50 greatest Summer Olympians in history
By John Buhler
20. Aladar Gerevich, Fencing.
Over six Olympiads, Hungarian fencer Aladar Gerevich dominated his sport. Had World War II never happened, it might have been eight. To date, Gerevich is the only Summer Olympian to win gold in the same event — sabre team — six different times.
Gerevich won his first of seven gold medals at the 1932 Summer Games in Los Angeles, eventually taking gold in the sabre team in 1936 (Berlin), 1948 (London), 1952 (Helsinki), 1956 (Melbourne), and 1960 (Rome).
Gerevich would also earn four other medals outside of leading the Hungarian sabre team; gold in 1948 for sabre individual; silver in 1952 for sabre individual, bronze in 1936 for sabre individual, and bronze in 1952 for foil team.
During the 1960 Olympic Trials, the 50-year-old Gerevich was told he was too old to compete. He promptly challenged every member of his Hungarian national team to one-on-one matches, winning them all to earn his spot on the 1960 team. He coached fencing in Hungary after his competitive retirement, passing away at 81 in 1991.
Next: 19. Natalie Coughlin.