Péter Bácsalmási

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Non-starter • Other
SexMale
Full namePéter•Bácsalmási (Skribanek-)
Used namePéter•Bácsalmási
Born16 November 1908 in Bácsalmás, Bács-Kiskun (HUN)
Died20 May 1981 in Budapest, Budapest (HUN)
Measurements188 cm / 84 kg
AffiliationsTFSE, Budapest (HUN) / BEAC, Budapest (HUN)
NOC Hungary

Biography

Péter Bácsalmási achieved remarkable results in 1927 as a BEAC athlete, and a year later as an athlete at the TFSE. He was a quite versatile athlete, as he was successful in triple jump, high jump and pole vault, as well as in discus throwing and shot put. It was no surprise that he achieved his best results in decathlon In 1932 he became a physical education teacher and then returned to compete in the colors of BEAC. He won Hungarian championships twice in triple jump (1931 and 1932) and five times in decathlon (1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1937). In pole vaulting, he improved the national record in 1937, which no Hungarian pole vaulter could break for 11 years. In addition, he set national records in triple jump and decathlon. Between 1932 and 1937 he competed for the Hungarian national team on ten occasions. At the 1932 Summer Olympics, he finished 9th in triple jump and 10th in decathlon. At the 1936 Summer Olympics, he finished 6th in pole vault and 12th in decathlon. At both Games Bácsalmási was the flagbearer of the Hungarian team at the Opening Ceremonies. In addition to athletics, he played basketball for years, and in 1936 he was nominated in the Hungarian team for the Olympics, but in the end the team did not start the Olympics due to financial reasons. As a player and coach, he won a championship with the BEAC in 1942. In 1937, he obtained a doctorate in law from the Pázmány Péter University. He was a member of the Hungarian Athletics Association (MASZ) in the 1940s. After World War II, he was involved in the reorganization of athletic life and college sports. He directed Hungarian preparations for the 1948 Summer Olympics as the executive vice-president of the MASZ. He was involved in the preparation of the Olympic and national teams for many years. Bácsalmási taught at the College of Physical Education (TF) from 1941 onwards. From 1946 to 1954 he was head of department and then deputy director. He became a master trainer in 1953. Between 1958 and 1968 he was again the head of the department. From 1957 he was a member of the government committee set up to reorganize the physical education and sports movement.

Personal Bests: PV – 4.04 (1936); TJ – 14.74 (1931); Dec – 6398 (1932).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Athletics HUN Péter Bácsalmási
Shot Put, Men (Olympic) DNS
1932 Summer Olympics Athletics HUN Péter Bácsalmási
Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) 9
Decathlon, Men (Olympic) 10
1936 Summer Olympics Athletics HUN Péter Bácsalmási
Pole Vault, Men (Olympic) =6
Decathlon, Men (Olympic) 12
Basketball (Basketball) HUN Péter Bácsalmási
Basketball, Men (Olympic) Hungary DNS

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1932 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony HUN Péter Bácsalmási
1936 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony HUN Péter Bácsalmási