SZILAGYI Aron

General
HISTORIC OLYMPIC AMBITIONS
At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo he is aiming to become the first fencer from any nation to win three individual sabre Olympic gold medals. He also believes the Hungarian men's sabre team have their strongest chance of winning their first Olympic title since the 1988 Games. "I'm extremely motivated to win a third Olympic gold in 2020. But besides this, our team has matured and there is a real chance for a medal. If I could win a team Olympic gold to go with three individual golds, that would be the ultimate." (origo.hu, 24 Jun 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Jun 2019)

EVOLVING SPORT
Speaking in 2018 he said his fencing style had adapted in line with international fencing trends. "My great strength is my footwork, so I prefer longer duels as it allows me time to develop my game. However, the experience of international competitions shows that the trend is actually the opposite - 80 to 90% of fencers move in very quickly, and there is not much time to develop your action. Opponents lunge and you have to react very quickly, but fortunately I can adapt to this style. I have been fencing since I was nine, but there is always room for improvement, whether in terms of rhythm, speed, timing or footwork." (molcsapat.hu, 25 Feb 2018)

FLAG BEARER SUPERSTITION
When he was offered the chance to be Hungary's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, he initially hesitated to accept due to a belief that had been held in Hungary that being flag bearer was bad luck. "We have had this superstition for 50 or 60 years, that at every Olympic Games the flag bearer will not receive a gold medal. It was true for 50 or 60 years. When the Hungarian Olympic Committee asked me if I would like to be the flag bearer, I asked for a couple of days to think about it. I talked to my coach. Of course I talked to my psychologist and my wife. We tried to figure out which is the better way to go. We thought that being the flag bearer could possibly enhance my confidence and boost my energy. So I accepted and did it and I was there at the opening ceremony bearing the flag with the team. I watched the video every day until the competition day. And it really worked. It gave me great additional energy. I watched this and I watched my last bout [at the 2012 Olympic Games] in London. It was a confidence boost." He went on to win gold in Rio. (academyoffencingmasters.com, 13 Jul 2020)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In January 2017 he was elected president of the International Fencing Federation [FIE] Athletes' Commission. In 2020 he became president of the fencing department of his club, Vasas SC in Budapest, Hungary. "I thought that since I have been an athlete of Vasas for more than 20 years and my second home is the Pal Kovacs Fencing Hall, I am happy to try to help the department in a new role. I have said before that I would like to remain in the world of sport after I stop competing, and I feel that the position of president of the division can be a good introduction and trial in this area, both for Vasas and for myself." (fie.org, 04 Jan 2017; nemzetisport.hu, 14 Sep 2020)