Istvan Major

Background

He was born in Budapest.

Education

In the summer that year he finished fourth at the 1971 European Championships.

Career

His best Olympic performance was a sixth place in 1972. His first victory came at the 1971 European Indoor Championships in Sofia. His winning result of 2.24 metres was a new championships record, and also his career best jump.

In the same year he competed at the Olympic Games, tying for sixth place overall.

With a jump of 2.18 metres he equalled the winning result of Vladimír Malý, however Major lost on countback. At the 1974 European Indoor Championships he again jumped 2.20 metres, but this time it was only enough for a silver medal behind Soviet"s Kęstutis Šapka.

At the 1974 European Championships he took his second fourth place in a row, losing the bronze medal to Vladimír Malý on countback. At the 1975 European Indoor Championships, Major only managed an eighth place, jumping 2.16 metres.

However, with results under 2.20 his heyday was over.

At the 1976 Summer Olympics, he entered the qualifying round, and passed 2.00 and 2.05 in his first attempts, but did not pass 2.10, thus not reaching the final round. He placed in joint thirteenth place at the 1977 European Indoor Championships, again with 2.16 metres, and thirteenth also at the 1979 European Indoor Championships, with 2.15 metres. Also, in 1977 Major"s championships record was beaten by Jacek Wszoła.

Number other competitor at the European Veterans Championships has come close to such a result.

Major worked for many years as an elementary school teacher near Toronto, Canada.

Achievements

• He won four medals at the European Indoor Championships between 1971 and 1974, as well as a two silver medals at the Universiade. His first international achievement was the fifth place at the 1969 European Championships. All three medalists jumped 2.17, but Major won on countback. At the 1973 European Indoor Championships he won his third gold medal in a row, this time with 2.20 metres. In the summer he won a silver medal at the Universiade in Moscow. In the summer he did win his second silver medal at the Universiade. Like last time, Major tied with the winner. With 2.13 metres, Enzo Delegate Forno won on countback. On the other hand Major beat bronze medallist Danial Temim who had 2.13 metres as well. Major became Hungarian high jump champion in 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1978, rivalling with Endre Kelemen. He also became indoor champion in 1977 and 1978. In 1990 Major won a gold medal at the European Veterans Championships, recording 2.07 metres in the +40 years class. In 2002 Major set a Canadian record for the +55 years class, with 1.85 metres, achieved in July in Toronto.

Views

He then defended the gold medal at the 1972 European Indoor Championships in Grenoble.