Antal Róka

As a walker Antal Róka first competed for the Újpest Torna Klub, then for a short time he represented the BEAC and MEFESZ SE clubs, until he finally ended up with the Budapesti Honvéd in 1950. From 1949 to 1955, except for 1954, Róka finished first in the 50 km national championship every year, and in 1951 he also won the Hungarian championship title in the 10 km. Between 1952 and 1955 he set three world records, twice in the 30-mile walk and once in the 50-kilometres walk.

Róka competed for the Hungarian national team from 1952 to 1956. He won a bronze medal in the 50km walk at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, before winning bronze at the 1954 European Athletics Championships in Bern. After setting a world record in the 50 km walk in 1955, he was considered one of the main contenders for the Melbourne Olympics. Róka eventually finished fifth at the Games in Australia, which unfortunately had a sad reason. He was offered a refreshment on the way, which he accepted, but the drink contained poison, with him being hospitalised with symptoms of poisoning after the race. According to the most likely scenario, some people back home did not want him to succeed, because the competitor tied a black ribbon to the national flag as a sign of solidarity with the revolution in Budapest.

His recovery took a long time and he immediately returned to Hungary, but he was not welcomed as a hero, and in fact, he became politically persecuted. Trials followed one another in his life, his wife left him, he was left alone, and despite being a seven-time Hungarian champion at the age of 28, his sports career ended against his will before he was 30.

Róka was no longer allowed to compete at home. He was neglected in all areas of life, and had to take on various jobs to somehow make a living, until he was apparently pardoned in the last years of his life and became a coach of the Central Sports School.

However, his life only temporarily returned to normal, because the communist political leadership never forgot his deed of 1956. Róka died in Siófok at the age of 43, according to assumptions, a second poisoning caused his death, but this time he was not taken to hospital where he might have recovered.

Personal Best: 50kmW – 4-21:58 (1956).