Garay, Janos

Sport:
fencing

Country Represented:
Hungary

Years Competed:
1924, 1928

Medals Received:
gold, silver, bronze

Olympic Info:
Garay was a member of Hungary's fencing team at two Olympiads and won three medals. At the 1924 Paris Games, he competed in the team sabre, and Hungary won the silver medal after beating Holland and Czechoslovakia in the finals (they lost to Italy for the gold). In the individual sabre, Garay advanced to the finals and finished third overall to win the bronze medal. In the final pool, he won five of seven matches, including a victory over fellow Hungarian (and teammate) Zoltan Schenker.

Garay returned to the Olympics at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, and competed exclusively in the team sabre event. The Hungarian team, which included fellow International Jewish Sports Hall of Famers, Attila Petschauer and Sandor Gombos, went undefeated in the competition and won the gold medal. Garay and his teammates defeated the United States (14-2), and Great Britain (13-3) in the elimination round, then beat Germany (12-4) and France (12-4) in the semifinals. In the finals, the Hungarians beat Poland (14-2) and Italy (9-7). Garay competed in three matches and won 10 of 12 bouts during the competition.

Career Highlights:
One of the best sabre fencers in the world in the 1920s, Garay won the gold medal in the individual sabre at the 1925 World Championships. The Hungarian national champion in 1923, Janos was also the European sabre champion in 1925 and 1930, and was a member of Hungary's team at the 1930 World Championships when they captured the gold medal. A member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Garay was killed at the Mauthausen concentration camp in 1945. There is a high school named after him in Budapest, Hungary.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1889 - d. 1945

Origin:
Hungary

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