Henrietta Ónodi (born May 22, 1974) is a Hungarian artistic gymnast. She competed at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and won a gold and a silver medal in 1992. After retiring from gymnastics in 1997 she moved to the United States, married American Olympic pentathlete James Haley, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, having three children together. In 2010, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Career

Ónodi began gymnastics in 1978, and made her international debut in 1986. Too young to qualify for the 1988 Olympics, she made her senior debut in 1989 and represented Hungary at the World Championships that year, where she placed 19th in the all-around and 5th in the balance beam event finals. Over the next few years, Ónodi established herself as a medal contender at major events. In 1989, she became the first female Hungarian gymnast to medal at the European Championships with a gold on the uneven bars; at the 1990 Europeans, she placed third in the all-around and the floor exercise. In 1990, she also finished third in the all-around at the

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and the World Cup where she won the vault event. At the 1991 World Championships Ónodi suffered a sudden back injury, but was able to win a silver medal on vault and helped the Hungarian squad qualify for the 1992 Olympics with an eighth-place finish in the team final. The next year at the Olympics in

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, Ónodi became the first female Hungarian gymnast in over 30 years to win an Olympic gold medal. She tied with

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

n Lavinia Miloșovici for the gold in the vault event final; on floor exercise, performing to " Hungarian Rhapsody" she finished second behind Miloşovici. Ónodi's difficulty level on vault was actually higher than Miloșovici's (they both used full twisting Yurchenkos but Henrietta did a piked barani and Milosovici a tucked). Ónodi also performed the difficult triple twist on floor, then an unusual move (nobody else in the Barcelona floor finals did it). Ónodi semi-retired after Barcelona Olympics to focus on her studies. She returned to international competitions in 1995 at the World University Games and subsequently led the Hungarian team at the 1996 Olympics. She retired again in 1997 after attending her second University Games.Henrietta Ónodi
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Skills and style

Ónodi made many contributions to gymnastics during her competitive career. She was lauded for her unique style and power on vaulting and floor. Her uneven bars routine consisted of elements on the low bar at a time when most gymnasts did the minimum two elements on the low bar.

Eponymous skill

Onodi has one eponymous skill listed in the Code of Points.

Post-retirement

In 2001 Ónodi graduated with a degree in marketing and found a job in

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, as Director of Community Relations for the World Olympians Association. She married Jimbo Haley, an American pentathlete who also competed at the 1992 Olympics, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. In 2010, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In March 2024, at 50 years of age, Henrietta suffered a heart attack, the severity of which has necessitated long-term care. Her sister has set up a GoFund me.

Competitive history

References

External links

*
List of competitive results at Gymn-Forum

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unofficial fan site {{DEFAULTSORT:Onodi, Henrietta 1974 births Living people Sportspeople from Békéscsaba Gymnasts from Békés County Hungarian female artistic gymnasts Olympic gymnasts for Hungary Olympic gold medalists for Hungary Olympic silver medalists for Hungary Olympic medalists in gymnastics Gymnasts at the 1992 Summer Olympics Gymnasts at the 1996 Summer Olympics World champion gymnasts Medalists at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics Naturalized citizens of the United States Competitors at the 1990 Goodwill Games Goodwill Games medalists in gymnastics European champions in gymnastics Competitors at the 1995 Summer Universiade Competitors at the 1997 Summer Universiade