János Kilián

János Kilián started skating competitively during the war years, making his first Hungarian Championship appearance in 1942. Kilián placed 3rd in the 1944 and 1946 editions of that championship, and was sent to the first post-War Olympics in St. Moritz. Competing in three events, he placed 14th, 15th and 16th, which were remarkable results considering he had sustained a punctured lung and rib injuries during training earlier in the season. The Hungarian raced a full international season in 1949, ranking 15th in the European Championships, and 28th in the Worlds. Kilián also ranked 2nd in the Hungarian Championships, his best performance. Following the season, Kilián requested asylum in Sweden. Kilián would remain in Sweden all his life, initially working as a speed skating coach. In the 1950s, he introduced and popularized the Hungarian table top game “Gombfoci” (button football) in Sweden.

Personal Bests: 500 – 44.0 (1943); 1500 – 2:22.5 (1948); 5000 – 8:52.1 (1949); 10000 – 18:36.8 (1943).