Béla Békessy

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameBéla•Békessy
Used nameBéla•Békessy
Born16 November 1875 in Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar (HUN)
Died6 July 1916 in Volyn-Podilsk Upland, Volyn (UKR)
AffiliationsMAC, Budapest (HUN)
NOC Hungary
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Béla Bekéssy competed with all three fencing weapons at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, winning a silver medal with his best weapon, the sabre. He was trained by László Borsody and Italo Santelli. Békessy won multiple Hungarian titles between 1901-07, and was also Hungarian dressage champion in 1907.

In World War I Békessy joined the 2nd Hussars Regiment where he served on the Russian Front. For his actions in taking over 200 Russian prisoners-of-war and securing a cache of secret Russian documents he was given the Hungarian Iron Crown for bravery. Shortly after that he was killed in action in Volyn-Podilsk Upland in Ukraine. Békessy is remembered by an annual fencing tournament in his honor in Hungary.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1912 Summer Olympics Fencing HUN Béla Békessy
Foil, Individual, Men (Olympic) 7
Épée, Individual, Men (Olympic) =7 p15 r1/4
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes