Helena Rakoczy
Encyclopedia
Helena Rakoczy also Rákóczy or Rákóczi (born 23 December 1921) was a world champion Polish
gymnast
. She was born in Kraków
, Poland
.
A member of the 1952 and 1956 Polish women's gymnastics team, she managed only one Olympic medal, in Melbourne, a bronze in the Team Portable Apparatus Event, tying with the USSR team. Disappointing performances at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics
, particularly on the uneven bars, kept her well out of the higher-finishing individuals in the all-around (she was 43rd), failed to qualify her to any of the event finals competitions, and saw her team place 8th. Stronger performances at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics
garnered her an 8th-place finish in the all-around, a 5th place place on uneven bars, and saw her team to a much-improved 4th place all around with her compatriate, two-time Olympian (1956, 1960) Natalia Kot.
Her real successes came at the World Gymnastics Championships
in 1950 and 1954. At the former, she became the World Individual All-Around Champion, as well as becoming champion on 3 of the 4 individual apparatuses (Vault, Beam, and Floor), and at the latter, she took bronze in both the individual all-around and uneven bars. These accomplishments make her the most decorated Polish gymnast - male or female - ever.
Rakoczy was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
in 2004.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
gymnast
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
. She was born in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
A member of the 1952 and 1956 Polish women's gymnastics team, she managed only one Olympic medal, in Melbourne, a bronze in the Team Portable Apparatus Event, tying with the USSR team. Disappointing performances at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics
Gymnastics at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Gymnastics at the 1952 Summer Olympics was represented by 15 events: 7 for women and 8 for men. All events were held between July 19 and July 24 in the Messuhalli building in Helsinki...
, particularly on the uneven bars, kept her well out of the higher-finishing individuals in the all-around (she was 43rd), failed to qualify her to any of the event finals competitions, and saw her team place 8th. Stronger performances at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics
Gymnastics at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Gymnastics at the 1956 Summer Olympics was represented by 15 events: 7 for women and 8 for men. All events were held at the West Melbourne Stadium between December 3 and December 7...
garnered her an 8th-place finish in the all-around, a 5th place place on uneven bars, and saw her team to a much-improved 4th place all around with her compatriate, two-time Olympian (1956, 1960) Natalia Kot.
Her real successes came at the World Gymnastics Championships
World Gymnastics Championships
The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique organises World Gymnastics Championships for each of the gymnastic disciplines:...
in 1950 and 1954. At the former, she became the World Individual All-Around Champion, as well as becoming champion on 3 of the 4 individual apparatuses (Vault, Beam, and Floor), and at the latter, she took bronze in both the individual all-around and uneven bars. These accomplishments make her the most decorated Polish gymnast - male or female - ever.
Rakoczy was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics....
in 2004.