Ilona Elek
Encyclopedia
Ilona Elek, known also as Ilona Elek-Schacherer (née
"Schacherer," May 17, 1907 in Budapest
, Hungary – July 24, 1988 in Budapest) was a Hungarian Olympic
fencer. Elek won more international fencing titles than any other woman.
In the 1937 Championship in Paris, France, Elek came in second to Helene Mayer
.
Elek's first Olympic competition was at the 1936 Summer Olympics
in Berlin, Germany, at the age of 29. She won the gold medal for the foil event, becoming the first Hungarian woman to win an Olympic gold. In the process, Elek who was Jewish, defeated a German Jew
, Helene Mayer
, who was one of only two Jews allowed to compete for Germany by the Nazis. The bronze medal went to Ellen Preis
, an Austrian
Jew.
There were no Games in 1940 or 1944 during World War II
.
When the Games resumed after World War II
, at age 41 she repeated her performance as Olympic champion by winning a gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London, England. It marked the 5th Olympics in a row where a Jewish woman had won the gold medal in foil. She became one of only two women to repeat as champions in 1948. Her sister, Margit Elek
, placed 6th at the London Games. Ellen Preis again won the bronze medal.
Elek went on, at the age of 45, to win the silver medal at the 1952 Helsinki
Games. She appeared the be headed for a 3rd consecutive gold medal, after winning her first 20 bouts and then the first 5 in the final pool. However, she lost the next match to Maxine Mitchell
, and then two consecutive 4-3 matches to Irene Camber
of Italy, the second of which was for the gold medal.
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
"Schacherer," May 17, 1907 in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary – July 24, 1988 in Budapest) was a Hungarian Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
fencer. Elek won more international fencing titles than any other woman.
Fencing career
Elek competed for Hungary in three Olympiads, winning three medals. She is considered one of the greatest female fencers in the sport's history.Hungarian National Championships
Elek was the Hungarian foil champion in 1946–47, 1949–50, and 1952.World Championships
Elek was very successful at the World Championships, capturing the gold medal in women's foil in 1934, 1935, and 1951 (at the age of 44). She also won the silver medal in 1937 and 1954, and the bronze in 1955.In the 1937 Championship in Paris, France, Elek came in second to Helene Mayer
Helene Mayer
Helene Mayer was a world champion Olympic fencer who competed for Nazi Germany in the 1936 Summer Olympics, despite having been forced to leave Germany and resettle in the United States because she was of Jewish family background.She was Jewish, and was born in Offenbach am Main.-Fencing...
.
Olympics
Elek was the first woman to win two Olympic gold medals in the individual foil competition.Elek's first Olympic competition was at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin, Germany, at the age of 29. She won the gold medal for the foil event, becoming the first Hungarian woman to win an Olympic gold. In the process, Elek who was Jewish, defeated a German Jew
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Helene Mayer
Helene Mayer
Helene Mayer was a world champion Olympic fencer who competed for Nazi Germany in the 1936 Summer Olympics, despite having been forced to leave Germany and resettle in the United States because she was of Jewish family background.She was Jewish, and was born in Offenbach am Main.-Fencing...
, who was one of only two Jews allowed to compete for Germany by the Nazis. The bronze medal went to Ellen Preis
Ellen Preis
Ellen Müller-Preis, née Preis, was an Austrian foil fencer. She was born in Berlin, Germany.In 1949, she was named Austrian female athlete of the year.-Fencing career:...
, an Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
Jew.
There were no Games in 1940 or 1944 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
When the Games resumed after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, at age 41 she repeated her performance as Olympic champion by winning a gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London, England. It marked the 5th Olympics in a row where a Jewish woman had won the gold medal in foil. She became one of only two women to repeat as champions in 1948. Her sister, Margit Elek
Margit Elek
Margit Elek was a Hungarian fencer. She competed in the women's individual foil events at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics.-References:...
, placed 6th at the London Games. Ellen Preis again won the bronze medal.
Elek went on, at the age of 45, to win the silver medal at the 1952 Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Games. She appeared the be headed for a 3rd consecutive gold medal, after winning her first 20 bouts and then the first 5 in the final pool. However, she lost the next match to Maxine Mitchell
Maxine Mitchell
Maxine Mitchell was an American fencer. She competed in the women's individual foil event at four Olympic Games.-References:...
, and then two consecutive 4-3 matches to Irene Camber
Irene Camber
Irene Camber is an Italian fencer and olympic champion in foil competition.She received a gold medal in the foil at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome she received a bronze medal in foil team.-References:...
of Italy, the second of which was for the gold medal.