Alojz Sokol
Encyclopedia
Alajos Szokolyi or Alajos Szokoly (ˈɒlɒjoʃ ˈsokojɪ, June 19, 1871 – September 9, 1932) was a Hungarian athlete and physician from the Kingdom of Hungary
. He competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics
.
His father was József Szokolyi and his mother was Emília Holub. At the age of 3 he was adpoted by his childless godparents in Ipolyság (today Šahy
, Slovakia). He attended schools in Ipolyság, Selmecbánya (Banská Štiavnica
) and Léva (Levice
). In 1887 the family moved to their new mansion in Bernece
. In 1889, he enrolled in the medical faculty in Budapest
.
Szokolyi competed in the 100 metres. He came in second in the heats, with a time of 12.75, and advanced to the final. There, Szokolyi was one of four athletes to come in at 12.6 seconds. The officials ruled that he and Francis Lane
of the United States
, who had beat Szokolyi in the heats, had finished in a dead heat for third place; Alexandros Khalkokondilis
of Greece
was ruled to have been slightly behind them. Szokolyi and Lane are currently considered to split the bronze medal
for the event (no medals were awarded at the 1896 Olympics) by the International Olympic Committee
. Szokolyi placed fourth in the triple jump
, with a best effort of 11.26 metres. He also ran the 110 metres hurdles
. Sources differ as to whether Szokolyi placed second or third in his preliminary heat, with most claiming that he was in second until hitting the final hurdle and stumbling, allowing Frantz Reichel
to pass him and take second place.
He retired in 1900 to his estate in Bernece, he married Sarolta (Charlotte) Berchtold of a magnate family with roots in Tyrol
the same year. The couple had 5 children. Besides managing his estate, he became the archivist of Hont county and organised the medical service of the county during World War I
. In 1928 he was diagnosed with atherosclerosis
. He died of a heart attack in 1931.
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. He competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics
1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
.
His father was József Szokolyi and his mother was Emília Holub. At the age of 3 he was adpoted by his childless godparents in Ipolyság (today Šahy
Šahy
Šahy is a town in southern Slovakia, The town has an ethnic Hungarian majority and its population is 7,971 people , with an average age of 42.5.-Geography:...
, Slovakia). He attended schools in Ipolyság, Selmecbánya (Banská Štiavnica
Banská Štiavnica
Banská Štiavnica is a town in central Slovakia, in the middle of an immense caldera created by the collapse of an ancient volcano. For its size, the caldera is known as Štiavnica Mountains. Banská Štiavnica has a population of more than 10,000. It is a completely preserved medieval town...
) and Léva (Levice
Levice
Levice is a town in western Slovakia. The town lies on the left bank of the lower Hron river. The Old Slavic name of the town was Leva, which means "the Left One"....
). In 1887 the family moved to their new mansion in Bernece
Bernecebaráti
-References:...
. In 1889, he enrolled in the medical faculty in Budapest
Semmelweis University
Founded in 1769, Semmelweis University is the oldest medical school in Hungary. The faculty became an independent medical school after the Second World War and developed into a university teaching medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, health management as well as physical education and...
.
Szokolyi competed in the 100 metres. He came in second in the heats, with a time of 12.75, and advanced to the final. There, Szokolyi was one of four athletes to come in at 12.6 seconds. The officials ruled that he and Francis Lane
Francis Lane
Francis Adonijah Lane was an American athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Greece....
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who had beat Szokolyi in the heats, had finished in a dead heat for third place; Alexandros Khalkokondilis
Alexandros Khalkokondilis
Alexandros Chalkokondylis was a Greek athlete.He was born in Athens.He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. He competed in the long jump, placing fourth of the nine jumpers. His best jump was 5.74 metres....
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
was ruled to have been slightly behind them. Szokolyi and Lane are currently considered to split the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
for the event (no medals were awarded at the 1896 Olympics) by 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...
. Szokolyi placed fourth in the triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
, with a best effort of 11.26 metres. He also ran the 110 metres hurdles
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
. Sources differ as to whether Szokolyi placed second or third in his preliminary heat, with most claiming that he was in second until hitting the final hurdle and stumbling, allowing Frantz Reichel
Frantz Reichel
Frantz Reichel was a French athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens as track and field athlete and at 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris as rugby union footballer....
to pass him and take second place.
He retired in 1900 to his estate in Bernece, he married Sarolta (Charlotte) Berchtold of a magnate family with roots in Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
the same year. The couple had 5 children. Besides managing his estate, he became the archivist of Hont county and organised the medical service of the county during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1928 he was diagnosed with atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
. He died of a heart attack in 1931.