Career
Ónodi, also known as "Henni" in the gymnastics community, began gymnastics in 1978 and made her international debut in 1986. Too young to qualify for the 1988 Olympics, she made her senior debut in 1989 and represented Hungary at the World Championships that year, where she placed 19th in the all-around and 5th in the balance beam event finals. Over the next few years, Ónodi established herself as a medal contender at major events.
In 1989 she became the first female Hungarian gymnast to medal at the European Championships with a gold on the uneven bars.
At the 1990 Europeans she placed third in the all-around and the floor exercise. She tied with Romanian Lavinia Miloșovici for the gold in the vault event final.
On floor exercise, performing to "Hungarian Rhapsody" she finished second behind Miloşovici. Ónodi"s difficulty level on vault was actually higher than Milosovici"s (they both used full twisting Yurchenkos but Henrietta did a piked barani and Milosovici a tucked).
Ónodi also performed the difficult triple twist on floor, then an unusual move (nobody else in the Barcelona floor finals did it).
Ónodi retired after Barcelona and attempted to compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association gymnastics, pursue her education at the University level, and coach. She returned to international competition in 1995 at the World University Games and subsequently led the Hungarian team at the 1996 Olympics. She retired again in 1997 after attending her second University Games.
Ónodi made many contributions to gymnastics during her competitive career.
She was lauded for her unique style and power on vaulting and floor. Her uneven bars routine consisted of elements on the low bar at a time when most gymnasts did the minimum two elements on the low Barometer
Eponymous skills
She became a United States citizen in 2015.
