Sport Centre
02-10-2007

The Great Hammer Thrower departed

The Hungarian and the universal sports world is in mourning as Gyula Zsivótzky, the Olympic champion hammer thrower, the best Hungarian athlete of the 20th century died on Saturday after a several-month-long serious disease. He lived 70 years.

It can be stated without exaggeration that such a Hungarian sportsman departed from this life again who was loved and respected all over the world and who was more than a simple Olympic champion. The result-list of Gyula Zsivótzky is fascinating; among others, it comprises an Olympic champion title, two Olympic silver medals, a European champion gold medal, and in series thirteen Hungarian champion titles between 1958 and 1970.

Though, however surprising it is, Uncle Gyula was nevertheless the proudest mainly of the fact that he beat two world records during his competitor career from which one was achieved in Debrecen. In the athletics field of University of Debrecen he broke the world record from 71,26 meters to 73,74 meters on 4th September, 1965 and since then this record-cut has been the greatest development in the history of this sport event.  

That time he was over two Olympic silver medals, an almost fatal illness but doing well both as human and sportsman greatness, in 1968 in the Olympic Games of Mexico City he reached his deeply wished aim and he could stand onto the highest step of the Olympic podium. He finished active competition with a fifth place reached in 1972 in Munich Olympic Games.

However he never left sports and athletics for any moment. He took teacher’s degree in 1973 at College of Physical Education, he held the office of vice-president post of Hungarian Athletics Association since 1999 and recently he acted well as a presidency member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. Otherwise the so-termed ’ Debrecen period’ of Gyula Zsivótzky can also be counted exactly from 1999 because he had considerable sport diplomacy role in the fact that Debrecen received the right of organisation of World Youth Championships in Athletics of 2001.

After the Olympic Games of year 2000, Debrecen Sport Centre signed on his younger son, Attila, who has already had a junior world champion title as well that time, therefore the legendary hammer thrower got into closer connection with Debrecen. He served the athletic life of ‘Hajdúság’ first of all as an adviser and then as a full-time trainer. The local sport managers could scarcely have such requests in which Uncle Gyula would not have helped. His relations and reputation opened a large number of doors. He had a key role during the candidacy of World Road Running Championships of 2006 and European Athletics U23 Championships of 2007 and besides it he coordinated the trainings of his son, who has become a world star meanwhile – Attila Zsivoczky has already gained world championships bronze medal and European champion silver medal.

With his results Gyula Zsivótzky earned the titles of the best Hungarian athlete of the 20th century and even the Athlete of the Nation. His great dream was to see also his son on the top of the Olympic podium, but now he can follow the contests of the decathletes only from the heaven….

Uncle Gyula, rest in peace!

Debrecen ( B. R.)