Rudolf Kárpáti

Rudolf Kárpáti (born Klein) fenced for BBTE from 1938, Vasas from 1945, and Budapesti Honvéd from 1951 to 1967. Kárpáti won two Hungarian individual titles and four team titles in sabre, plus a team title in sabre.

From 1947 to 1961 Kárpáti represented Hungary in the sabre. He won six Olympic gold medals — four in team events (1948–1960), and two individual (1956, 1960). At the World Championships, he won seven gold, three silver, and two bronze medals. In 1949 he won both individual and team titles at the World College Championships in Budapest. For his achievements he was named Hungary’s Sportsman of the Year in both 1959 and 1960.

After retiring Kárpáti became a key figure in fencing governance. He served on the Hungarian Fencing Association’s board for 30 years and was President of the Budapest Fencing Association from 1977. In 1990 he became honorary president of BBTE. He also served on the FIE’s judging committee. A trained violinist, he graduated in 1942 and studied music history at Pázmány Péter University.

Kárpáti worked at the Hungarian General Credit Bank until 1950, then at the Central Officers’ House until 1986, where he served as artistic director from 1961. He retired as a colonel.

His memoir “Around the World with a “Sword” (1965) and his book “Music” (1962) were both published. He received the IOC Olympic Order in Silver in 1990 and became the first president of the Club of Hungarian Immortals in 1991.