Imre Gedővári (1 July 1951 – 22 May 2014) was a Hungarianfencer and Olympic gold medalist. He won his first World Championship medal, a silver, in 1975 and made his Olympic debut in 1976. He won his first World Championship gold medals in 1978 for team sabre, adding two more in 1981 and 1982. At the 1980 Olympics, he won two bronze medals. At the 1988 Olympics, Gedővári won the decisive match in a come-from-behind gold medal performance for Hungary. He retired from competition after the Olympics as a ten-time national champion. He remained active in sport, working for the Hungarian Fencing Federation and Újpesti TE.
Gedővári was awarded an Order of the Star by Hungary in 1988, and was twice named national fencer of the year. He fenced left-handed and had a tall, slender build.[3]
Careeredit
In 1964, Gedővári joined Újpesti Dózsa. He made his senior debut with the national team in 1974 and won a silver medal at the World Championship in team sabre the following year.[2]
Gedővári made his first Olympics in 1976. In the individual sabre competition, he advanced to the semi-finals where he was eliminated in a tie for seventh place. He accumulated a 17–6 record in the team sabre, but Hungary lost the bronze medal match to Romania, leaving Gedővári without a medal.[1] The following year, he won a bronze in team sabre at the World Championships.[2] In 1978, he won his first World Championship gold medal in the team sabre. He was also selected as national fencer of year.[3]
At the 1980 Summer Olympics, Gedővári advanced past the opening round of the individual sabre with a 4–0 record. He then went 4–1 in the next round and made the finals. He went 3–2 in the finals, winning the bronze medal. In the team competition, he went 11–5 and won a second bronze medal.[1] Hungary followed up the Olympic bronze with back-to-back World Championship wins, netting Gedővári two gold medals. He captured the European Championship in individual sabre in 1981, and the silver in the World Championships that year. In 1982, he won the individual bronze at Worlds.[3]
In 1983, Hungary placed third at the World Championships, earning Gedővári another bronze medal.[2] He was selected as national fencer of the year in 1984, but was unable to represent his country in the Olympics due to Hungary boycotting the Games.[3] He added another bronze medal to his collection in team sabre at the 1985 World Championships.[2]
Perhaps the highlight of Gedővári's career came at the 1988 Summer Olympics. In the team sabre gold medal match, the Soviet Union took an 8–4 lead with four matches to go. Gedővári's teammates won three straight to make it 8–7 with just Gedővári's final match remaining. He fell behind 4–1 early, but fought back to win the bout 5–4. The win gave Hungary the gold medal on points.[3] Gedővári placed 15th in the individual competition that year.[1]
Gedővári retired after the Olympics, later remarking he could have continued physically but was "bored" with competition. Between 1976 and his retirement, he won 10 national titles in sabre.[3] Gedővári was awarded an Order of the Star of the Republic of Hungary, a State Order, in 1988.[2] In 1992, he won the Ferenc Kemény award which is given annual by the Ministry of National Resources in recognition of outstanding teaching and scholarly activity in the sports.[2][4] In 2000, Vasas SC selected him into their honorary "Goldring".[2]
Later lifeedit
After retiring, Gedővári went to Donát Bánki College to get a law degree.[5] He served as the Hungarian Fencing Federation General Secretary from 1989 to 1991, and as president of Újpesti TE from 1991 to 1996.[3] He also spent time teaching fencing to young people and entering cooking contests.[5]
Gedővári died on 22 May 2014, following a prolonged undisclosed illness. He was 62.[2] Teammate and individual Olympic champion Bence Szabó called Gedővári his role model as an athlete and as a person. "It is difficult to accept that we have lost such a valuable person," he said.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcde. sport-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
^ abcdefghij"Elhunyt Gedővári Imre" [Death of Imre Gedővári] (in Hungarian). Hungarian Olympic Committee. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
^ abcdefgh"Meghalt Gedővári Imre olimpiai bajnok" [Olympic champion Imre Gedővári died]. Origo (in Hungarian). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
^"Díjak, kitüntetések tanárok számára" [Awards for teachers]. Tehetseg. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
^ abJochim, Charles (18 August 2013). "Szöul bajnoka, Gedővári Imre: Csongrádi László segítsége számomra elengedhetetlen volt!" [Seoul Champion Imre Gedővári: László Csongrádi's help was essential for me!]. Hungarian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
April 12, 2024
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The native form of this personal name is Gedovari Imre This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals Imre Gedovari 1 July 1951 22 May 2014 was a Hungarian fencer and Olympic gold medalist He won his first World Championship medal a silver in 1975 and made his Olympic debut in 1976 He won his first World Championship gold medals in 1978 for team sabre adding two more in 1981 and 1982 At the 1980 Olympics he won two bronze medals At the 1988 Olympics Gedovari won the decisive match in a come from behind gold medal performance for Hungary He retired from competition after the Olympics as a ten time national champion He remained active in sport working for the Hungarian Fencing Federation and Ujpesti TE Imre GedovariPersonal informationNationalityHungarianBorn 1951 07 01 1 July 1951Budapest Hungarian People s RepublicDied22 May 2014 2014 05 22 aged 62 Height1 90 m 6 ft 3 in 1 Weight87 kg 192 lb 1 SportCountryHungarySportFencingEventSabreClubUjpesti TE 1964 1986 Vasas SC 1986 1988 2 Coached byCsaba Zarandi 2 Medal record Representing HungaryOlympic Games1988 Seoul Team sabre1980 Moscow Individual sabre1980 Moscow Team sabreWorld Championships1978 Hamburg Team sabre1981 Clermont Ferrand Team sabre1982 Rome Team sabre1975 Budapest Team sabre1977 Buenos Aires Team sabre1981 Clermont Ferrand Individual sabre1982 Rome Individual sabre1983 Vienna Team sabre1985 Barcelona Team sabreEuropean Championships1981 Foggi Individual sabreGedovari was awarded an Order of the Star by Hungary in 1988 and was twice named national fencer of the year He fenced left handed and had a tall slender build 3 Career editIn 1964 Gedovari joined Ujpesti Dozsa He made his senior debut with the national team in 1974 and won a silver medal at the World Championship in team sabre the following year 2 Gedovari made his first Olympics in 1976 In the individual sabre competition he advanced to the semi finals where he was eliminated in a tie for seventh place He accumulated a 17 6 record in the team sabre but Hungary lost the bronze medal match to Romania leaving Gedovari without a medal 1 The following year he won a bronze in team sabre at the World Championships 2 In 1978 he won his first World Championship gold medal in the team sabre He was also selected as national fencer of year 3 At the 1980 Summer Olympics Gedovari advanced past the opening round of the individual sabre with a 4 0 record He then went 4 1 in the next round and made the finals He went 3 2 in the finals winning the bronze medal In the team competition he went 11 5 and won a second bronze medal 1 Hungary followed up the Olympic bronze with back to back World Championship wins netting Gedovari two gold medals He captured the European Championship in individual sabre in 1981 and the silver in the World Championships that year In 1982 he won the individual bronze at Worlds 3 In 1983 Hungary placed third at the World Championships earning Gedovari another bronze medal 2 He was selected as national fencer of the year in 1984 but was unable to represent his country in the Olympics due to Hungary boycotting the Games 3 He added another bronze medal to his collection in team sabre at the 1985 World Championships 2 Perhaps the highlight of Gedovari s career came at the 1988 Summer Olympics In the team sabre gold medal match the Soviet Union took an 8 4 lead with four matches to go Gedovari s teammates won three straight to make it 8 7 with just Gedovari s final match remaining He fell behind 4 1 early but fought back to win the bout 5 4 The win gave Hungary the gold medal on points 3 Gedovari placed 15th in the individual competition that year 1 Gedovari retired after the Olympics later remarking he could have continued physically but was bored with competition Between 1976 and his retirement he won 10 national titles in sabre 3 Gedovari was awarded an Order of the Star of the Republic of Hungary a State Order in 1988 2 In 1992 he won the Ferenc Kemeny award which is given annual by the Ministry of National Resources in recognition of outstanding teaching and scholarly activity in the sports 2 4 In 2000 Vasas SC selected him into their honorary Goldring 2 Later life editAfter retiring Gedovari went to Donat Banki College to get a law degree 5 He served as the Hungarian Fencing Federation General Secretary from 1989 to 1991 and as president of Ujpesti TE from 1991 to 1996 3 He also spent time teaching fencing to young people and entering cooking contests 5 Gedovari died on 22 May 2014 following a prolonged undisclosed illness He was 62 2 Teammate and individual Olympic champion Bence Szabo called Gedovari his role model as an athlete and as a person It is difficult to accept that we have lost such a valuable person he said 3 References edit a b c d e Imre Gedovari sport reference com Archived from the original on 17 March 2011 Retrieved 27 February 2010 a b c d e f g h i j Elhunyt Gedovari Imre Death of Imre Gedovari in Hungarian Hungarian Olympic Committee 22 May 2014 Retrieved 23 May 2014 a b c d e f g h Meghalt Gedovari Imre olimpiai bajnok Olympic champion Imre Gedovari died Origo in Hungarian 22 May 2014 Retrieved 23 May 2014 Dijak kituntetesek tanarok szamara Awards for teachers Tehetseg Retrieved 24 May 2014 a b Jochim Charles 18 August 2013 Szoul bajnoka Gedovari Imre Csongradi Laszlo segitsege szamomra elengedhetetlen volt Seoul Champion Imre Gedovari Laszlo Csongradi s help was essential for me Hungarian Olympic Committee Retrieved 24 May 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Imre Gedovari amp oldid 1191357887, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
