A planet was named after a Hungarian Olympic Champion athlete

According to 24.hu, a minor planet was named after the Hungarian Olympic Champion of hammer throw, Gyula Zsivótzky. He now “officially looks down at us” from 175437 Zsivotzky (2006 QJ31).

The great news was shared by his son, World Championship bronze medallist decathlete Attila Zsivoczky on his Facebook page:

“From now on, dad officially looks down at us from the sky. A minor planet was named after him thanks to the Bányai Panorama Association. I am very proud.”

NASA shared a small introduction about the athlete on their website, and that the planet named after him was discovered by two Hungarian astronomers, Krisztián Sárneczky and Zoltán Kuli on the 21^st of August, 2006 in Piszkostető.

According to nemzetisport.hu, Gyula Zsivótzky first showed his talent at the 1958 European Championships in Stockholm, where he won a bronze medal. He went on by winning a silver medal at the Olympic Games held in Rome, and becoming the best of the European field in 1962.

He was preparing for the Tokyo Olympic Games with high hopes, when he had to go through a serious stomach operation. He spent 200 days in the hospital and lost 17 kilograms. But thanks to his incredible willpower, six months later he won another silver medal at the Olympic Games.

His dream came true in 1968 in Mexico, when he became the Olympic Champion of hammer throw. He also won thirteen National Championships and set several world and national records throughout his career.

Photo: Wiki Commons

He was chosen as the Hungarian athlete of the 20^th century by the Hungarian Athletics Association, while the International Association of Athletics Federations listed him among the top 100 athletes of the past century. He was awarded with the Athlete of the Nation title in 2004.

Moreover, he was the vice-president of the Hungarian Athletics Association, the member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee’s presidency, the leader of the Traditionalist Committee and the president of the Mező Ferenc Public Foundation’s advisory board.

With his honesty, helpfulness, solidarity and sportmanliness, he became one of the greatest figures of Hungarian sport and the role model of young athletes.

He died in 2007, at the age of 70.

Featured image: www.fortepan.hu (MagyarRendőr)

Ce: bm

Source: http://24.hu/, http://www.nemzetisport.hu/