Ferenc Mohácsi (25 October 1929 – 29 April 2025) was a Hungarian

sprint canoeist Canoe sprint is a water sport in which athletes race in specially designed sprint canoes or sprint kayaks on calm water over a short distance. Prior to November 2008, canoe sprint was known as flatwater racing. The term is still in use today ...

who competed in the late 1950s. At the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, he won a bronze medal alongside Károly Wieland in the Canoe double (C-2) 1,000 m event. Mohácsi had begun his sporting career as a

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

and did not switch to

canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe, canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an 'open canoe' or Canadian. A few of the recreational ...

until after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, when he was a college student. Mohácsi retired from active competition after the 1956 Games, but remained athletically active. Prior to the Games, he had been involved in

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

, and had to choose whether to pursue that sport or canoeing for the 1956 Olympic cycle. Afterwards, he practiced

sport shooting Shooting sports is a group of competitive sport, competitive and recreational sporting activities involving proficiency tests of accuracy, precision and speed in shooting — the art of using ranged weapons, mainly small arms (firearms and airg ...

and motorboating, and was involved in the administration of

diving Diving most often refers to: * Diving (sport), the sport of jumping into deep water * Underwater diving, human activity underwater for recreational or occupational purposes Diving or Dive may also refer to: Sports * Dive (American football), ...

, including a stint as a member of the executive committee of the World Diving Association from 1972 through 1989. He also earned a degree in teaching

physical education Physical education is an academic subject taught in schools worldwide, encompassing Primary education, primary, Secondary education, secondary, and sometimes tertiary education. It is often referred to as Phys. Ed. or PE, and in the United Stat ...

in 1966. Mohácsi died on 29 April 2025, at the age of 95.

References

Sources

Ferenc Mohácsi's profile at Sports Reference.com
1929 births 2025 deaths Canoeists at the 1956 Summer Olympics Hungarian male canoeists Olympic canoeists for Hungary Olympic bronze medalists for Hungary Olympic medalists in canoeing Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics 20th-century Hungarian sportsmen {{Hungary-Olympic-medalist-stub