“Hungary has been very successful in the past 24 summer Olympic Games and we want to be well represented in London,” a source told Budapest report. Based on per capita achievements Hungary is probably the world’s most successful Olympic games participant, he said adding that modern athletes are following the legacy of the very first Olympic swimming champion and Hungary’s first modern Olympic champion Alfred Hajos (pictured, in Athens in 1896).

In the summer Olympic Games Hungary is currently ranked 8th, while in both the winter and summer rankings places Hungary in 10th place overall. Based on Olympic statistics Hungarian athletes have since 1896 achieved 465 Olympic medals in total.

Of these there were 159 gold, 141 silver and 159 bronze medals. Since the winter Olympics were introduced Hungary also achieved 2 silver and 4 bronze medals. Hungary’s strongest disciplines have so far been fencing, boxing and the various water sports. Most of Hungary’s ailing sports facilities are under-funded by the government despite the fact that a 1990 sports law obliges the state to provide suitable funding and conditions for its athletes and educational institutions.

Hungarian achievements in Summer Olympic (1896-2008)

Discipline Gold Silver Bronze Total
Boxing 10 2 8 20
Equestrian - – 1 1
Fencing 34 22 26 82
Gymnastics 14 11 14 39
Judo 1 2 4 7
Kayak & Canoe 19 27 25 71
Pentathlon 9 8 4 21
Rowing – 1 2 3
Shooting 7 3 7 17
Soccer 3 1 1 5
Sport Art 1 2 1 4
Swimming 23 23 17 63
Handball - 1 2 3
Tennis - – 1 1
Track & Field 9 12 17 38
Water Polo 9 3 3 15
Weightlifting 2 9 9 20
Wrestling 19 15 17 51
Yachting – – 1 1 .
Total 160 142 160 462

By Tamas S. Kiss, published on XpatLoop.com with the permission of BudapestReport.com