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Moscow 1980

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 2016, Hungary ranks 8th in the world in medals at the Summer Olympic Games despite its being torn apart after WWI and losing half her 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 redrawn or after large-scale emigration.

Ferenc Kemeny,
founding
member of the International Olympic Committee.

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.

Kemeny took an active part in the Congress for the re-establishment of the Games held in Paris in 1894 and was one of the founding 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. While the dream of hosting an Olympics is not yet realized, Hungary has won more Olympic medals than any other nation that has never hosted the Games.

Hungary in the Olympics - Select a Year:

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


The United States, and many of its allies, in protest of the soviet invasion on Afghanistan, boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics.1980 Moscow Highlights

  • The "King of the Pommel Horse," Gymnast Magyar Zoltan, wins Gold at his second Olympics and a team Bronze!
  • Hungarian kayak contines dominance in the sport with another gold
  • Gymnastics legend Emilia Eberle takes two silvers competing for Rumania
  • Waterpolo team medals again!
  • Hungarian fencing continues its medal tradition

Hungarian Medals!

Medal
Name Event
Gold
Baczakó Péter Weightlifting
Gold
Foltán László Kayak-canoe / kajak-kenu C-2 500 m
Gold
Vaskuti István Kayak-canoe / kajak-kenu C-2 500 m
Gold
Magyar Zoltán Gymnastics Pommel Horse / lólengés
Gold
Növényi Norbert Wrestling / birkózás kötöttfogás 90 kg
Gold
Kocsis Ferenc Wrestling / birkózás kötöttfogás 74 kg
Gold
Varga Károly Shooting (small-bore rifle, prone) / kisöbű sportpuska
Gold
Wladár Sándor Swimming Backstroke / úszás 200 m hát
Silver
Emilia Eberle Gymnastics, Women's Uneven Bars Gertrud Emilia Eberle is an ethnic Hungarian from Arad. She won sliver competing for Rumania
Silver
Emilia Eberle Gymnastics Team Combined Exercises Gertrud Emilia Eberle is an ethnic Hungarian from Arad. She won sliver competing for Rumania
Silver
Imrich (Imre) Bugár Athletics, men's discus throw Competing for Czechoslovakia
Silver
Balla József Wrestling / birkózás szabadfogás 100 kg
Silver
Rácz Lajos Wrestling / birkózás kötöttfogás 52 kg
Silver
Tóth István Wrestling / birkózás kötöttfogás 62 kg
Silver
Kolczonay Ernő Individual Fencing Épée / vívás pb.tőr egyéni
Silver
Maros Magda Individual Fencing Foil / vívás tőr egyéni
Silver
Joós István Kayak canoe / kajak-kenu K-2 1000 m
Silver
Szabó István Kayak canoe / kajak-kenu K-2 1000 m
Silver
Regőczy Krisztina Figure skating pairs / műkorcsolya jégtánc
Silver
Sallay András Figure skating pairs / műkorcsolya jégtánc
Silver
Maracskó Tibor Team Pentathlon / öttusa csapat
Silver
Horváth László Team Pentathlon / öttusa csapat
Silver
Szombathelyi Tamás Team Pentathlon / öttusa csapat
Silver
Szombathelyi Tamás Individual Pentathlon / öttusa egyéni
Silver
Vermes Albán Swimming breaststroke / úszás 200 m mell
Silver
Verrasztó Zoltán Swimming backstroke / úszás 200 m hát
Bronze
Csapó Gábor Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Faragó Tamás dr. Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Gerendás György Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Hauszler Károly Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Horkai György Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Kiss István Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Molnár Endre Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Szívós István Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Sudár Attila Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Udvardi István Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Kuncz László Waterpolo / vizilabda csapat
Bronze
Detre Szabolcs Sailing Flying Dutchman / vitorlázás repűlő hollandi
Bronze
Detre Zsolt Sailing Flying Dutchman / vitorlázás repűlő hollandi
Bronze
Donáth Ferenc Men's gymnastics combined team / torna összetett
Bronze
Guczoghy György Men's gymnastics combined team / torna összetett
Bronze
Kelemen Zoltán Men's gymnastics combined team / torna összetett
Bronze
Kovács Péter Men's gymnastics combined team / torna összetett
Bronze
Magyar Zoltán Men's gymnastics combined team / torna összetett
Bronze
Vámos István Men's gymnastics combined team / torna összetett
Bronze
Gedővári Imre dr. Fencing individudal Sabre / vívás kard egyéni
Bronze
Gedővári Imre dr. Men's team fencing Sabre / vívás kard csapat
Bronze
Gerevich Pál Men's team fencing Sabre/ vívás kard csapat
Bronze
Nébald György Men's team fencing Sabre / vívás kard csapat
Bronze
Nébald Rudolf Men's team fencing Sabre / vívás kard csapat
Bronze
Gedővári Imre dr. Fencing individudal Sabre / vívás kard egyéni
Bronze
Kincses Tibor Judo, Men's Extra Lightweight 60kg
Bronze
Ozsvár András Judo, Men's Open Class
Bronze
Kovács Edit Women's team fencing foil / vívás tőr csapat
Bronze
Maros Magda Women's team fencing foil / vívás tőr csapat
Bronze
Schwarczenberger Ildikó Women's team fencing foil / vívás tőr csapat
Bronze
Stefanek Gertrúd Women's team fencing foil / vívás tőr csapat
Bronze
Szőcs Zsuzsanna Women's team fencing foil / vívás tőr csapat
Bronze
Kovács István Wrestling Freestyle / szabadfogás 82 kg
Bronze
Seres Ferenc Wrestling Flyweight
Bronze
Váradi János Boxing, Men's Flyweight
Bronze
István Lévai Boxing, Men's Heavyweight
Bronze
Rakusz Éva Canoeing, Women's K2 500m
Bronze
Zakariás Mária Canoeing, Women's K2 500m
Bronze
Verrasztó Zoltán Swimming, Men's 400m Individual Medley
Bronze
György Szalai Weightlifting, Heavyweight
Bronze
Valentin Silaghi (Szilagyi) Boxing, Men's Middleweight Valentin Silaghi (Szilagyi) won bronze competing for Rumania
Bronze
Ştefan Birtalan (Bertalan István) Handball, Men's Team Competition Won bronze competing for Rumania
Bronze
Iosif Boros (Boros József) Handball, Men's Team Competition Competing for Rumania

- Search all 1980 medalists at Magyar Olimpiai Bajnokok (magyarul / in Hungarian)
- Or more stats and results on [Wikipedia]



The United States, and many of its allies, in protest of the soviet invasion on Afghanistan, boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Featured Olympians

Zoltan MagyarMagyar Zoltan:
(b. 12/13/1953, Budapest, Hungary) 33-time Hungarian National Champion...
Magyar began competition and the age of 12 under the tutelage of renowned trainer Vigh Laszlo. He became objectively the premier pommel horse performer in the world from 1973-80. The Hungarian "King of the Pommel Horse" wascrowned with two gold medals and a team bronze in 1980. His famous pommel program became a model which many gymnasts tried to imitate; he has many gymnastics moves named after him. Magyar retired following the '80 Olympics. 

Zoltan MagyarHis impressive record includes:

Olympics:  2 Gold
World Championships:  3 Gold
World Cup:  2 Gold
European Championships:  2 Gold

Emilia EberleEmilia Eberle:
(b. 3/4/1964, Arad, Transylvania)

Gertrud Emilia Eberle is an ethnic Hungarian from Arad. The Rumanians felt "Gertrud" was not ethnic Rumanian-sounding, so she used Emilia in competition. Emilia was also coached by the Karoly's and competed along side Nadia Comaneci under the Rumanian flag. She was expected to take Gold in 1984 after her double-silver performance in 1980, but surgery cut her career short. She defected to Hungary in 1989 and eventually came to the United States where she coaches at Pozsar's Gym in California. See Gymnastic Greats


Karoly Varga Sandor Wladar Baczako Peter  

Norbert Novenyi Ferenc Kocsis Zoltan Vaskuti

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