1. Overview
András Szatmári is a prominent Hungarian right-handed sabre fencer. Born on February 3, 1993, in Budapest, Hungary, he has achieved significant success in international competitions throughout his career. His major accomplishments include becoming the individual world champion in 2017 and a team European champion in 2018. He is also a two-time Olympic medalist, having won a bronze medal in the team event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and a silver medal in the team event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Across his career, Szatmári has accumulated a total of two gold, five silver, and two bronze medals at the World Fencing Championships.
2. Early Life and Career
András Szatmári's early life was shaped by a family connection to fencing, leading him to pursue the sport from a young age. His journey through junior and early senior competitions laid the groundwork for his future international success.
2.1. Background and Influences
András Szatmári was born on February 3, 1993, in Budapest, Hungary. He began fencing, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a fencer for Vasas SC. Szatmári is a member of MTK Budapest. His initial coach was György Gerevich, the son of the legendary seven-time Olympic fencer Aladár Gerevich. György Gerevich also notably trained other prominent Hungarian fencers, including Áron Szilágyi and Csanád Gémesi. Szatmári's national coach is András Decsi, and his head coach is Gábor Gárdos. He was formerly coached by Bence Szabó and Ferenc Riba. Szatmári's physical attributes include a height of 6.1 ft (1.85 m) and a weight of 143 lb (65 kg).
2.2. Junior Career
Szatmári demonstrated significant talent early in his career. In 2012, he achieved notable success by becoming both the Junior European Champion and the U23 European Champion. His strong junior performance continued into 2013, when he secured a silver medal at the Junior World Championships held in Poreč.
2.3. Senior Career Beginnings
Transitioning into senior competitions, Szatmári quickly made his mark on the international stage. At the 2013 World Fencing Championships, held in his hometown of Budapest, he advanced to the quarter-finals before being defeated by Russia's Nikolay Kovalev, who eventually earned the silver medal in the event. The following year, at the 2014 World Fencing Championships in Kazan, Szatmári was a key member of the Hungarian team that reached the semi-finals. Although they lost to South Korea, the team went on to defeat Russia in the bronze medal match match, securing a podium finish. In 2016, he further cemented his domestic standing by winning an individual gold medal at the Hungarian Fencing Championships in Budapest.
3. Major Competitive Achievements
András Szatmári has an extensive record of medal-winning performances at the highest levels of international fencing, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and various Grand Prix and World Cup events.
3.1. Olympic Games
Szatmári has earned two Olympic medals as part of the Hungarian men's sabre team.
3.2. World Championships
Szatmári has achieved significant success at the World Fencing Championships, securing multiple medals in both individual and team events.
| Year | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kazan, Russia | Team Men's Sabre | Bronze |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Team Men's Sabre | Silver |
| 2017 | Leipzig, Germany | Individual Men's Sabre | Gold |
| 2017 | Leipzig, Germany | Team Men's Sabre | Silver |
| 2018 | Wuxi, China | Team Men's Sabre | Bronze |
| 2019 | Budapest, Hungary | Individual Men's Sabre | Silver |
| 2019 | Budapest, Hungary | Team Men's Sabre | Silver |
| 2022 | Cairo, Egypt | Team Men's Sabre | Silver |
| 2023 | Milan, Italy | Team Men's Sabre | Gold |
3.3. European Championships
His European Championship record includes two gold medals in team events, along with silver and bronze medals.
3.4. Grand Prix and World Cup
Szatmári has also consistently performed well in the FIE Grand Prix and World Cup series, earning multiple medals.
3.4.1. Grand Prix
3.4.2. World Cup
| Date | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 February 2016 | Győr, Hungary | Individual Men's Sabre | Bronze |
| 2 March 2017 | Padua, Italy | Individual Men's Sabre | Gold |
| 19 May 2017 | Madrid, Spain | Individual Men's Sabre | Bronze |
| 2 February 2018 | Padua, Italy | Individual Men's Sabre | Bronze |
| 12 February 2023 | Warsaw, Poland | Team Men's Sabre | Silver |
| 3 April 2023 | Padua, Italy | Team Men's Sabre | Gold |
4. Awards and Honors
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to sports, András Szatmári has received several national awards and state honors from Hungary.
4.1. National Awards
For his exceptional performance in fencing, Szatmári was named the Hungarian Fencer of the Year in 2017.
4.2. State Honors
In 2021, András Szatmári was awarded the Hungarian Cross of Merit - Gold Cross, a significant state decoration in Hungary.
5. External Links
- [https://fie.org/athletes/22449 András Szatmári at the International Fencing Federation]
- [https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/1303394 András Szatmári at Olympedia]
- [https://instagram.com/szatmariandras András Szatmári on Instagram]
- [https://facebook.com/szatmariandras93 András Szatmári on Facebook]