László Tábori
Encyclopedia
László Tábori is a Hungarian
-American
former middle
- and long-distance
runner, best known for equalling the 1500 metres
world record and placing 4th in that event at the 1956 Summer Olympics
. He is still active in the sport of running as a coach.
. Although he had already taken up running in his youth, his serious career only started in the early 1950s under Mihály Iglói
, the legendary coach of Tábori's club, Honvéd Budapest. Already part of the world-record-breaking 1953 and 1954 4 x 1500 metres relay
teams of Hungary and the Honvéd Budapest club respectively, he exploded to international fame in 1955, together with Iglói's other star pupils, Sándor Iharos
and István Rózsavölgyi
. On May 28, 1955, he became only the third man in the world to run a four-minute mile
, running 3:59.0 and soundly beating both Chris Chataway and Brian Hewson
. (For more than twenty years, he and Rózsavölgyi would remain the only Hungarians to run a four-minute mile.) On September 6, he equalled the 1500 metres
world record (set just a month earlier by Iharos) with a time of 3:40.8.
occurred at a psychologically unfortunate time for team Hungary, as the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 had just been bloodily crushed by the Soviet military
. (This was all the worse as Honvéd Budapest was at that time the sports club of the Hungarian army
.) The effects of this were obvious. Iharos missed out on the Olympics entirely, ostensibly due to a minor ankle injury but quite probably because of the revolution, and Rózsavölgyi shockingly went out in the 1500 m heats. Tábori did much better by comparison; expected to medal, he still finished a very respectable 4th in the 1500 metres
and 6th in the 5000 metres
.
, eventually settling in Los Angeles
, California
. Tábori stayed in world class shape for many years, and would have been a medal contender in the 1960 Olympics
if eligible. However, he could no longer run for Hungary, and wasn't yet a US citizen; thus, there was no country he could compete for. Tábori retired from running in 1962.
. His most notable pupils have been Jacqueline Hansen
, who ran two world records in the marathon, and Miki Gorman
, a two-time winner of both the Boston Marathon
and the New York City Marathon
.
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...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former middle
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
- and long-distance
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
runner, best known for equalling the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
world record and placing 4th in that event at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. He is still active in the sport of running as a coach.
Early career and rise to fame
Tábori was born in KošiceKošice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
. Although he had already taken up running in his youth, his serious career only started in the early 1950s under Mihály Iglói
Mihály Iglói
Mihály Iglói was a legendary Hungarian distance running coach. Iglói coached such luminaries as Sándor Iharos, István Rózsavölgyi, László Tábori, Bob Schul and Jim Beatty...
, the legendary coach of Tábori's club, Honvéd Budapest. Already part of the world-record-breaking 1953 and 1954 4 x 1500 metres relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
teams of Hungary and the Honvéd Budapest club respectively, he exploded to international fame in 1955, together with Iglói's other star pupils, Sándor Iharos
Sándor Iharos
Sándor Iharos was a Hungarian distance runner. Though unsuccessful in major competitions, Iharos ran world records over multiple distances and is one of only two athletes to have held outdoor world records over 1500 metres, 5000 metres and 10000 metres...
and István Rózsavölgyi
István Rózsavölgyi
István Rózsavölgyi was a Hungarian athlete who competed mainly in the 1500 metres.One of the star pupils of Mihály Iglói, Rózsavölgyi entered the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia as the world record holder over 1000 metres, 1500 metres and 2000 metres and was expected to be a...
. On May 28, 1955, he became only the third man in the world to run a four-minute mile
Four-minute mile
In the sport of athletics, the four-minute mile is the act of completing the mile run in less than four minutes. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4. The 'four minute barrier' has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional...
, running 3:59.0 and soundly beating both Chris Chataway and Brian Hewson
Brian Hewson
Brian Stanford Hewson is a retired track and field athlete, who represented Great Britain at two consecutive Summer Olympics in the men's 1500 metres and in the men's 800 metres. He won the gold medal in the men's 1500 metres at the 1958 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.-References:* *...
. (For more than twenty years, he and Rózsavölgyi would remain the only Hungarians to run a four-minute mile.) On September 6, he equalled the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
world record (set just a month earlier by Iharos) with a time of 3:40.8.
1956 Melbourne Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Olympics1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
occurred at a psychologically unfortunate time for team Hungary, as the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 had just been bloodily crushed by the Soviet military
Soviet Armed Forces
The Soviet Armed Forces, also called the Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Armed Forces of the Soviet Union refers to the armed forces of the Russian SFSR , and Soviet Union from their beginnings in the...
. (This was all the worse as Honvéd Budapest was at that time the sports club of the Hungarian army
Military of Hungary
The Hungarian Defence Force is the national military of Hungary. It currently has two branches, the Hungarian Ground Force and the Hungarian Air Force....
.) The effects of this were obvious. Iharos missed out on the Olympics entirely, ostensibly due to a minor ankle injury but quite probably because of the revolution, and Rózsavölgyi shockingly went out in the 1500 m heats. Tábori did much better by comparison; expected to medal, he still finished a very respectable 4th in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
and 6th in the 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
.
Move to the United States
After the Olympics, Tábori and coach Iglói didn't return to Hungary. Instead, they defected to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, eventually settling in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Tábori stayed in world class shape for many years, and would have been a medal contender in the 1960 Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
if eligible. However, he could no longer run for Hungary, and wasn't yet a US citizen; thus, there was no country he could compete for. Tábori retired from running in 1962.
Coaching career
Tábori returned to distance running as a coach in 1967, his training methods based directly on Iglói's, and has been the coach of San Fernando Valley Track Club since 1973. He remains a vocal advocate of interval trainingInterval training
Interval training is a type of physical training that involves bursts of high-intensity work interspersed with periods of low-intensity work...
. His most notable pupils have been Jacqueline Hansen
Jacqueline Hansen
Jacqueline Hansen is a former long-distance runner from the United States who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on two different occasions.Hansen set a world best mark on December 1, 1974 with a 2:43:55 performance...
, who ran two world records in the marathon, and Miki Gorman
Miki Gorman
Miki Suwa Gorman was one of America's foremost women's marathoners during the mid 1970s. Gorman is the only woman to win both the Boston and New York City marathons twice, and one of only two woman runners to win both marathons in the same year.-Biography:Gorman, who grew up in Japan's Fukushima...
, a two-time winner of both the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
and the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
.