Stephen Sisa : The Spirit of Hungary

Sport experts agree that among the many Olympic events, the competition that requires the most diversified skills and the highest degree of stamina is the modern pentathlon. While the decathlon covers only track and field, modern pentathlon athletes must be competitive in five different sports: handicap riding, fencing, shooting, swimming and running - skills that in ancient times were often required of military messengers crossing enemy territory. Even today, the modern pentathlon is considered a martial sport, its competitors recruited mainly from among members of the military.

A look at the statistics of the Olympic Games and world championships reveals that for decades the Hungarians have invariably placed either first, second or third in the modern pentathlon both in individual and team competitions, often ahead of the Soviet Union and the United States.

As remarkable as these victories are, Hungary's overall record in the Olympics during the past five decades is even more so, considering her size.

During the 1932 Olympic Games held in Amsterdam, Hungary won only five gold medals and five silver ones. Four years later in Berlin, she surprised the world by winning ten gold medals and placing third among the world's nations in team standing, with only Germany and the United States ahead of her. The most stunning among Hungarian triumphs was Ferenc Csik's victory in the 100 meter free-style swimming competition.

In London in 1948, despite having lost a war, and suffering Russian devastation, the Magyars again won ten gold, six silver and thirteen bronze medals, finishing fifth in over-all point standing.

Hungarian achievements in Olympic competition soared to their zenith in Helsinki in 1952 when she won sixteen gold, ten silver and seventeen bronze medals, taking third place one more time with only the United States and the Soviet Union ahead of her.

In the gloriously tragic year of 1956, with the wounds of Russia's crushing defeat of the Revolution still fresh, Hungary managed to win nine gold, ten silver and eight bronze medals, finishing fourth in over-all Olympic standing behind only the United States, the Soviet Union and Germany. The most dramatic event of those games, which that year were held in Melbourne, was the water polo final in which Hungary faced the Soviet Union. The battle, fought both above the water and under it, was so brutal that the pool turned red from the blood of the injuries the players inflicted upon each other - but the score was wildly cheered by the millions who viewed the event either in the stands or on global television: Hungary 5, the Soviet Union 2. No victory was welcomed by the free world with more enthusiasm than this one.

In the ensuing years, Hungary's record diminished somewhat, though what for Hungary might be a decline would still be considered outstanding for many larger nations. (In the Games held in Mexico in 1968, however, Hungary again placed third in over-all point standing behind the United States and the Soviet Union.) In the Olympic Games held in Rome in 1960, in Tokyo in 1964, in Mexico in 1968, in Munich in 1972, in Montreal in 1976 and in Moscow in 1980, Hungary won a total of 42 gold, 50 silver and 62 bronze medals. In the Moscow Olympics, Hungary finished fourth with 32 medals, ahead of England, Italy and France.

In the history of the Olympics Hungary won more medals (331) than Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Yugoslavia combined (262).

In soccer, the world's most popular sport, Hungary won three Olympic gold medals. The Hungarian National Team ("the golden team") achieved legendary fame between 1950 and 1954, remaining undefeated for four years. (Out of 34 matches played, 31 were won and 3 were draws).

Hungary's team won its most spectacular victory on November 25, 1953, against England in a match heralded as "the soccer game of the century" by defeating the English team on its home turf. For the English, it was a day of "national mourning." In May 1954, when England's team went to Budapest for a rematch, Hungary crushed them 7-1.

According to soccer fans, the most brilliant and beautiful game ever played in the history of soccer was the match between Hungary and Brazil in Bern in 1954, the scene of the World Cup finals. Hungary in a dazzling display of soccer artistry, left 70,000 spectators and the world's sportscasters gasping as it defeated Brazil 4-2. In these years Hungary's "golden team" was led to victory after victory by Ferenc Puskás, while the star of Brazil's national team was Pele.

Statistically, however, Hungary's greatest success has been not in the modern pentathlon, not in soccer, but in fencing. The list of all time individual winners is headed by Aladár Gerevich, who won four individual and 16 team gold medals, followed by Pál Kovács, Rudolf Kárpáti, Ilona Elek, Endre Kabos and György Pillér, each of whom almost matched the number of medals won by Gerevich.

Hungary's third most successful Olympic sport is gymnastics, in which the Hungarians won 12 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals. The most successful Hungarian gymnast was Zoltán Magyar who won gold medals in the side horse event in three consecutive Olympics.

László Papp, a middle weight boxer, also won three consecutive gold medals, being the best Hungarian pugilist of all time, and who is now coaching a new generation of boxers in his homeland.

The uncrowned king of the modern pentathlon was András Balczó, now retired, whose highly patriotic autobiography has become a bestseller in Hungary.

Apart from Hungarians in Hungary, there exists a hidden reservoir of ethnic Magyar champions who compete under the flags of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Rumania. Since their backgrounds are unknown to the world, these athletes enhance the prestige of their respective countries and not that of Hungary.

One such ethnic Hungarian, for example is Ecaterina Szabó (Kati Szabó) who triumphed in the 1984 Olympics, held in Los Angeles as a "Rumanian" woman gymnast. Another is Béla Károlyi, who had coached Nadia Comenici, the "miracle gymnast" for the Moscow Olympics held in 1980, Károlyi, after defecting from Transylvania to the United States in 1981, then coached Mary Lou Retton, who became a multiple gold medalist and America's sweetheart in the 1984 Olympics.

Daniela Silivas (Szilvás) a triple gold medalist in women's gymnastics for Rumania in the Seoul Olympics of 1988, is also of Magyar origin along with Noemi Ildikó Lung, who won a bronze medal for Rumania in the 200 m. individual swimming event.

The Seoul Olympics also brought renewed glory for Hungary's olympic team, which won 11 gold medals in swimming, modern pentathlon, gymnastics, fencing, canoeing and wrestling. In addition the Hungarians won six silver and six bronze medals in various event, placing sixth in the unofficial standing among all competing nations.

Two Magyar swimmers earned special acclaim: Tamás Darnyi, 21, and a half-blind, became the best all-around swimmer in the world by winning the tough 200 m and 400 m medleys in world record times. His teammate, Krisztina Egerszegi became the youngest Olympic champion ever. Little Krisztina, 14 years old, and weighing just 90 pounds stunned spectators when she churned to victory in the 200 meter backstroke event in an upset win over two heavily favored East German women, after having won a silver medal in the 100 meter backstroke the day before.

In modern pentathlon, the most mentally and physically demanding of all Olympic sports, the Hungarians beat the Soviet Union in both the team and individual competitions for the gold.

In fencing the Hungarian team again topped the Soviet Union for the gold medal in sabre, after coming from behind dramatically to win the last boot of the meet.

The year 1988 also saw an extraordinary triumph for Hungarians in the mental sport of chess during the Chess Olympics held in Athens. Pitted against the seasoned Russian women's team, the forbidding defending champions for decades, the Hungarian team, consisting of a quartet of child prodigies, Judit Polgár, 10, Szófia Polgár, 12, Zsuzsi Polgár, I?, and Ildikó Mádi, successfully dethroned their Soviet opponents and won the gold medal.

'This feat has become the greatest sensation in the history of international women's chess competition.

Striking Gold, Silver or Bronze Nations that have won 100 or more Summer Olympic medals

Source The Complete Book of the Olympics

*East German and West German Olympic teams beginning with the 1956 Games

Stephen Sisa : The Spirit of Hungary