RIP Laszlo Tabori

[26mi235]

I put them here where people will see them; I only go to the Historical section about once or twice a month. Then they can be shunted. I suppose that I should have looked there first.

[gh]

all RIP threads are shunted to Historical

[Master Po]

Thanks for sharing this moment you had of running with Tabori. A great memory. (By the way, there is a Tabori thread in Historical, in case you have not see it as yet.)

[26mi235]

RIP Laszlo Tabori dies at 86

Great Hungarian 1500/5000 runner who was the third one to break 4 in 1955. He defected (with his coach Mihaly Igloi to the US rather than return to Hungary after the Games. His training for the '56 games was adversely affected by the Hungarian revolt in 1956 that was brutally put down.

I ran along side him for several miles in my first marathon in 1974 as he and several others accompanied Jacqueline Hansen to a world Record (her second) of 2:43 or so (going by memory). I was stunned to find out how fast we were running, since I knew the Women's WR was about 2:47, so how fast could some local runner be going...

[Pego]

I was a teenager when this great Hungarian group came on stage. Besides the three milers mentioned above, there were also Kovács, Szabó and Rózsnyoi. In those days, a dual meet Czechoslovakia-Hungary was held annually. Great memories, I recall personally attending 2 of them, in Bratislava and Ostrava.

BTW, I did not know Tábori was born in Košice.

[Davidokun]

There was a lengthy obituary in Friday's N.Y. Times.

Laszlo Tabori, Celebrated Hungarian Runner Who Bolted to U.S., Dies at 86

[KDFINE]

There was a lengthy obituary in Friday's N.Y. Times. According to it, he was born Lazslo Tabircsuk in Kocise. I found two stories from Tabori's youth interesting. His father worked at a railroad station, and as a youth he delivered messages to people living 6 or 7 miles away, running all the way. During WW2 he would steal food from the German troops and run off, obviously not being caught.

[Per Andersen]

Was that the Belgrade race, in which Kuts went out fast, and everyone stayed way back?

No, the Euro Champs were in Bern, Switzerland. And yes, Kuts killed them, just ran away from them all. Chataway was second with Zatopek third. But later, in the London-Moscow match Chataway hung on to Kuts, beat him and set a new WR.

Good thing Dukehjsteve is awake here. For sure, Jazy was second!!!

[catson52]

5k. That was after Kuts won European Championships, beating Zatopek, I think.

Was that the Belgrade race, in which Kuts went out fast, and everyone stayed way back?

[jeremyp]

I remember watching the race on BBC tv. The Brits were shell-shocked by the Hungarians. Firstly, Honved whipped the English team in football (soccer) in 1954. Then they beat them on their turf in “their” event. Chataway’s victory over Kuts in the 3 mile (or was it a 5k race) brought them some solace.

5k. That was after Kuts won European Championships, beating Zatopek, I think.

[catson52]

This is 1955 race in White City where he finished 3:59.0. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIMRSS354VE

I remember watching the race on BBC tv. The Brits were shell-shocked by the Hungarians. Firstly, Honved whipped the English team in football (soccer) in 1954. Then they beat them on their turf in “their” event. Chataway’s victory over Kuts in the 3 mile (or was it a 5k race) brought them some solace.

[dukehjsteve]

Yes, he was a good guy, probably the most personable of the three great Hungarians. 1955 was his greatest year. Best Mile time, but he ran WR, 3.40.8 1500, superior to the mile time. Iharos also had run 3.40.8 that year but Tabori's time came in a great race against Denmark's Gunnar Nielsen at Bislet in Oslo. Both got 3.40.8 in that race and Tabori was the winner. But then the outrageous Soviet invasion in 1956 ruined the whole thing for them. Rozsavolgyi did set a WR in the 1500 in '56 and got Silver at that distance at Rome 1960.

Tut tut Per, but Rosy took the Bronze... Jazy was 2nd.

[tandfman]

I was there that day. First track meet that I ever attended. Just checked my program. Yes he won in 13:50.0. Max Trues was more than 2 second back.

I was there too, but it was not the first track meet I ever attended.

[Per Andersen]

This is 1955 race in White City where he finished 3:59.0. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIMRSS354VE

Yes, he was a good guy, probably the most personable of the three great Hungarians. 1955 was his greatest year. Best Mile time, but he ran WR, 3.40.8 1500, superior to the mile time. Iharos also had run 3.40.8 that year but Tabori's time came in a great race against Denmark's Gunnar Nielsen at Bislet in Oslo. Both got 3.40.8 in that race and Tabori was the winner. But then the outrageous Soviet invasion in 1956 ruined the whole thing for them. Rozsavolgyi did set a WR in the 1500 in '56 and got Silver at that distance at Rome 1960.

[KDFINE]

My memory says I saw Tabori win the 3 mile at the Nationals at Randall's Island NYC in 1961.

I was there that day. First track meet that I ever attended. Just checked my program. Yes he won in 13:50.0. Max Trues was more than 2 second back.