Aladár Gerevich
A Hungarian sabreur who achieved the impossible: winning gold medals at six consecutive Olympic Games across a 28-year span.
1910–1991 (age 81)·Hungarian fencer·Birthday: March 16·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Aladár Gerevich's name is synonymous with Olympic longevity and dominance in a sport of lightning speed. As part of Hungary's formidable sabre squad, he was a cornerstone of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. His first gold came at the 1932 Los Angeles Games; his last, at the 1960 Rome Olympics when he was 50 years old. In between, a world war could not break his stride—he returned in 1948 to reclaim gold. Gerevich was not just a team player; he was a seven-time individual Olympic medalist and a ten-time world champion. His technique was a blend of impeccable timing, aggressive footwork, and a psychological edge that seemed to sharpen with age. He competed against generations of fencers, from those born before World War I to athletes of the space age, and defeated them all, setting a standard of sustained excellence that remains untouched.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Aladár was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aladár Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Aladár's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 80
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1991Died at 81
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
Key Achievements
- Won a gold medal in team sabre at six consecutive Olympic Games from 1932 to 1960.
- Earned seven Olympic gold medals in total across team and individual events.
- Captured ten individual and team World Championship titles in sabre fencing.
Did You Know?
He is the only Olympian to win gold medals 28 years apart.
The Hungarian Olympic Committee initially tried to leave the 50-year-old Gerevich off the 1960 team, but he earned his spot by winning the national qualifying tournament.
His wife, Erna Bogen, was an Olympic silver medalist in fencing, and his son, Pál Gerevich, also competed in Olympic fencing.
“The blade is an extension of the will; its speed, a matter of discipline.”
