Police have confirmed the theft of champion fencer László Csongrádi’s Olympic gold medal, which he won in Seoul in 1988, during a break-in at his home.
According to press reports, police have launched an investigation. It is believed that the thieves may have been hoping to profit from the stolen Olympic gold medal, which holds great sentimental value to László Csongrádi, who “contributed to the Olympic gold medal with his excellent fencing, defeating the Soviet team 4:8”.
László Csongrádi, now 65, qualified as a reserve for the sword team at the 1988 Summer Olympics, following an injury to György Csongrádi Nébald. The starting team consisted of Imre Bujdosó, Imre Gedővári, György Nébald, and Bence Szabó.
Sportal managed to reach László Csongrádi, who provided a detailed account of the burglary:
“I was asleep in my room when it happened. The medal was in a cupboard where I had previously put it, but it wasn’t visible as it was wrapped in several layers. The burglar must have spent quite a while in my house, leaving every single door and drawer wide open, before I left my room and shouted at him. He could have taken other valuable items, but for some reason, that was all he cared about. I don’t know what he can do with something that is just a metallic coating, so not worth much in a market like this. I just want my gold medal back,” said the Olympian.
The robbery of the Olympic gold medalist is not the first such incident in recent times. Hungarian boxing champion Valentin Koloszár was recently threatened with a knife by a woman after his partner stole 20,000 forints from him at the Népliget Bus Station, reports Index.
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