István Horváth

István Horváth started athletics at the local high school in Zalaegerszeg. Shot put and discus throw were his main disciplines. Already in 1931, competing in the colors of MOVE in Zalaegerszeg, he took second place at the Hungarian championship in shot put. From 1933 he competed for the Magyar Athletic Club. In 1933, 1934 and 1935 he again placed second in the national championship in shot put. Between 1931 and 1936 he attended a teacher training school in Pécs and during this time was trained by Elemér Somfay. In 1936, with his individual best of 15.20, he won his only individual national championship title in shot put, ahead of József Darányi, who had been the champion for the previous 10 years. In 1937, Horváth again placed second.

Between 1934 and 1937 Horváth competed for the Hungarian national team nine times. He appeared at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he finished 14th in shot put. After his sports career, he worked as a mathematics and chemistry teacher and then as a school director.

Personal Best: SP – 15.20 (1936).