Béla Rajki
Encyclopedia
Béla Rajki-Reich was a Hungarian swimming coach and water polo
coach.
.
He was a swimmer and a water polo player early in his life. He received coaching diplomas in swimming and diving, and was a lecturer at the Hungarian College of Physical Education and Sports.
, he helped make Hungary a world-dynasty in water polo. From 1948–67 he was director of Hungary's National Sport Swimming Pool, and from 1947–73 he was technical director and national coach of the Hungarian Swimming and Water Polo Team
s.
He was head coach of the Hungarian 1948 Olympic Swimming Team, which won a gold medal (Eva Novak
; 200m breaststroke
). He coached the country's swimming and water polo Olympic teams of 1952 in Helsinki
, Finland. His water polo team won a gold medal, and four swimmers won a gold medal. In 1956, he coached the water polo team which won a gold medal, and the team won a silver medal in 1972 at the Munich Olympics.
He was a Bureau member of Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) from 1952 to 1960, and a FINA vice president from 1960 to 1964. He was also a member of the International Water Polo Board from 1952 to 1964 (Chairman from 1960 to 1964). In 1996, at age 86, he was still a member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee
.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame
honored him in 1996. He was also inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
.
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
coach.
Early life
Rajki, who was Jewish, 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...
.
He was a swimmer and a water polo player early in his life. He received coaching diplomas in swimming and diving, and was a lecturer at the Hungarian College of Physical Education and Sports.
Swimming and water polo coaching career
With Béla KomjádiBéla Komjádi
Béla Komjádi was a Hungarian water polo player and coach.-Water polo coaching career:...
, he helped make Hungary a world-dynasty in water polo. From 1948–67 he was director of Hungary's National Sport Swimming Pool, and from 1947–73 he was technical director and national coach of the Hungarian Swimming and Water Polo Team
Hungary men's national water polo team
The Hungary men's national water polo team represents Hungary in international men's water polo competitions and is controlled by Hungarian Water Polo Association. They are considered the world's top power in the history of water polo, having won 15 Olympic, 9 World Championship, 5 FINA World...
s.
He was head coach of the Hungarian 1948 Olympic Swimming Team, which won a gold medal (Eva Novak
Eva Novak
Eva Barbara Novak was an American film actress, being quite popular during the silent film era. She was the younger sister of actress Jane Novak and daughter of Joseph, an immigrant from Bohemia, and Barbara Novak....
; 200m breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
). He coached the country's swimming and water polo Olympic teams of 1952 in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland. His water polo team won a gold medal, and four swimmers won a gold medal. In 1956, he coached the water polo team which won a gold medal, and the team won a silver medal in 1972 at the Munich Olympics.
He was a Bureau member of Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) from 1952 to 1960, and a FINA vice president from 1960 to 1964. He was also a member of the International Water Polo Board from 1952 to 1964 (Chairman from 1960 to 1964). In 1996, at age 86, he was still a member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee
Hungarian Olympic Committee
Hungarian Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee representing Hungary.György Szepesi was a Hungarian Olympic Committee member from 1962 into the year 2000....
.
Publications and honors
He authored The Techniques of Competitive Swimming (1956), Water Polo (1958), and Teaching to Swim, Learning to Swim (1978). He also wrote over 250 articles and periodical studies in the sport.The International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
honored him in 1996. He was also inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
.