Sport Centre 22-05-2007

We are paying our last respects to
Attila Vona

A great loss met both Debrecen and the Hungarian athletics. Attila Vona died on 21st May at his age of fifty-two. Following the afternoon trainings he became unwell at home and the doctors could not help him.

He was born on 5th May, 1955 in Lengyeltóti. He came to Debrecen in 1978 after finishing University of Physical Education. First of all he worked as a full-time trainer, then between 1980 and 1983 he educated children as a P.E. teacher in ‘Újkerti Nevelési Központ’ (Újkerti Educational Centre) and from 1996 at Csokonai Grammar School and from these children a lot of them became student Olympic champions.

Meanwhile, working as a trainer, more and more of his athletes became national champions, selected athletes, place winners of world competitions, Olympic competitors. From them he always emphasized proudly – also in the MEFOB competition on Sunday – the two of his own-educated athletes, Judit Kovács and Ildikó Fekete. But we could list on his other athletes without being exhaustive: György Makó, Zsolt Szendrei, Zsolt Pálfi, Katalin Pálfalvi and from the athletes of today Attila Zsivoczky, Olivér Harsányi, Dóra Győrffy, László Boros.

The trainer profession acknowledged his successful trainer activity and his high-level professional knowledge.

In the county he was chosen to be the athletics trainer of the year the most times, but he also won several times the title of the trainer of the year. In 1995 for his excellent trainer work he received from the Hungarian Athletics Association “For the new generation of the Hungarian athletics” title and in 1998 he received bronze medal of the “For the Hungarian athletics” title.

After the Athens Olympic Games of 2004 and the Helsinki World Championships of 2005, he received an award from the City of Debrecen. In 2006 he received an award of “The most resultful and the most successful trainer of the year” from the Debrecen Sport Service Ltd. – where he reached success with his competitors during last years.
His early death has left a huge void in our lives.

From now his TRAINER position is vacant beside the high-jumper hill…

In the WCh of Helsinki in 2005	With the award of „The most resultful and the most successful trainer of the year” in December 2006	8 October, 2006
Receiving „The most resultful and the most successful trainer of the year” award - 2006	In the closing ceremony of the WCh in Helsinki - 2005	With the bosom friend, dr. István Facskó
8 October, 2006	8 October, 2006	In the Athens Olympic Games
14 May, 2004	Together with Gyula Zsivótzky in 2004	8 October, 2006