Gyula Pálóczi
Encyclopedia
Gyula Pálóczi was a Hungarian
athlete who specialized in the long jump
and triple jump
. He won two medals at the European Indoor Championships
, and due to his versatility the European Athletic Association
has called him "the most successful jumper Hungary has ever produced".
in Budapest
. With a jump of 7.90 metres he won the silver medal, five centimetres behind compatriot László Szalma
. Later that year Pálóczi competed at the inaugural World Championships
. He leapt 7.70 metres in the qualifying round, which was not enough to reach the final. He missed the 1984 Summer Olympics
due to the Soviet-led 1984 Summer Olympics boycott
.
In the 1984–85 indoor season, however, Pálóczi won the gold medal at the European Indoor Championships
. It was a very tight competition, with Pálóczi being tied by László Szalma but winning on countback; also he was one centimetre ahead of bronze medalist Sergey Layevskiy
and two centimetres ahead of fourth placer Ján Leitner
. The mark of 8.15 metres was his personal best indoor result. In the summer of 1985 he leapt a career best of 8.25 metres, achieved in August in Budapest.
Pálóczi later competed at the 1988 European Indoor Championships
in Budapest, and this time finished seventh. He became the Hungarian long jump champion in 1984, 1986 and 1990, rivalling with László Szalma and Csaba Almási
. He also became Hungarian indoor champion once; in 1985.
and Zsolt Czingler
. He also became Hungarian indoor champion in 1989 and 1990. In 1993 he recorded a career best jump of 16.87 metres, achieved in July in Tata
. Internationally he competed in the triple jump event
at the 1993 World Championships
, but with only 15.89 metres he finished near the bottom of the list, and did not reach the final.
Pálóczi also recorded 2.11 metres in the high jump. He stood 1.85 metre tall, and during his active career he weighed 72 kilograms (158.7 lb). He died in January 2009 at the age of 46.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
athlete who specialized in the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
and 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...
. He won two medals at the European Indoor Championships
European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Indoor Championships were held for the first time in 1970, replacing the European Indoor Games which had been held since 1966. Run by the European Athletic Association, the championships took place annually in different cities all over Europe until 1990, when it was changed...
, and due to his versatility the European Athletic Association
European Athletic Association
The European Athletic Association is the European governing body for the sport of athletics.- History :In 1932, during a meeting of the International Amateur Athletic Federation in Los Angeles, a special committee was designated by the Council with the task of reviewing the conditions for the...
has called him "the most successful jumper Hungary has ever produced".
Long jump
Pálóczi first made his mark in international athletics at the 1983 European Indoor Championships1983 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 14th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, in 1983.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com* at GBRathletics.com*...
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...
. With a jump of 7.90 metres he won the silver medal, five centimetres behind compatriot László Szalma
László Szalma
László Szalma is a retired Hungarian long jumper. He won six medals at the European Indoor Championships—two gold, three silver and one bronze—and finished fourth at the 1980 Olympic Games and the 1983 World Championships...
. Later that year Pálóczi competed at the inaugural World Championships
1983 World Championships in Athletics - Men's Long Jump
These are the official results of the Men's Long Jump event at the 1983 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. There were a total of 34 participating athletes, with two qualifying groups and the final held on 10 August 1983.-Medalists:...
. He leapt 7.70 metres in the qualifying round, which was not enough to reach the final. He missed the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
due to the Soviet-led 1984 Summer Olympics boycott
1984 Summer Olympics boycott
The boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. The boycott was a follow up to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The boycott involved 14 Eastern Bloc countries and allies, led by the Soviet Union who initiated the boycott on May 8, 1984, and joined...
.
In the 1984–85 indoor season, however, Pálóczi won the gold medal at the European Indoor Championships
1985 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 16th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Athens/Piraeus in Greece, in 1985.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com* at GBRathletics.com*...
. It was a very tight competition, with Pálóczi being tied by László Szalma but winning on countback; also he was one centimetre ahead of bronze medalist Sergey Layevskiy
Sergey Layevskiy
Sergey Layevskiy is a retired long jumper who represented the USSR and later Ukraine. He won a bronze medal at the 1985 European Indoor Championships and a silver medal at the 1986 European Championships.-Achievements:-External links:...
and two centimetres ahead of fourth placer Ján Leitner
Jan Leitner
Jan Leitner is a retired long jumper who represented Czechoslovakia. His greatest achievements were gold medals at the European Indoor and World Indoor Championships in 1984 and 1985.- Major achievements :...
. The mark of 8.15 metres was his personal best indoor result. In the summer of 1985 he leapt a career best of 8.25 metres, achieved in August in Budapest.
Pálóczi later competed at the 1988 European Indoor Championships
1988 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 19th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, in 1988.- Track :- Field :- Medal table :- External links :* at GBRathletics.com* at GBRathletics.com*...
in Budapest, and this time finished seventh. He became the Hungarian long jump champion in 1984, 1986 and 1990, rivalling with László Szalma and Csaba Almási
Csaba Almási
Csaba Almási is a retired Hungarian long jumper.He was born in Miskolc. He finished fifteenth at the 1989 European Indoor Championships and twelfth at the 1989 World Indoor Championships. He also competed at the 1991 World Indoor Championships, the 1991 World Championships, the 1992 Olympic Games...
. He also became Hungarian indoor champion once; in 1985.
Later career
Pálóczi later concentrated on the triple jump. He became the Hungarian triple jump champion in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1994; his main rivals were Béla BakosiBéla Bakosi
Béla Bakosi is a retired triple jumper from Hungary. He won six medals at the European Indoor Championships and a bronze medal at the 1982 European Championships in Athletics.-Achievements:-External links:...
and Zsolt Czingler
Zsolt Czingler
Zsolt Czingler is a retired Hungarian triple jumper, whose personal best was 17.24 metres, achieved in May 1998 in Tivoli.-Achievements:-References:*...
. He also became Hungarian indoor champion in 1989 and 1990. In 1993 he recorded a career best jump of 16.87 metres, achieved in July in Tata
Tata, Hungary
Tata is a town in north-western Hungary, Komárom-Esztergom county, northwest from county seat Tatabánya.-Location:Tata is located in the valley between the Gerecse and Vértes Mountains, some from the Budapest, the capital. By the virtue of its location, the city is a railway and road junction...
. Internationally he competed in the triple jump event
1993 World Championships in Athletics - Men's Triple Jump
These are the official results of the Men's Triple Jump event at the 1993 IAAF World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. There were a total number of 46 participating athletes, with two qualifying groups and the final held on Monday 1993-08-16.-Final:...
at the 1993 World Championships
1993 World Championships in Athletics
The 4th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium, Stuttgart, Germany between August 13 and August 22 with the participation of 187 nations....
, but with only 15.89 metres he finished near the bottom of the list, and did not reach the final.
Pálóczi also recorded 2.11 metres in the high jump. He stood 1.85 metre tall, and during his active career he weighed 72 kilograms (158.7 lb). He died in January 2009 at the age of 46.