Zoltan Magyar

Infobox Gymnast
gymnastname= Zoltan Magyar

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birthdate= birth date and age|1953|12|13
birthplace=Budapest
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discipline=MAG
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eponymousskills=Magyar spindle, Magyar travel
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Zoltán Magyar (original Hungarian name Magyar Zoltán)(born December 13, 1953 in Budapest, Hungary) was the premier pommel horse gymnast in the world in the 1970s. Magyar had two moves named after him, the Magyar spindle (turning the body in the opposite direction from the circling legs) and the Magyar travel (crosswise circling travel down the horse).

Magyar finished his career with two Olympic, three world, three European and two World Cup titles on his speciality.

He won the Olympic gold in 1976 and 1980 [ [http://www.gbrathletics.com/olympic/gym.htm Olympic Games Medallists - Gymnastics on gbrathletics.com] ] ; world championships gold in 1974, 1978 and 1979 [ [http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/events/2007/worlds/artisticWorldChampions.html List of Gymnastics World Champions on the homepage of the 2007 World Championships] ] [ [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/wgymnchamps.shtml World Gymnastics Championships on hickoksports.com] ] ; European championships gold in 1973, 1975 and 1977 [ [http://sports123.com/gym/me-ph.html List of medallists of the European Championships of Gymnastics Men Pommel Horse] ] ; and World Cup gold in 1975 and 1978. His largest margin of victory came at the 1978 World Championships, which he won by 0.375 points.

In major all-around competitions, Magyar was ubiquitous but less successful. In Olympic all-around finals, he placed 29th in 1972, ninth in 1976 and ninth in 1980. In world championship all-arounds, he was 15th in 1974, 12th in 1978 and 18th in 1979.

Magyar retired following the 1980 Olympics. Since his departure, he has focused on his lifelong goal as a veterinarian. He currently operates a vet hospital and still resides in Budapest.

References

External links

* [http://www.intlgymnast.com/legends/magyar.html Legends of Gymnastics]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAQCzwPp7tU&feature=related Zoltan Magyar on the 1976 Olympics - YouTube video]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKQ_vyjumjU Zoltan Magyar on the 1978 World Championship - YouTube video]
* [http://www.mob.hu/engine.aspx?page=MOB_bajnokaink_olimpiai&spid=24015 Zoltán Magyar on the hoempage of th Hungarian Olympic Committee]