Katalin Makray

Last updated

Pál Schmitt
(m. 1966)
Katalin Makray-Schmitt
Makray Katalin 2011.jpg
Makray in 2011
First Lady of Hungary
In role
6 August 2010 2 April 2012
Children3, including Petra
Medal record
Women's gymnastics
Representing Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1964 Tokyo Uneven bars

Katalin Makray (born 5 April 1945) is a Hungarian former gymnast who competed at the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. She won silver on the uneven bars at the 1964 Olympics. [1]

Contents

She is the spouse of former President of Hungary Pál Schmitt and served as the First Lady of Hungary from 2010 to 2012, during her husband's presidency at the Sándor Palace.

Gymnastics career

Makray was born in Vasvár. She moved to Budapest as a child, [2] where she began gymnastics at age 10. [3] Her coaches included Margit Csillik. She joined the national team at a young age. [2]

She won eight Hungarian national tiles. At the 1962 World Championships, she placed 6th in the uneven bars final as well as fourth in the team competition with her teammates. [2] At the 1963 Summer Universiade, she won the individual all-around, tied with Larisa Latynina, [3] as well as the team competition. Two years later, at the 1965 Summer Universiade, she won an individual bronze and a second team gold medal. [2]

Makray was selected for the 1964 Summer Olympics and won silver on the uneven bars. Her last year of competition was 1968, when she was selected again for the 1968 Summer Olympics, where she placed fifth in the team competition with her Hungarian teammates. [2]

Makray met her future husband at a training camp. [2]

Post-gymnastics career

Makray became a professional trainer. She was influential in introducing aerobics to Hungary and was a founding member of the Hungarian the was the protocol director at the 2002 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, held in Hungary. [2]

Personal life

Makray has three daughters, who all played tennis; her daughter Petra Schmitt became a professional tennis player. [2]

References

  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Katalin Makray-Schmitt". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "80 éves Makray Katalin" [Katalin Makray, 80 years old]. Magyar Olimpiai Bizottság (in Hungarian). 5 April 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 "1963: The Men's and Women's Competitions at the University Games – Gymnastics History". Gymnastics History. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2026.