NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 In last issue of Science of Gymnastics Journal we introduced new book from Istvan Karacsony 130 Years of Hungarian Gymnastics Federation. As book is completely written in Hungarian langugae, Istvan prepared for our readers very short main content from the book. HISTORY OF THE 130 YEARS OLD HUNGARIAN GYMNASTICS Till the Foundation of the Hungarian gymnastics Federation In the Anjou area from 1300 to 1380 the very popular tournaments show some specific gymnastic movement. Foreign tutors came to Hungary thought sport principles according to the Romans to the youth. The famous Czech pedagogue Comenius Amos who lived in Hungary in his work the Orbis Pictus suggested that playing grounds and playing time is needed for the youth. The system developed by the German Guts-Muts and Jahn had a great influence in Hungary. We have to mention the exquisite Swiss pedagogue Pestalozzi and the Swedish Henrik Ling and his sons; their work had great influence on the Hungarian gymnastic system. The aim of gymnastics in these times was to entertain the public. In the autumn of 1830 in Budapest and exercising Institute was founded but it's served only for the gymnastics of children after two decades it closed its doors. In 1883 a magazine for the gymnastics was started called "Tornaugy" which was a monthly issue. In 1863 the national gymnastics Society was founded It was the ancestor of the Hungarian gymnastics Federation. This was the real Foundation of the Hungarian gymnastics Sport and following it gymnastics clubs were founded in several cities. Figure 1. The national gymnastics Society started Seminars for the Education of the gymnastic teachers in 1870. During the next few years they featured more than 800 certified gymnastic teacher and they could take the Lead of the gymnastics clubs Baron Joseph Eotvos the minister of education wrote a public education Act in 1868 which made the physical education obligatory in every Hungarian School. In 1870 Emerged the week for the gymnastic clubs to have acorn Federation which real move the gymnastics education Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 forward in Hungary. On the 28th of June in 1885 the Hungarian gymnastics showed publicly at the first time. Figure 2. On the 29th of June in 1885 the Hungarian gymnastics federation was founded. The first president was Sandor Hegedus, an excellent gymnast In the following years more and more clubs joined the Federation and so in 1891 it has 44 members. According to the rules of the Federation in every three year a new president of board was elected. The year of 1896 was the millennium of the state foundation in Hungary the national gymnastics celebration was held in such a way that it suited in the National celebration. First time at the Olympics In 1896 at the first modern Olympic Games the Hungarian men's gymnastics team participated at the competition in Athene among the 13 Nations. Figure 3. The Hungarian team finished at the seventh place. In 1898 the Hungarian gymnastics federation became a member of the international Gymnastics Federation it was cold in the day is European gymnastics Federation. The members of the gymnastics clubs made other sports as well for example athletics fencing swimming skating. Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 Figure 4. The first logo of the Hungarian gymnastics Federation 5. The team pommel horse of the Hungarian team the Olympics in Figure routine participating at Stockholm in 1912. From the losses of the world war to the first Olympic gold medal During the First World War the equipment of the gymnastics was greatly damaged because the most of the gymnastics holes was used to military purposes Only the walls and the enthusiasm of some self-sacrificing professional remained. After 1914 national championships could not be organized. From 1920 Mr. Janos Kmetyko and Rezso Babel started to organize the Hungarian gymnastics and the national team. The biggest gymnastics clubs held gymnastics shows. The greatest event of 1925 was the foundation and opening of the Hungarian Physical Education University. Later the deservedly world famous university became the central of the education of the physical education teachers and professionals Figure 6. The logo of the University Physical Education Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 Figure 7. Amsterdam Hungarian men's gymnastics national team The gymnasts had to make oath to the president of the Federation, that they will participate at the training, live a sportsmanlike life and obey the rules. In the last three months before the Olympics there were trials, where the best 8 gymnast was selected to represent Hungary. In 1930 won the world championships in Luxembourg Mr. Istvan Pelle with the maximum points one the world champion title. To develop gymnastics in the country the Federation issued regional organizational rules, and wrote out the individual and team National championship for women. In this year the number of the men's gymnast was nearing 700 and for the women's almost 300. With the modification of the qualification of the gymnasts and the enlargement of the competition program the federation could develop the gymnastics further in Hungary According to the traditions almost every gymnastic club organized its own gymnastic show and so they could prove the professional work in the club As for the military gymnastics, the army organized its own closed gymnastic competition where soldiers represented in a great number. Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 Figure 8. The year of 1932 brought the greatest success in the Hungarian gymnastics. At the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Istvan Pelle won the first gold medal for Hungarian gymnastics in the Olympic Games. Figure 9. Istvan Pelle the 1st Hungarian Olympic gold medalist on the pommel horse Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 The public welcomes the gymnasts return from the Olympic Games with great enthusiasm in Budapest. The governor of Hungary Also awarded Istvan Pelle for his success. Hungary organizes its first World Championship In 1934 Hungary applied for the organization of the word championship and won. At the FIG congress, held before the championship, Mr Janos Krizmanics was elected to the technical committee. He was the member of the committee till 1938, and was the first Official in the FIG from Hungary. Figure 10. Session of the Hungarian Parliament Accepting the proposal of the judges commission the Federation allowed two write the most important rules in the code of points, and with this make the work of the judges easier. The code of points said that everyone have to participate at the judges course before becoming a judge. The strict rules said that the judge must be minimum 26 years old and demanded at least four years activities in gymnastic. The Hungarian gymnastics federation had 45 first and 33 second category judges. The delegation of the judges for each competition was decided at the session of the judges committee. 1934 was the year of the world championships. The competition was held at the BESZKART field where 13 Nations represented themselves with their best gymnast. Awarding ceremony of the women's team competition on the second place Hungary Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 Figure 11. The organizing committe of the world championships in Budapest in 1934 In 1935 the Hungarian gymnastics federation celebrated the 50th anniversary of its existence, with the 13th National gymnastic show. At the celebration prince Joseph Franz also made his appearance. In his speech in front of the General Assembly he remembered from the last 50 years the struggle and the glory. At the Olympic Games in 1936 in Berlin the achievement of the men gymnasts was far from the expectations. At this Olympic Games at the first time the women's artistic gymnastics was in the program. The national team from Hungary finished on the 3rd place which was a pleasant surprise. Awarding ceremony of the women's team competition, on the third place Hungary "The Hungarian women's team made such a good impression with its appearance; they gained such a big applause, similar of the one, gained by the hosting German Federation. And after the exercise of the 8th slight figure in bone colored uniforms the big ovation could be heard again. The routine of the Hungarian girls was difficult and womanly. After the balance beam routines 20000 people clapped their hands for long minutes." Figure 12. First time at the Olympics the Hungarian women's team reached bronze medal Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 A new start and it's not bad In 1945 the gymnastic live slowly revived in Budapest and in the country. The government founded the Olympic training camp in Tata, which was the Central preparation camp for many Olympics and world championships. After the Second World War, the first Olympic Games were held in London, in 1948. It was a big success for the Hungarian gymnastics. A gold medal for Ferenc Pataki, second place for the women's team and third plays for the men's team. The original element from Ferenc Pataki, stretched salto backward to standing scale, was an unique movement, nobody else could do that. Men's team: 3. Hungary Women's team: 3. Hungary f a Hft Figure 12. Individual championship was held only by the men. Ferenc Pataki won Olympic championship in the floor exercise. Figure 13. Big success in the sport diplomacy. Mrs. Rudolf Herpich was elected to the FIG women's technical committee. She represented the Hungarian gymnastics from 1948-72 as a member later as the president of the committee. The multilingual Sport diplomat participated at 11 Olympics. The national team prepared for the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games in the training camp in Tata. At this time the trainings were outdoor. The Olympic champion title was shared by the Soviet and Hungarian gymnast. Here was individual competition for the women's at the first time. The Swinging ring was cancelled from the program instead of it, the women exercised on the uneven bars. Margit Korondi won the first Hungarian gold medal in Helsinki on the uneven bars. The women's team won silver medal in Helsinki as well as in London. Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 Figure 14. Margit Korondi won the first Hungarian gold medal in Helsinki on the uneven bars The first word championship for university students without track and field events in the program was organized In 1954 in Budapest. The Hungarian teams both men and women won the first place. Figure15. In 1954 in Rome at the world championships the women's combined exercise team won the first place. Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 This year in October was the Revolution in Hungary. The civil war demanded many victims and caused troubles in the preparation of the athletes. Figure 16. In 1956 at the Olympic in Melbourne the combined exercise team from Hungary won gold medal. Agnes Keleti became Olympic champion on the uneven bars on the balance Beam and in floor exercise. The Olympic champion combined exercise team from Hungary: Olga Tass, Agnes Keleti, Margit Korondi, Andrea Bodo, Alice Kertesz, Erzsebet Gyulyasne Koteles. Among many other athletes four women and one man gymnast did not return to Hungary. The five time Olympic champion Agnes Keleti migrated to Israel where she worked as coach and later as sports leader of the Israeli gymnastics. Margit Korondi and Andrea Bodo migrated to the USA. Hungarian Olympic, World and European Champions Olympic Champions World Champions European Champions Champion City Discipline Champion City Discipline Champion City Discipline Pelle István 1932. Los Angeles Floor Pelle István 1930. Luxemburg High Bar Magyar Zoltán 1973. Grenoble Pommel Horse Pelle István 1932. Los Angeles Pommel Horse Women Team 1954. Róma Team Combined Ex. Magyar Zoltán 1975. Bern Pommel Horse Pataki Ferenc 1948. London Floor Keleti Ágnes 1954. Róma Uneven bar Magyar Zoltán 1977. Vilnius Pommel Horse Korondi Margit 1952. Helsinki Uneven Bars Magyar Zoltán 1974. Várna Pommel Horse Guczoghy György 1979. Essen Pommel Horse Keleti Ágnes 1952. Helsinki Floor Magyar Zoltán 1978. Strassbourg Pommel Horse Guczoghy György 1981. Róma Pommel Horse Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal NEW BOOKS / NOVE KNJIGE Vol. 10 Issue 2: 340 - 351 Women Team Kertesz, Koteles, Korondi, Bodo, Keleti, Tass 1956. Melbourne Team Combined Ex. Magyar Zoltán 1979. Fort Worth Pommel Horse Guczoghy Gyorgy 1983. Várna Pommel Horse Keleti Agnes 1956. Melbourne Uneven Bars Borkai Zsolt 1987. Rotterdam Pommel Horse Borkai Zsolt 1985. Oslo High Bar Keleti Agnes 1956. Melbourne Beam Ónodi Henrietta 1992. Parizs Pommel Horse Ónodi Henrietta 1989. Brüsszel Uneven Bars Keleti Agnes 1956. Melbourne Floor Csollány Sz. 2005. Debrecen Rings Supola Zoltán 1992. Budapest P.Bars Magyar Zoltan 1976. Montreal Pommel Horse Berki Krisztián 2010. Rotterdam Pommel Horse Varga Adrien 1998.Saint-Petersburg Vault Magyar Zoltan 1980. Moszkva Pommel Horse Berki Krisztián 2011. Tokio Pommel Horse Csollány Szilveszter 1998.Saint-Petersburg Rings Borkai Zsolt 1988. Szoul Pommel Horse Berki Krisztián 2014. Nanning Pommel Horse Berki Krisztián 2005. Debrecen Pommel Horse Onodi Henrietta 1992. Barcelona Vault Berki Krisztián 2007. Amszterdam Pommel Horse Csollany Sz. 2000. Sydney Rings Berki Krisztián 2008. Lausanne Pommel Horse Berki Krisztian 2012. London Pommel Horse Berki Krisztián 2009. Miláno Pommel Horse Berki Krisztián 2011. Berlin Pommel Horse Berki Krisztián 2012. Montpellier Pommel Horse More info: Dr. Istvan Karacsony FIG Honorary Member 1165 Budapest Prodam u. 12 HUNGARY MOB:+36 30 74 74 058 e-mail: istvan.karacson@gmail.com Science of Gymnastics Journal 340 Science of Gymnastics Journal