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Hungarians in the Olympics
1984, Los Angeles

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Highlights

Gymnast Ecaterina Szabo wins 4 Gold Medals for Rumania!
 Volleyball Legend Karch Kiraly wins first of 3 Golds!

Gold Medalists:

Ecaterina Szabo, Gymnastics: All Around Team -  competing for Rumania
Ecaterina Szabo, Gymnastics: Balance Beam - competing for Rumania
Ecaterina Szabo, Gymnastics: Floor Exercise - competing for Rumania
Ecaterina Szabo, Gymnastics: Horse Vault - competing for Rumania 
Charles "Karch" Kiraly: Volleyball  - competing for USA 


Ecaterina Szabo: An ethnic Hungarian from Transylvania, Szabo knew not a word of Romanian prior to starting gymnastics. Coached by fellow Transylvanian-Hungarian legends Bela and Marta Karoly, she was known as the "next Nadia." Read more about Ecaterina (Szabó Katalin) - See Gymnastic Greats

 

Emilia 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

In retaliation for America's boycott of the Moscow Olympics, Hungary bowed to Soviet pressure, and did not participate in Los Angeles. However, there was still Hungarian Gold!

Featured Olympian, Karch Kiraly:
(b. 11/3/1960, Jackson, Michigan, USA, d. )

The greatest volleyballer ever...
Charles Frederick "Karch" Kiraly (prounounced "Kuh-rye") of the United States is regarded by many as the greatest volleyballer ever. He learned the game from his father, a Hungarian doctor who had played the sport in his native country, and on the beaches of California, where Kiraly grew up. In 1986, the FIVB declared him the top player in the world, the first time that distinction had been given. He won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, 1985 World Cup, 1986 World Championships, and 1987 Pan-American Games. He played at UCLA in college, where he led them to three NCAA championships and was twice named most valuable player of the NCAA Tournament. Playing professionally in Italy, he helped Il Messaggero win the 1991 World Club Championship. Later a star at beach volleyball, he was the leading money winner and top player at that sport for most of the early 1990s. At Atlanta in 1996, Kiraly partnered Kent Steffes to win the inaugural Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball. He did not compete at the 2000 Olympics, but continues to compete on the beach volleyball circuit. 

Olympic medals: Gold: 3
World Championships: Gold: 1 (1986)
Pan American Games: Gold: 1 (1987)

- See the International Olympic Committee's Heroes or
- See The Hungary Page's own Sports section

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