Seven gold medals in the sabre event secured Aladár Gerevich a place in sporting history, earned across six different Olympic Games. His career spanned 28 years between his first and last Olympic medals, setting a standard for longevity in the sport of fencing that remained unmatched for decades.
Olympic Dominance
Born in Jászberény in 1910, Gerevich represented Hungary throughout his professional career. He achieved the distinction of being the first athlete to win the same Olympic event six times, an accomplishment that persisted despite the cancellation of two Olympic Games due to the Second World War. His performance during the 1960 Rome Olympics trials demonstrated his physical endurance when he challenged and defeated every member of the sabre team after the fencing committee suggested he was too old to compete.
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The pursuit of fencing was a significant component of his household. His wife, Erna Bogen, also known as Erna Bogathy, was an Olympic medalist, as was their son, Pál Gerevich. The tradition extended to his father-in-law, Albert Bogen, who earned a silver medal in team sabre for Austria at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
Post-Competition Career and Recognition
Following his retirement from competitive fencing, Gerevich transitioned to coaching at the Vasas Sports Club located in Budapest. His contributions to the sport were recognized with several honors, including being named an honorary citizen of Jászberény in 1948 and receiving the Silver Olympic Order in 1988. He passed away in Budapest in 1991 and is buried at the Farkasréti Cemetery. In 2003, astronomers Krisztián Sárneczky and Brigitta Sipőcz discovered an asteroid at Piszkéstető Station which was later named 228893 Gerevich in his honor, with the naming citation published by the Minor Planet Center in 2014.
Fast facts
- Born: 1910, Jászberény
- Died: 1991, Budapest
- Sport: Fencing
- Olympic Medals: 7 gold medals in sabre
- Coaching: Vasas Sports Club
- Awards: Honorary citizen of Jászberény (1948)
- Awards: Silver Olympic Order (1988)
- Burial: Farkasréti Cemetery
Questions readers ask
How long was the gap between Gerevich's first and last Olympic medals?
There was a 28-year gap between his first and last Olympic medals.
What did Gerevich do after he retired from competing?
He worked as a fencing coach at the Vasas Sports Club in Budapest.
Achievements
- Silver Olympic Order
- Competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics
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