Károly Takács
Encyclopedia
Károly Takács (21 January 1910 – 5 January 1976) was the first shooter to win two Olympic
gold medals in the 25 metre rapid fire pistol event. He is the first known physically disabled athlete to have competed in the Olympic Games, followed by Liz Hartel in 1952 and Neroli Fairhall
in 1984.
Takács was born in Budapest
and joined the Hungarian Army. By 1936, he was a world-class pistol shooter, but he was denied a place in the Hungarian shooting team for the 1936 Summer Olympics
on the grounds that he was a sergeant
, and only commissioned officers were allowed to compete. This prohibition was lifted in Hungary after the Berlin Games, and Takács had expectations of success at the 1940 Summer Olympics
, scheduled to be held in Tokyo.
During army training in 1938, his right hand was badly injured when a faulty grenade
exploded. Takács was determined to continue his shooting career, and switched to shooting with his left hand. He practised in secret, and surprising his countrymen when he won the Hungarian national pistol shooting championship in the spring of 1939. He also was a member of the Hungarian team that won the 1939 ISSF World Shooting Championships in the event. The Olympic Games scheduled for 1940 and 1944 were cancelled due to the Second World War, but Takács surprised the world by winning the gold medal
at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London, aged 38, beating the favourite, Argentine
Carlos Enrique Díaz Saenz Valiente, who was the reigning world champion, into second place, and setting a new world record.
He won a second gold medal in the same event
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki, and also attended the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne, but finished eighth and failed to win a third medal
.. His story has given him a place among the "Olympic heroes" of the International Olympic Committee
. Two Olympic gold medals were won by Józef Zapędzki
(Mexico - 1968 and Monachium - 1972) as well but not until Ralf Schumann
's third victory in the 2004 Olympics
did a shooter succeed in winning three Olympic gold medals in this event.
Although most associated with rapid fire pistol, Takács also won a bronze medal at the 1958 ISSF World Shooting Championships
in 25 metre center-fire pistol. He also won 35 Hungarian national shooting championships.
After his shooting career, Takács became a coach. He trained Hungarian Szilárd Kun, who won the silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He ended his army career as a lieutenant colonel.
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...
gold medals in the 25 metre rapid fire pistol event. He is the first known physically disabled athlete to have competed in the Olympic Games, followed by Liz Hartel in 1952 and Neroli Fairhall
Neroli Fairhall
Neroli Susan Fairhall MBE was a New Zealand athlete, who was the first paraplegic competitor in the Olympic Games....
in 1984.
Takács was born 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...
and joined the Hungarian Army. By 1936, he was a world-class pistol shooter, but he was denied a place in the Hungarian shooting team for 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...
on the grounds that he was a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, and only commissioned officers were allowed to compete. This prohibition was lifted in Hungary after the Berlin Games, and Takács had expectations of success at the 1940 Summer Olympics
1940 Summer Olympics
The anticipated 1940 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XII Olympiad and originally scheduled to be held from September 21 to October 6, 1940, in Tokyo, Japan, were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II...
, scheduled to be held in Tokyo.
During army training in 1938, his right hand was badly injured when a faulty grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
exploded. Takács was determined to continue his shooting career, and switched to shooting with his left hand. He practised in secret, and surprising his countrymen when he won the Hungarian national pistol shooting championship in the spring of 1939. He also was a member of the Hungarian team that won the 1939 ISSF World Shooting Championships in the event. The Olympic Games scheduled for 1940 and 1944 were cancelled due to the Second World War, but Takács surprised the world by winning the gold medal
Shooting at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Shooting at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London comprised four events.-Medal count:- 300 metre rifle three positions :-50 metre rifle prone:-50 metre pistol:-25 metre rapid fire pistol:-References:*...
at 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, aged 38, beating the favourite, Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Carlos Enrique Díaz Saenz Valiente, who was the reigning world champion, into second place, and setting a new world record.
He won a second gold medal in the same event
Shooting at the 1952 Summer Olympics
With the competitions in shooting at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, the Olympic shooting program began its expansion. Three new events were added: 100 metre running deer, 50 metre rifle three positions and trap. In total there were seven events....
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki, and also attended the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne, but finished eighth and failed to win a third medal
Shooting at the 1956 Summer Olympics
At the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, seven events in shooting were contested, all for men only.-Medal summary:-Medal table:...
.. His story has given him a place among the "Olympic heroes" of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
. Two Olympic gold medals were won by Józef Zapędzki
Józef Zapedzki
Józef Zapędzki is a Polish sport shooter, twice a gold medalist at the Olympic Games in 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol .He was born in Kazimierówka, near Zawiercie.-Further reading:...
(Mexico - 1968 and Monachium - 1972) as well but not until Ralf Schumann
Ralf Schumann
Ralf Schumann is a German 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol shooter. He is a three-time Olympic Champion and twice World Champion....
's third victory in the 2004 Olympics
Shooting at the 2004 Summer Olympics
In shooting at the 2004 Summer Olympics, 390 competitors from 106 nations contested 17 events . The competition took place at the Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre, located in the east of the Greek region of Attica....
did a shooter succeed in winning three Olympic gold medals in this event.
Although most associated with rapid fire pistol, Takács also won a bronze medal at the 1958 ISSF World Shooting Championships
1958 ISSF World Shooting Championships
The 37th UIT World Shooting Championships was the contemporary name of the ISSF World Shooting Championships in all ISSF shooting events that were held in Moscow, Russia, the Soviet Union in 1958...
in 25 metre center-fire pistol. He also won 35 Hungarian national shooting championships.
After his shooting career, Takács became a coach. He trained Hungarian Szilárd Kun, who won the silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He ended his army career as a lieutenant colonel.