source, attributing Bryan Dawson, before using this information.


2008 Beijing Highlights2008 Beijing Highlights

  • Hungarian Swimming continues its Medal-Winning Legacy!
    • Laszlo Cseh wins 3 silver medals!
    • Rebecca Soni claims gold in record time! Hungarian-American Rebecca Soni (Szőnyi) set the world record in the 200m Breaststroke. She also took home 2 Silver Medals in the 100m breaststroke and the 4x100m medley relay. Known to her family and friends as “Reb” and born in Freehold Borough, New Jersey, Rebecca is the daughter of Peter and Kinga Soni from Kolozsvár (now a part of Rumania after annexation at the tragic Treaty of Trianon in 1920)!
  • Hungarian kayak / canoe also repeats its medal performance with Gold, Silver, and Bronze!
    • Attila Vajda takes Gold!
    • Natasa Janics and Katalin Kovacs repeat Gold!
    • The brothers Michal (Mihály) and Richard Riszdorfer and Juraj (György) Tarr win Silver for Slovakia in the K-4 1000m! All are from Komárom, now a part of Southern Slovakia after the tragic Treaty of Trianon in 1920.
  • Legendary Hungarian Waterpolo repeats Gold Medal performance (winning second of unprecendented three repeat Olympic Gold Medals)!
Medal
Name Event
Gold
Rebecca Soni Swimming: 200m Breaststroke Rebecca Soni claims gold in record time competing for USA!! WR!
Gold
Attila Vajda Canoeing, Men's C-1 1000 m
Gold
Natasa Janics Canoeing, Women's K-2 500 m
Gold
Katalin Kovács Canoeing, Women's K-2 500 m
Gold
Susan (Zsuzsanna) Francia Women's Rowing 8 Susan (Zsuzsanna) Francia wins gold in rowing competing for USA!!
Gold
Tibor Benedek Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Péter Biros Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Rajmund Fodor Men's Waterpolo
Gold
István Gergely Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Tamás Kásás Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Gergely Kiss Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Norbert Madaras Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Tamás Molnár Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Ádám Steinmetz Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Barnabás Steinmetz Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Zoltán Szécsi Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Tamás Varga Men's Waterpolo
Gold
Attila Vári Men's Waterpolo
Silver
Michal Riszdorfer Canoeing, Men's K-4 1000 m Competing for Slovakia
Silver
Richard Riszdorfer Canoeing, Men's K-4 1000 m Competing for Slovakia
Silver
Juraj Tarr Canoeing, Men's K-4 1000 m Competing for Slovakia
Silver
Rebecca Soni Swimming: 100m Breaststroke Rebecca Soni claims gold in record time competing for USA!!
Silver
Rebecca Soni Swimming: 4x100m medley relay Rebecca Soni claims gold in record time competing for USA!!
Silver
László Cseh Swimming, Men's 200 m butterfly
Silver
László Cseh Swimming, Men's 200 m individual medley
Silver
Zoltán Fodor Wrestling, Men's Greco-Roman 84 kg
Silver
Natasa Janics Canoeing, Women's K-4 500 m
Silver
Katalin Kovács Canoeing, Women's K-4 500 m
Silver
Danuta Kozák Canoeing, Women's K-4 500 m
Silver
Gabriella Szabó Canoeing, Women's K-4 500 m
Bronze
Enikő Barabás Rowing, Women's Eight Enikő Barabás was born 21 July 1986 in Szászrégen (now called Reghin, Romania). She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she won a bronze medal in women's eight. She had previously been on the team that won a silver medal for Romania at the 2005 World Rowing Championships, also in the eight.
Bronze
Ildikó Mincza-Nébald Fencing, Women's individual épée
Bronze
Tamás Kiss Canoeing, Men's C-2 1000 m
Bronze
György Kozmann Canoeing, Men's C-2 1000 m

- Read more on [Wikipedia]
- Search all 2008 medalists (magyarul / in Hungarian)



Featured 2008 Olympians

2000 - 2008 Hungarian Water Polo Team

The Hungarian Water Polo Team is considered the world's top power in the history of water polo, having won 15 Olympic, 9 World Championship, 5 FINA World League, 8 FINA World Cup and 21 European Championship medalsThe Hungarian Water Polo Team is considered the world's top power in the history of water polo, having won 15 Olympic, 9 World Championship, 5 FINA World League, 8 FINA World Cup and 21 European Championship medals. Hungary are the current Olympic gold medalists, since the 2008 Olympic Games. [more on Wikpedia]

1956 Mens Waterpolo Team Hungary
Blood in the Water: Hungary vs. The Soviet Union...

Amid all the tension caused by the Soviet invasion of Hungary, Hungary and the Soviet Union met in a water polo match, one of the most famous water polo matches in history. The game was played in a packed stadium with many Hungarian-born Australians in the crowd. In addition to the political tension it was also a crucial game in terms of the water polo competition. If Hungary were to win it would almost be assured of the gold medal.

The match was rough from the beginning but became increasingly violent after Hungary took a 4-0 lead in the second half.At one point a Hungarian player, Ervin Zador, was heavily knocked by a Soviet player and emerged from the pool with serious facial bleeding. The crowd became enraged and police were called to prevent a riot. The match was abandoned shortly before full time and Hungary was credited with a victory. 1956 Mens Waterpolo Team Hungary: Zador bleedingThis ultimately secured it the gold medal after the completion of other matches.

Many of the Hungarian team were not able to return to their homeland to rejoice in this victory, choosing instead to remain in Australia or seek refuge in other countries rather than return to their war-ravaged country.

View Trailers on YouTubeIn 2007, the film "Freedom's Fury," (A szabadság Vihara) directed by Colin Gray and Megan Raney (The Sibs), was released. The critically acclaimed, hard-hitting feature documentary about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and the "Bloodiest Game in Olympic History," tells the story of the fateful moment in 1956 when Hungary explodes in a popular revolt and climaxes with the infamous water polo showdown between Hungary and the Soviets at the Melbourne Olympics. Now knoBuy Freedom's Fury on Amazon!wn as the “Blood in the Water Match,” the documentary follows the journey of the Hungarian Olympic water polo team and its young star, Ervin Zador, who find themselves the unwitting focal point of the most politicized sports match ever played.

See Trailers of "Freedom's Fury" on YouTube or buy the film on AHF's Amazon store!Buy Freedom's Fury on Amazon!


Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Laszlo Cseh

Natasa Janics and Katalin Kovacs repeat Gold!

Click for larger images

 

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