Gyorgy Karpati (HUN)

Honor Water Polo (1982)

FOR THE RECORD:  OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (1952, 1956, 1964), bronze (1960); EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (1954 1958, 1962).

In Hungary, a country where water polo players last longer, Karpati started first, making the world and Olympic champion national team at age 16, and quickly becoming the world’s best outside forward.  He invented the “feint shot” to disrupt the goal-tenders rhythm and attention, winning two Olympic gold medals before he was 23.  Gyorgy played on the all-winning Olympic gold medal water polo teams in 1952, 1956 and 1964.  They finished third in 1960 and won the European championships in 1954, 1956 and 1962.  The world renowned water polo writer, Bela Rajki writes: “He is the world’s best outside forward today.  He knows practically everything that an outside forward should know to perform his tasks faultlessly.  He swims well — he covers 100 meters in less than 59 seconds.  His dynamic movements, ball handling and shooting ability make him capable of solving the most difficult tasks. Apart from the commonly known throwing methods, he often uses individual shooting methods.”