Ferenc Török

Ferenc Török was one of the original pentathlon champions who inspired generations of Hungarians to believe they could dominate the world. He won individual gold at the Summer Olympic Games (Tokyo 1964) and as part of a strong Hungarian team, he also claimed a bronze medal in 1964 and a second gold in Mexico City in 1968.

Born in 1935, it was in 1961 when Török first rose to global prominence. Alongside double Olympic champion Ferenc Németh, András Balczó and Imre Nagy, they teamed up to win team silver behind the Soviet Union. A year later they won silver again, with Török claiming individual bronze, and in 1963 Hungary finally claimed the team gold, also dominating the individual event with Török finishing second only to his team-mate Balczó.

In 1964 in Tokyo, Török had the privilege of competing alongside his younger brother, Ottó, as well as Nagy. He took care of his responsibilities and led from the front to win gold, ensuring that the individual Olympic title would come back to Hungary, even if the Soviets were untouchable in the team standings. Later in the year, Ferenc was voted Hungarian Sportsman of the Year.

When Mexico City hosted the Olympics four years later, Török was now 33 and he could only manage to finish 12th, although he enjoyed the glory of standing atop the Olympic podium one more time as member of the al-conquering Hungarian team, alongside silver medallist Balczó and István Móna.

After the 1968 Olympic Games, Móna and Török finished their sporting careers with a doctorate, while Balczó continued his career and kept the gold-medal sequence going with the individual Olympic title in Munich in 1972.

Like many pentathletes, Török went on to have a successful professional career after giving up on competing. He became a judge in Budapest and later opened a law firm, and from 1990 to 1994 he was a member of the Free Democrats in Parliament. He also remained involved in pentathlon and in 1989 was named Hungarian Coach of the Year.