István Major
Encyclopedia
István Major is a retired Hungarian
high jump
er. He won four medals at the European Indoor Championships
between 1971 and 1974, as well as a two silver medals at the Universiade
. His best Olympic performance was a sixth place in 1972.
. His first international achievement was the fifth place at the 1969 European Championships
. His first victory came at the 1971 European Indoor Championships
in Sofia
. All three medalists jumped 2.17, but Major won on countback. In the summer that year he finished fourth at the 1971 European Championships
.
He then defended the gold medal at the 1972 European Indoor Championships
in Grenoble
. His winning result of 2.24 metres was a new championships record, and also his career best jump. In the same year he competed at the Olympic Games
, tying for sixth place overall. At the 1973 European Indoor Championships
he won his third gold medal in a row, this time with 2.20 metres. In the summer he won a silver medal at the Universiade
in Moscow
. With a jump of 2.18 metres he equalled the winning result of Vladimír Malý, however Major lost on countback. At the 1974 European Indoor Championships
he again jumped 2.20 metres, but this time it was only enough for a silver medal behind Soviet's Kęstutis Šapka
. At the 1974 European Championships
he took his second fourth place in a row, losing the bronze medal to Vladimír Malý on countback.
At the 1975 European Indoor Championships
, Major only managed an eighth place, jumping 2.16 metres. In the summer he did win his second silver medal at the Universiade
. Like last time, Major tied with the winner. With 2.13 metres, Enzo Del Forno won on countback; on the other hand Major beat bronze medallist Danial Temim who had 2.13 metres as well. However, with results under 2.20 his heyday was over. At the 1976 Summer Olympics, he entered the qualifying round, and passed 2.00 and 2.05 in his first attempts, but did not pass 2.10, thus not reaching the final round. He placed in joint thirteenth place at the 1977 European Indoor Championships
, again with 2.16 metres, and thirteenth also at the 1979 European Indoor Championships
, with 2.15 metres. Also, in 1977 Major's championships record was beaten by Jacek Wszoła.
Major became Hungarian high jump champion in 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1978, rivalling with Endre Kelemen
. He also became indoor champion in 1977 and 1978.
. He is now retired.
His son Nimród Major became a decent high jumper.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
er. He won four medals at the European Indoor Championships
European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Indoor Championships were held for the first time in 1970, replacing the European Indoor Games which had been held since 1966. Run by the European Athletic Association, the championships took place annually in different cities all over Europe until 1990, when it was changed...
between 1971 and 1974, as well as a two silver medals at the Universiade
Universiade
The Universiade is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation . The name is a combination of the words "University" and "olympiad"...
. His best Olympic performance was a sixth place in 1972.
Career
He was born in BudapestBudapest
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...
. His first international achievement was the fifth place at the 1969 European Championships
1969 European Championships in Athletics
The 9th European Athletics Championships were held from 16 September to 21 September 1969 in the Karaiskaki Stadium of Athens, the capital of Greece. New at these championships were the women's 1,500 metres and the women's 4x400 metres relay event....
. His first victory came at the 1971 European Indoor Championships
1971 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 2nd European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in 1971 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-References:* at GBR Athletics* at GBR Athletics* at Die Leichtatletik-Statistik-Seite...
in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. All three medalists jumped 2.17, but Major won on countback. In the summer that year he finished fourth at the 1971 European Championships
1971 European Championships in Athletics
The 10th European Athletics Championships were held from 10 August to 15 August 1971 in the Olympic Stadium of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.-Track:1966 |1969 |1971 |1974 |1978-Field:1966 |1969 |1971 |1974 |1978-Track:...
.
He then defended the gold medal at the 1972 European Indoor Championships
1972 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 3rd European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in 1972 in Grenoble, a city in France.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-References:* at GBR Athletics* at GBR Athletics* at Die Leichtatletik-Statistik-Seite...
in Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
. His winning result of 2.24 metres was a new championships record, and also his career best jump. In the same year he competed at the Olympic Games
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, tying for sixth place overall. At the 1973 European Indoor Championships
1973 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 4th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in 1973 in Rotterdam, a city in the Netherlands.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-References:* at GBR Athletics* at GBR Athletics* at Die Leichtatletik-Statistik-Seite...
he won his third gold medal in a row, this time with 2.20 metres. In the summer he won a silver medal at the Universiade
1973 Summer Universiade
The 1973 Summer Universiade, also known as the VII Summer Universiade, took place in Moscow, USSR.-Medal table:-Sports and venues at the 1973 Summer Universiade :...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. With a jump of 2.18 metres he equalled the winning result of Vladimír Malý, however Major lost on countback. At the 1974 European Indoor Championships
1974 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 5th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in 1974 in Gothenburg, Sweden.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-References:* at GBR Athletics* at GBR Athletics* at Die Leichtatletik-Statistik-Seite...
he again jumped 2.20 metres, but this time it was only enough for a silver medal behind Soviet's Kęstutis Šapka
Kestutis Šapka
Kęstutis Šapka is a retired Lithuanian high jumper who represented the Soviet Union. He trained at Dynamo in Vilnius. Šapka was inspired to become a professional high jumper after the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico and became one of the early adopters of Fosbury Flop. He retired due to recurring...
. At the 1974 European Championships
1974 European Championships in Athletics
The 11th European Athletics Championships was held from 2 September to 8 September 1974 in the Stadio Olimpico of Rome, the capital of Italy.-Track:1969 |1971 |1974 |1978 |1982-Field:1969 |1971 |1974 |1978 |1982-Track:1969 |1971 |1974 |1978 |1982...
he took his second fourth place in a row, losing the bronze medal to Vladimír Malý on countback.
At the 1975 European Indoor Championships
1975 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 6th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in 1975 in Katowice, a large city in Poland.-Track:-Field:-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com* at GBRathletics.com*...
, Major only managed an eighth place, jumping 2.16 metres. In the summer he did win his second silver medal at the Universiade
1975 Summer Universiade
The 1975 Summer Universiade, also known as the VIII Summer Universiade, took place in Rome, Italy. The 1975 Universiade only featured athletics, other disciplines having been cancelled, and was therefore referred to as the World University Championships in athletics.-Medal table:...
. Like last time, Major tied with the winner. With 2.13 metres, Enzo Del Forno won on countback; on the other hand Major beat bronze medallist Danial Temim who had 2.13 metres as well. However, with results under 2.20 his heyday was over. At the 1976 Summer Olympics, he entered the qualifying round, and passed 2.00 and 2.05 in his first attempts, but did not pass 2.10, thus not reaching the final round. He placed in joint thirteenth place at the 1977 European Indoor Championships
1977 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 8th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in San Sebastián, a city in Spain, in 1977.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com* at GBRathletics.com*...
, again with 2.16 metres, and thirteenth also at the 1979 European Indoor Championships
1979 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 10th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in Vienna, the capital city in Austria, in 1979. It was the second time the championships had been held in Vienna.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com...
, with 2.15 metres. Also, in 1977 Major's championships record was beaten by Jacek Wszoła.
Major became Hungarian high jump champion in 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1978, rivalling with Endre Kelemen
Endre Kelemen
Endre Kelemen is a retired Hungarian high jumper. He won two medals at the European Indoor Championships, in 1971 and 1975, and competed once at the Olympic Games, in 1976.-Career:...
. He also became indoor champion in 1977 and 1978.
Veterans career
In 1990 Major won a gold medal at the European Veterans Championships, recording 2.07 metres in the +40 years class. No other competitor at the European Veterans Championships has come close to such a result. In 2002 Major set a Canadian record for the +55 years class, with 1.85 metres, achieved in July in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He is now retired.
His son Nimród Major became a decent high jumper.