Ivan Bordi

Born in Romania in 1938 Ivan Bordi played water polo for his country before moving to the United States where he became a successful orthopedic doctor under the name of John Bordy. In 1956 Bordi left home to represent the Romanian water polo team at the Melbourne Olympics, playing in goal. As an ethnic Hungarian he had an opportunity to defect with other Hungarians who also competed at the Olympics. The athletes toured the United States under the billing of the Freedom Fighters’ Tour, complete with sponsoring from Sport’s Illustrated.

Bordi enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, playing on their water polo team for four years. He joined the San Francisco Olympic Club, winning the American National Championships in 1957 and 1959. After graduating from Stanford Medical School he first took an internship before enlisting in the Navy. Upon his return to Stanford, Bordi began working as an orthopedic surgeon, before spending the next 30 years working in Redwood City, California.