Yes. Yes they do.
Since 1900, Hungarian fencers have taken home 35 Gold, 22 Silver, and 26 Bronze medals from Olympic Games. The country of 10 million has also hosted eight World Championships, only surpassed by France who has hosted nine. Per an official Wikipedia tally for wins since 1937, Hungary’s 268 World Championship medals in sabre, foil, and epée—90 Gold, 84 Silver, 94 Bronze—is second only to Italy. And yet, there are 20 additional wins listed separately for Hungary prior to 1937 as well.
France and Italy are still today hailed as top fencing countries, but for a country as small as Hungary to consistently dominate the way it has is truly remarkable. Famous names include six-time Gold Olympian Aladár Gerevich (sabre) and Ilona Elek (foil) who claimed more international titles than any other female fencer, including two Olympic Golds and three World Championship Golds (individual).
Fencing is also a sport that seems to defy age. Elek last competed in the Olympics at the age of 45, missing the Gold by one point. Gerevich was 50 when he missed the 1960 Olympic finals by one point. Ime Géza is a three-time Olympic medalist in epée and 2015 World Champion. Géza ironically lost the 2016 Olympic Gold at the age of 41 to a 20-year-old South Korean, who became the youngest-ever Gold medal winner in epée in more than 100 years.
Today, Hungary is home to sabre great, Áron Szilágyi, who has taken home two Olympic Golds and foil fencer Aida Mohamed, who was European Champion in 2007 and has competed in no less than six Olympics, including Brazil 2016 at the age of 40.
Hungary even consistently medals in paralympic fencing, with, for example, Zsuzsanna Krajnyák taking home multiple Golds and Silvers over the years.
All in all, fencing has well earned a spot in Hungary’s national identity. It has also earned a stellar reputation internationally not only for its champions but for its impeccable training as well.
Here below, you can find a video compilation of some fencers at a recent competition in Budapest this January.
Since 1900, Hungarian fencers have taken home 35 Gold, 22 Silver, and 26 Bronze medals from Olympic Games. The country of 10 million has also hosted eight World Championships, only surpassed by France who has hosted nine. Per an official Wikipedia tally for wins since 1937, Hungary’s 268 World Championship medals in sabre, foil, and epée—90 Gold, 84 Silver, 94 Bronze—is second only to Italy. And yet, there are 20 additional wins listed separately for Hungary prior to 1937 as well.
France and Italy are still today hailed as top fencing countries, but for a country as small as Hungary to consistently dominate the way it has is truly remarkable. Famous names include six-time Gold Olympian Aladár Gerevich (sabre) and Ilona Elek (foil) who claimed more international titles than any other female fencer, including two Olympic Golds and three World Championship Golds (individual).
Fencing is also a sport that seems to defy age. Elek last competed in the Olympics at the age of 45, missing the Gold by one point. Gerevich was 50 when he missed the 1960 Olympic finals by one point. Ime Géza is a three-time Olympic medalist in epée and 2015 World Champion. Géza ironically lost the 2016 Olympic Gold at the age of 41 to a 20-year-old South Korean, who became the youngest-ever Gold medal winner in epée in more than 100 years.
Today, Hungary is home to sabre great, Áron Szilágyi, who has taken home two Olympic Golds and foil fencer Aida Mohamed, who was European Champion in 2007 and has competed in no less than six Olympics, including Brazil 2016 at the age of 40.
Hungary even consistently medals in paralympic fencing, with, for example, Zsuzsanna Krajnyák taking home multiple Golds and Silvers over the years.
All in all, fencing has well earned a spot in Hungary’s national identity. It has also earned a stellar reputation internationally not only for its champions but for its impeccable training as well.
Here below, you can find a video compilation of some fencers at a recent competition in Budapest this January.
