H I S T O R Y O F F A I R F I E L D C A N O E C L U B
Kayaking history of Zoltan Szigeti
By Alan Opie
Zoltan was born 17 December 1932 in Budapest, Hungary. Both his parents were
interested in various sports and encouraged him to do the same.
Zoltan, after trying out several sports, took up kayaking in the spring
of 1950 at the age of 17. Within a month, as a custom of the place, Zoli
started sprint competition in touring class and moved up to K1 competition
half way through the season.
At the last regatta of the year he achieved a second place which made him
the second best junior in the country. 1950 was his last year as a junior.
1951 started with some good results in Open K1. Selection in the National
Team and second place in an International Regatta followed. A month later
Zoltan won a National Championship in the K2 500m and in Autumn was
selected in the 1952 Olympic Squad.
After changing clubs, Zoltan worked very hard within the squad for the
Helsinki Olympic Team selection but the standard was too high for the 19
year old. He was the last competitor eliminated from the squad before the
trip.
Things were looking up in 1953 with the formation of a K4 within the new
club and winning two selection trials in the K2. A trip to Moscow for a
five nation regatta was followed with a National Championship win in
the K4. Zoltan was then selected into the World Championship Squad for
1954.
1954 started well for Zoltan. He won two out of three selection trials and
the National Championship in the K4. The World Championships in Macon,
France was the highlight of the year where Zoltan was a member of the
winning K4 1000m team. It was a very good year for him.
1955 and as part of the preparation for the Melbourne Games the four had
to split into two doubles since there was no K4 race in the programme.
Although they still raced the K4 in three international regattas, the
K2 1000m became the important race. At the third international, a
Swedish-Hungarian regatta with two boats from each nation, one of the
Swedish pair was unbeaten in 1955 and the other Hungarian pair were the
current World Champions. Zoltan and partner won the race and were named
the best double in the World in 1955.
The 1956 programme consisted of five selection trials and three
international regattas. Zoltan and partner won them all. Then came
the tragedy - they did not make the final at the Olympics.
In 1957, Zoltan decided to stay in Australia and joined the Fairfield
Canoe Club. He started to race in 1958 and during the next six years won
17 Victorian and 4 Australian Championships. He also started coaching
at the same time.
Zoltan was invited to give talks on canoe/kayaking in several Australian
states and in New Zealand. He was also the manager for the 1968 Mexico
and 1980 Moscow Australian Olympic Canoe/Kayak teams.
Now-a-days he still coaches 2-3 times a week in the sport he loves.
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