Lajos Szentgáli

After World War II, at the urging of his father, Lajos Szentgáli went to the KAOE athletics recruitment centre where his talent was immediately spotted and a few weeks later he was competing as a youth national team athlete. After the dissolution of KAOE, Szentgáli was an athlete for Újpest from 1948 until the end of his career. He began his athletics career in the 200 and 400 metres. He appeared in the national team several times in the latter distance but failed to win a championship. Shortly before the European Championships in Bern, he switched to the 800 metres where his endurance and ultimate speed were excellent. At the end of his career he also tried out the 1,500 metres. He won the Hungarian championship seven times individually and four times in the relay, and set two national records. His 800 metres record, set at the 1954 European Championships in Bern, was only broken 26 years later.

Szentgáli was a member of the national team from 1950 to 1962. He was a member of the 4 x 400 metres relay team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, while at the following Games he competed in the 800 metres. In 1954 he won gold in the 800 metres at the Budapest World College Championships and the Bern European Championships, the latter with a national record. He won the European Championships before the Hungarian Championships.

After his retirement in 1962 Szentgáli coached for a while then served in the Ministry of the Interior. A retired police lieutenant colonel, he taught at the Police Officers’ College and worked in the ministry.

Personal Bests: 400 – 48.0 (1955); 800 – 1:47.1 (1954).