Károly Kővári

As a student Károly Kővári practiced a number of sports – athletics, gymnastics, hockey, skiing, and later kayaking and sailing. He began his career in the colors of BBTE, then from 1936 he was with BSZKRT. In skiing he was successful in both Alpine and Nordic disciplines. Between 1933 and 1950, he was a seven-time individual and a 10-time team national champion.

Kővári was a member of the Hungarian cross-country ski relay that finished ninth at the 1933 World Championships. In 1936, he took part in the Winter Olympics in Garmisch Partenkirchen, where he finished 27th in the Alpine combined. He also started in the 18 km cross-country event, but he considered it more as a training run.

After World War II, he also took part in the 1948 Winter Olympics, having just recovered from a broken leg, and finished 65th in the downhill and 46th in the Alpine combined. From 1942 he was the federal captain of the Hungarian Nordic ski team, while from 1952 he was the coach of the BKV Elöre ski and sailing department. Since 1979, the Károly Kővári Memorial Sailing Regatta has been held every year on Lake Balaton.