{"id":250,"date":"2021-02-12T17:44:23","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T16:44:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gyulaimemorial.hu\/?page_id=250"},"modified":"2026-01-12T20:32:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T19:32:47","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gyulaimemorial.hu\/en\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the successor of the world-famous Budapest Grand Prix of the 1980s, the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix was first organised in 2011.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aim of the organising team consisting of just a few persons was to put Hungary back to the map of international athletics after a break of almost two decades and to increase the popularity of athletics in Hungary with the help of the competition.<\/p>\n

The name of Istv\u00e1n Gyulai proved to be an excellent key word for the athletes and managers of the world. The tournament was commenced in the fifth year following the early decease of Istv\u00e1n Gyulai. Thus, the competition is named after one of the most well-known and well-respected Hungarian sports diplomats, former secretary general of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), general secretary of the\u00a0International Association of Athletics Federation<\/strong>\u00a0(IAAF)<\/strong>\u00a0for a decade and a half, 28-time Hungarian athletics champion, winner of the Universiade and Olympic athlete.<\/p>\n

In the midst of the economic crisis it was possible to build up a one-day athletics competition almost from scratch, with the participation of reigning Olympic and world champions as well as world-record holders already in its first year, reaching the best results of all time in Hungary, or even the world\u2019s best result in 2011.\u00a0Asafa Powell<\/strong>\u00a0(JAM) won with 9.90 in the preliminary heat, then with 9.86 in the final, which has allowed him to be the owner of the best 100 metres time achieved in Hungary ever since. In the same year, there was no one throwing farther than the Olympic silver medallist\u00a0Zolt\u00e1n K\u0151v\u00e1g\u00f3<\/strong>\u00a0(HUN) (Szolnoki Honv\u00e9d), whose discus landed at 69.50 metres. The Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial was immediately recognized by the public and was put 33rd in the world ranking of one-day tournaments, indicating that the competition is to be reckoned with in the future.<\/p>\n

In 2012 the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix was organised one week after the London Summer Olympics, on 20 August, the national day of the foundation of the Hungarian state. The event with fireworks was visited by new Olympic champions, returning legends and spectators who filled the stands almost completely.\u00a0Kriszti\u00e1n Pars<\/strong>\u00a0(HUN) took the field for the first time after his Olympic victory and defended his title he had won a year before, just as\u00a0Christian Taylor<\/strong>\u00a0(USA), who did the same in triple jump.<\/p>\n

The year 2013 was the last to organise the event in the\u00a0Ferenc Pusk\u00e1s Stadium<\/strong>, and at the same time, the first that the competition found its own, present place in the international competition calendar. In its most popular year, nearly 1 million spectators viewed the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix on television on 10 July. World champions missed the first place by one centimetre or one hundredth, or appeared as special guest stars, such as Yohan Blake (JAM).\u00a0Kim Collins<\/strong>\u00a0(SKN) ran 100 metres in less then 10 seconds again, and Warren Weir (JAM) came very near to his aim, but the timer stopped at 20.01 following the 200 metres final. In 2013 the\u00a0Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix<\/strong>\u00a0was the 20th best one-day competition in the world.<\/p>\n

In 2014 the tournament found its new home in Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r, in the\u00a0Bregyo Athletics Centre<\/strong>, which had been handed over not long before. The Grand Prix provided the spectators who filled the stands almost completely with a record number of athletes, events and results never seen before.\u00a0Kriszti\u00e1n Pars<\/strong>\u00a0(HUN) broke his personal record after 8 years, and he won the\u00a0IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge<\/strong>\u00a0series. With his victory of 2.38 m in high jump, the world champion\u00a0Bohdan Bondarenko<\/strong>\u00a0(UKR) broke the best outdoor result of all time achieved in Hungary. For the first time in the history of the Memorial,\u00a0Tianna Bartoletta<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) won in two events as no one could defeat her either in 100 m or in long jump.<\/p>\n

In the second year in Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r more Olympic and world champions announced their participation in the tournament to be organised on 7 July than in any previous year. Beside the world\u2019s two best athletes,\u00a0Justin Gatlin<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) and\u00a0Mutaz Essa Barhsim<\/strong>\u00a0(QAT), numerous previous champions returned to the venue of their success. The world champion\u00a0Sergey Shubenkov<\/strong>\u00a0(RUS), the world-record holder\u00a0Anita Wlodarczyk<\/strong>\u00a0(POL) and the young talent from the Bahamas,\u00a0Steven Gardiner<\/strong>, none of them could be defeated. Among others, the world-record holder\u00a0Aries Merritt<\/strong>\u00a0(USA), the Olympic and world champions\u00a0Gerd Kanter<\/strong>\u00a0(EST) and\u00a0LaShawn Merritt<\/strong>\u00a0(USA), the living legend\u00a0Veronica Campbell-Brown<\/strong>\u00a0(JAM) and the world champions\u00a0Robert Malachowski<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Pawel Fajdek<\/strong>\u00a0(POL) also entered the even stronger competition. In 2015 the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial was the world\u2019s best one-day competition, apart from the\u00a0IAAF Diamond League<\/strong>\u00a0series.<\/p>\n

In the year of the Rio Olympics not only the competitors and their trainers, but also the organisers were under extreme pressure. Getting to the Olympics and coping with the competition is not only an opportunity, but also serious responsibility, therefore it was visible in the field of participants how much was at stake in 2016. For the first time in 2016, the\u00a0Istv\u00e1n Gyulai Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix<\/strong>\u00a0became a two-day event and was completed with numerous Super League, Hungarian League and junior events, with the aim of providing more opportunities for the young athletes in Hungary.
\nAnd the results spoke for themselves in the international competition. The world-record holder\u00a0David Rudisha<\/strong>\u00a0(KEN) won in 800 m with world best time, then he won his second Olympic gold medal in Brazil.\u00a0Kirani James<\/strong>\u00a0(GRN) was confident and won in 400 m, but there were also surprising results in more events. The previous world champion\u00a0Donald Thomas<\/strong>\u00a0(BAH) defeated the competition record holder Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR) in high jump, and a new star was born,\u00a0Akani Simbine<\/strong>\u00a0(RSA), who did not only defeat\u00a0Asafa Powell<\/strong>\u00a0(JAM) in 100 m, but also achieved a new national record with 9.89 and won in 200 m, as well. It was a particular pleasure that\u00a0Bal\u00e1zs Baji<\/strong>\u00a0(HUN) won in 110 m hurdles. The Hungarian record holder defeated, among others,\u00a0Omar McLeod<\/strong>\u00a0(JAM), who later became an Olympic champion.<\/p>\n

In the seventh year one of our dreams came true! Since the existence of the Memorial we had been determined to put the competition on the same level with the IAAF Diamond League events, the one-day athletics series registered at the highest level in the world. It was achieved in 2017, and the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix ended the year in 14th place and ranked higher than\u00a0Bislett Games<\/strong>, the famous IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo, with a history of more than 50 years.<\/p>\n

For the historic success there was a need for sensational results, such as the victory of the American world-record holder\u00a0Keni Harrison<\/strong>\u00a0with 12.28 in 100 m hurdles, or the competition record of the Jamaican Olympic champion\u00a0Omar McLeod<\/strong>\u00a0with 12.96 in 110 m hurdles.\u00a0Bal\u00e1zs Baji<\/strong>\u00a0(HUN) did not disappoint this time either, he thanked the audience for encouraging him with a significant Hungarian record, and he came fourth with 13.15. The Hungarian\u00a0Zolt\u00e1n K\u0151v\u00e1g\u00f3<\/strong>\u00a0won in discus throwing (65.57 m), and\u00a0Anita M\u00e1rton<\/strong>\u00a0won in shot put (19.48 m).\u00a0Justin Gatlin<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) ran for the first time within 10 seconds in Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r, and he saved his title with 9.98. The South-African\u00a0Rushwal Samaai<\/strong>\u00a0celebrated his first guest performance in Hungary with a 8.34 m competition record. The form of the world championships bronze medallist was proved by the fact that all his five valid attempts were bigger than 8.20 m. This time the world champion\u00a0Pawel Fajdek<\/strong>\u00a0(POL) could only come close to his own competition record, still, he proved to be better than all the other athletes by almost 5 metres. Since his result of 82.64 m from 2009 only he and\u00a0Kriszti\u00e1n Pars<\/strong>\u00a0have been able to throw bigger in the world.<\/p>\n

For the first time in the history of the competition the Olympic champion\u00a0Shaunae Miller-Uibo<\/strong>\u00a0(BAH) ran 400 m in less than 50 seconds, and\u00a0Kori Carter<\/strong>\u00a0(USA), who became world champion later, also won with competition record in 400 m hurdles with 54.22. The world-record holder\u00a0Anita Wlodarczyk<\/strong>\u00a0(POL) remained undefeated and with 77.77 m she won for the fourth time after each other in the history of the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial. The most successful athlete of the competition is still the American\u00a0Tianna Bartoletta<\/strong>. After 2014 and 2016 the sprinter, who is world-record holder with the 4\u00d7100 m relay, also won the long jump event with 6.79 m in 2017. With her victory in 100 m from 2014, she has four gold medals like Wlodarczyk, but she has a second, third and fifth place in 100 m, as well.<\/p>\n

In 2018 the competition exceeded every previous expectation, mostly because of the overall results. The world\u2019s best athletes competed against each other in not less than 20 international events for two days. As a result,\u00a0Sergey Shubenkov<\/strong>\u00a0won in 110 m hurdles with the world\u2019s best result (12.92 seconds), and he set a new competition record with this. Likewise,\u00a0Mutaz Essa Barshim<\/strong>\u00a0had to \u201cbe satisfied\u201d with the competition record and the world\u2019s best result of 2018 in high jump. The world champion from Quatar effortlessly leaped over 240 cm, and when he attempted a new world record of 246 cm some considered in the stadium that the bar would stay up. He almost completed, however, he knocked off the bar incomprehensively.<\/p>\n

In both one-lap hurdle events the competition record list was modified. First,\u00a0Yasmani Copello<\/strong>\u00a0from Turkey made history with 48.93 seconds, then Janieve Russel from Jamaica broke the record set less than a year before. She set the new record at 54.16 seconds.\u00a0Shaunae Miller-Uibo<\/strong>, the Olympic champion from the Bahamas improved the record set by herself in 400 m, and she came in with 49.53. Furthermore,\u00a0Christian Taylor<\/strong>, who is a bit of a legend returned to the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial after five years of break. To the great satisfaction of the audience, the two-time Olympic and three-time world champion triple jumper improved his best competition result to 17.36 m.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the records, as well, the\u00a0Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial<\/strong>\u00a0achieved the best result on the All-Athletics.com computer-based world rankings following the 14 meetings of the\u00a0IAAF Diamond League<\/strong>. As a result, the Memorial saved its place as the biggest and most prestigious athletics tournament in the region.<\/p>\n

The competition is to be organised on Tuesday, 9 July 2019, in the Regional Athletic Centre of Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r.<\/p>\n

In 2019 the meeting was reduced to a single day of competition in Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r. All 17 international and both national underage events were traditionally staged on a Tuesday, 9 July involving some of the best athletes of the world.<\/p>\n

The statisticians registered four new meeting records, two national records, a continental record and two world leads at the end of the day. Moreover, we were particularly proud of welcoming back such legends as double Olympic and triple world champion\u00a0Christian Taylor<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) Olympic and world champion\u00a0Shaunae Miller-Uibo<\/strong>\u00a0(BAH), world record holder\u00a0Kendra Harrison<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) or the all time great hammer thrower\u00a0Pawel Fajdek<\/strong>\u00a0(POL).<\/p>\n

Miller-Uibo and Taylor set new meeting records. The queen of sprints opted for the shorter distance in 2019 and won the 200m with 22.18, while Taylor landed at 17.68m in a special triple jump competition that was exclusively broadcasted online for the first time ever. Fans followed the live stream from all corners of the world.<\/p>\n

The fastest man in the world,\u00a0Christian Coleman<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) also set a meeting record in the half-lap event, clocking 19.91 and setting an all-comers record for Hungary.<\/p>\n

Genezebe Dibaba<\/strong>\u00a0arrived in Hungary with the intention of setting a new world record in the 2000m event. Although she barely missed the mark, still managed to set a world lead and a new meeting record clocking 5:33.76.<\/p>\n

Some new stars were undoubtedly born in 2019.\u00a0Grant Holloway<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) arrived in Hungary looking to compete in his first ever professional meet as the reigning NCAA champion. The world-class field did not scare the Florida native as he comfortably won with 13.16 before he went on to claim the world championship gold a few months later in Doha. The story of the University of Florida graduate is very similar to that of one of his compatriots. In 2011,\u00a0Christian Taylor<\/strong>\u00a0arrived in Budapest virtually unknown to the international athletics scene, but has won everything he possibly could since then. We certainly wish for\u00a0Grant Holloway<\/strong>\u00a0to be able to say the same in a few year\u2019s time, and of course to return to the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix as well.<\/p>\n

In 2019 \u2013 just like in previous years \u2013 the meeting was ranked 15th in the world, right behind the\u00a0IAAF Diamond League<\/strong>\u00a0competitions. Once again the results on the track were greatly supported by the excited and active fans in the stadium.<\/p>\n

Nowhere in the world has the year 2020 succeeded as planned. While the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial is now officially one of the best one-day competitions in the world, as it has become part of the newly created\u00a0World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series<\/strong>, above which only Wanda Diamond League stations are listed, unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic has narrowed the range of possibilities. The organisers were forced to close the from the spectators, postponed the meeting from the original date July 7 to August 19 with a modified program. The great success is the hold of the meeting itself because other big competitions such as the Tokyo Olympics and European Championships in Paris were postponed or cancelled. A very few of sport events were able to create such a high-level sporting experience and managed it safely that no infections or spread of the virus has been made.<\/p>\n

Due to the global pandemic fewer world class athletes had the opportunity to prepare properly or travel to the competitions, so several of our Meeting Holders could not compete in Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r. Fortunately, the television viewers around the world could experience the performance of the several new athletes, who had never competed in Hungary before, accepted the invitation and made it to the history books. In addition to the 15 international, we also organised 4 national events and an unusual high jump \u201cdoubles\u201d.<\/p>\n

Undoubtedly, the appearance of the world champion sprinter\u00a0Noah Lyles<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) was most highly anticipated. The gold medallist from Doha had no rival and won the 100m, even though there were also two world champions,\u00a0Adam Gemili<\/strong>\u00a0(GBR) and\u00a0Michael Rodgers<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) on the field. The victory was brought by Lyles so confidently (with 10.05) that after a few minutes of thinking he told the organisers that he wanted to start at 200m, where he proved to be the fastest with 20.13! With his top-notch act, Lyles is only the third athlete in the history of the Grand Prix after\u00a0Tianna Bartoletta<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) and\u00a0Akani Simbine<\/strong>\u00a0(RSA) to have a double win!<\/p>\n

Despite the virus, the male hammer throw brought an exciting event like it did in the previous years.\u00a0Bence Hal\u00e1sz<\/strong>\u00a0really wanted to win Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial for the first time in his career, and even planned to cross the 80m dream line, but\u00a0Wojciech Nowicki<\/strong>\u00a0(POL) had a different idea. Exactly 7 centimetres, in the end that was all left between the two of them in favour of the Polish.\u00a0Nowicki<\/strong>\u00a0threw the 7.26kg hammer to 78.07m, while Hal\u00e1sz reached 78.00m mark.<\/p>\n

Even closer results were brought in the women\u2019s long jump.\u00a0Nastasia Mironcsik-Ivanova<\/strong>\u00a0(BLR) was 1 centimeter (6.77m) ahead of\u00a0Marina Bek-Mironcsuk<\/strong>\u00a0(6.76m) while Lesti Diana took 3rd place ahead of\u00a0Nguyen Anastasia<\/strong>\u00a0(6.51m) with a brilliant performance (6.65m). In the field featuring the most Hungarian competitors,\u00a0Petra Farkas<\/strong>\u00a0(6.44m) was 7th,\u00a0X\u00e9nia Krizs\u00e1n<\/strong>\u00a0(6.13m) was 9th,\u00a0Rita Nemes<\/strong>\u00a0(5.95m) was 11th, and\u00a0Klaudia Endr\u00e9sz<\/strong>\u00a0(5.94m) was 12th!<\/p>\n

In the high jump doubles, UTE athlete\u00a0Barbara Szab\u00f3<\/strong>\u00a0and MTK Budapest athlete\u00a0D\u00e1niel Jankovics<\/strong>\u00a0won the event, with their additional result of 3.87m.<\/p>\n

The young titan, Femke Bol (NED) wasn\u2019t scared of the Olympic bronze medallist\u00a0Anna Rizsikova<\/strong>\u00a0(UKR) or European champion\u00a0Lea Sprunger<\/strong>\u00a0(SUI) and won the the women\u2019s 400m H confidently with a World Leading time. Still only 20-year-old super talent is surely one of the greatest youngsters of 2020!<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s 100m H brought the most pleasant Hungarian result of the competition. Although\u00a0Luca Koz\u00e1k<\/strong>\u00a0finished only second with 12.71s behind\u00a0Nadine Visser<\/strong>\u2019s (NED) World Leading result, her performance caused a huge success as she passed the Hungarian National Record that\u00a0X\u00e9nia Siska<\/strong>\u00a0ran 36 (!) years ago.<\/p>\n

The defending Hungarian Grand Prix champion and reigning world champion Grant Holloway (USA) was unable to keep his lead over Olympic silver medallist\u00a0Orlando Ortega<\/strong>\u00a0(ESP). After a slow start, the Spanish caught up his young rival with amazing speed and in fact, his time of 13.21s meant the Cuban-born hurdler, who is now competing as a European for the fifth year in a row the\u00a0Dr. Spiriev Bojidar trophy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s 400m race,\u00a0Wadeline Jonathas<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) proved to be the fastest, while in the men\u2019s discus throw, world champion\u00a0Daniel St\u00e5hl<\/strong>\u00a0(SWE) finished 1st, ahead of Andrius Gud\u017eius (LTU). In the women\u2019s hammer throw, a French victory came through by\u00a0Alexandra Tavernier<\/strong>, and at 200 meters, to some surprise,\u00a0Lyonna Irby<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) won. In the field, we could see world stars such as two-time world champion\u00a0Dafne Schippers<\/strong>\u00a0(NED), Olympic and world championship medallist\u00a0Marie-Jos\u00e9e Ta Lou<\/strong>\u00a0(CIV) or world and European championship medallist\u00a0Mujinga Kambundji<\/strong>\u00a0(SUI).<\/p>\n

By the end of the meeting, television viewers around the world could see two unusual events. First, the men\u2019s triple jump won by the world championship bronze medallist\u00a0Hugues Fabrice Zango<\/strong>\u00a0(BUR) with the best jump in the world this year \u2013 17.43m \u2013 which is not surprising at all. It was more so that Olympic and world champion\u00a0Christian Taylor<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) jumped 9 centimetres less and was forced to settle for 2nd place, while the Cuban-born\u00a0Pedro Pablo Pichardo<\/strong>\u00a0(POR) came in 3rd.<\/p>\n

As the final event, we saw a completely unusual 600m race run till the and on measured track due to COVID-19. 800m world champion from Doha,\u00a0Donovan Brazier<\/strong>\u00a0(USA) won the event,\u00a0Wesley V\u00e1zquez<\/strong>\u00a0(PUR) finished 2nd due to the American athlete\u2019s great final sprint.<\/p>\n

In 2021, the competition has been taken to another level, as well shown by the fact that it was the fifth strongest in the leaderboard based on the WA score table of all the one-day meetings of the year. Only the Diamond League Final in Zurich and the Diamond League meetings in Oregon, Lausanne and Monaco had higher scores.<\/p>\n

The Memorial was by far the best race in the Continental Tour Gold Series, and also preceded eight meetings in the Diamond League.<\/p>\n

At the last meeting nine competition records were broken, which is of great value in a competition dating back ten years: Liveta Jasiunaite<\/strong> (javelin throw), Maksim Nedasekau<\/strong> (high jump), Tom Walsh<\/strong> (shot-put), Elaine Thompson-Herah<\/strong> (100 m), Akani Simbine<\/strong> (100 m), Pedro Pichardo<\/strong> (triple jump), Femke Bol<\/strong> (400 m hurdle), Yasmani Copello<\/strong> (400 m hurdle), Shericka Jackson<\/strong> (200 m), Muktar Edris<\/strong> (3000 m).<\/p>\n

If that weren\u2019t enough, Akani Simbine\u2019s<\/strong> 9.84 100 m and Hugues Fabrice Zango\u2019s<\/strong> 17.82 m at triple jump both set a new African record. Yasser Mohamed Triki\u2019s<\/strong> new, 17.33 m Algerian record was also included in the history books, just as no Dutch woman had run the 400 m hurdles faster than Femke Bol<\/strong> at 52.81.<\/p>\n

Of the returning athletes, Daniel Stahl<\/strong> won the discus throw for the third time in a row, and Anita Wlodarczyk<\/strong> participated in the Memorial for the fifth time and was able to return home to Poland every time as a winner.<\/p>\n

Among the greatest stars in the sport, Grant Holloway<\/strong>, Andr\u00e9 De Grasse<\/strong> and Steven Gardiner<\/strong> were also able to leave Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r with a trophy. Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce<\/strong>, second at 100 m and Shaunae Miller-Uibo<\/strong>, second at 200 m, have also claimed how much they enjoyed the Hungarian race.<\/p>\n

Elaine Thompson-Herah<\/strong> became the first among firsts. She achieved the highest performance score, earning her the title of dr. Spiriev Bojidar Award.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The unparalleled history of the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial – Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix continued its unstoppable momentum in 2022. In the utmost secrecy, one of the greatest female athletes of our time, Sydney McLaughlin<\/strong>, arrived in Hungary just days before the Grand Prix, accompanied by Bob Kersee, to compete at the Memorial. At the event on August 8th, spectators could admire not only the world number one female athlete but also the sport’s greatest male star, world record holder, and world leader, Armand Duplantis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Beyond the world number ones, the field was packed with global superstars. Fresh off their gold medal performances at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, the Memorial featured the likes of Grant Holloway<\/strong>, Pawel Fajdek<\/strong>, Ryan Crouser<\/strong>, Kristjan Ceh<\/strong>, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This year, Hungarian athletes were given a prominent role. It was a priority to ensure that as many local competitors as possible could take to the track alongside international stars in front of a capacity crowd. Consequently, a record number of 46 Hungarian athletes represented the home nation at the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial.<\/p>\n

The year 2022 could not pass without rewriting the record books, as seven new meeting records were established: Erriyon Knighton<\/strong> (200m), Armand Duplantis<\/strong> (pole vault), Joe Kovacs<\/strong> (shot put), Kristjan Ceh<\/strong> (discus throw), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce<\/strong> (100m), Diribe Welteji<\/strong> (800m), and Sydney McLaughlin<\/strong> (400m hurdles).<\/p>\n

According to the World Athletics scoring tables, the best overall performance of the competition was delivered by Sydney McLaughlin<\/strong>. As a result, she was honored with the Dr. Bojidar Spiriev Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding athlete of 2022.<\/p>\n

The legacy rolled on in 2023. In mid-July, nearly 200 athletes from forty-three countries – including 16 reigning World Champions, 10 defending Olympic Champions, numerous continental champions, and 35 Hungarian competitors – lined up for the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix. Once again, Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r played host to one of the world\u2019s and the region\u2019s premier one-day meetings. The crowd at Bregy\u00f3-k\u00f6z was treated to yet another series of world-class performances.<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s hammer throwers were the first to enter the circle, where Ukraine\u2019s Mykhaylo Kokhan<\/strong> secured victory with a massive 79.37-meter toss. Finishing in third place was his role model, World Championship bronze medalist Bence Hal\u00e1sz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the women’s 100m, Saint Lucia\u2019s Julien Alfred<\/strong> made a stunning professional invitational debut, winning in 10.89 seconds and edging out American Sha\u2019Carri Richardson<\/strong>, who also dipped under the 11-second mark. In the men’s 400m, Bahamian Olympic and World Champion Steven Gardiner<\/strong> claimed his fifth victory in Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r, clocking a world-class 43.74. The heat was also a milestone for Hungarian athletics, as Attila Moln\u00e1r<\/strong> not only equaled his own national record of 44.98 but also secured the Olympic qualification standard.<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s shot put field was undoubtedly worthy of a World Championship final, featuring two American greats: world record holder and two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser<\/strong>, and two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs<\/strong>, who has Hungarian roots. As expected, Crouser emerged victorious.<\/p>\n

In the women’s 200m, the second-fastest woman in history, Jamaica\u2019s Shericka Jackson<\/strong>, proved unbeatable once again following her 2022 triumph. In the 100m hurdles, Nigeria\u2019s Tobi Amusan<\/strong> showed why she is the favorite in every race, winning with a blistering 12.35 in a heat that featured three Hungarian hurdlers.<\/p>\n

The men’s long jump was decided by a mere 5 centimeters, with Olympic and European champion Miltiadis Tentoglou<\/strong> taking the win with an 8.29m leap. In the discus throw, Sweden took the gold as Tokyo Olympic champion Daniel Stahl<\/strong> topped the field with 68.98 meters. The men’s 100m saw a battle of the Blakes, with Yohan Blake<\/strong> crossing the line first in 10.04.<\/p>\n

In the women’s long jump, Serbia\u2019s Milica Gardasevic<\/strong> finished on top with 680 centimeters, while Hungary’s Petra B\u00e1nhidi-Farkas<\/strong> claimed a podium spot in third.<\/p>\n

The Dr. Bojidar Spiriev Trophy for the best performance of the meeting went to Steven Gardiner<\/strong>, while the special awards for the top Hungarian athletes were presented to Bogl\u00e1rka Tak\u00e1cs<\/strong> and Attila Moln\u00e1r<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the region’s most prestigious one-day meeting, the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, brought thrilling competitions once again for its 14th edition. On July 9th in Sz\u00e9kesfeh\u00e9rv\u00e1r, athletes had to overcome not only each other but also the sweltering summer heat.<\/p>\n

The excitement kicked off with the men\u2019s hammer throw, where the event’s youngest-ever world champion, Canada\u2019s Ethan Katzberg<\/strong>, came, saw, and conquered. His hammer flew to 81.87 meters, securing a dominant victory. Hungary\u2019s two-time World Championship bronze medalist, Bence Hal\u00e1sz<\/strong>, finished fourth with a throw of 78.81 meters. The women’s long jump was a remarkably tight contest, with only 16 centimeters separating first and fifth place. Victory went to Colombia\u2019s U20 World silver medalist Natalia Linares<\/strong>, who set a new personal best of 6.87 meters. Hungary\u2019s U23 European Champion Petra B\u00e1nhidi-Farkas<\/strong> finished eighth with 6.41 meters. The 400m hurdles saw success for Bahrain\u2019s World No. 4 Kemi Adekoya<\/strong>, who clocked 54.13 seconds, while U20 European silver medalist S\u00e1ra M\u00e1t\u00f3<\/strong> took sixth in 56.45. In the men’s shot put, Italy’s newly crowned European Champion Leonardo Fabbri<\/strong> outclassed the field, giving his rivals no chance with a winning mark of 22.43 meters. The women’s 100m was won by American World Relay champion Tamari Davis<\/strong> in a flat 11.00 seconds. Domestic record holder and two-time U23 European silver medalist Bogl\u00e1rka Tak\u00e1cs<\/strong> finished seventh in 11.35. In the men\u2019s blue-riband event, 2024 Jamaican champion Kishane Thompson<\/strong> confirmed his stellar form. The Caribbean\u2019s new sprint phenom won in 9.91 seconds, ahead of Budapest World silver medalist Letsile Tebogo<\/strong> (9.99) and meeting record holder Akani Simbine<\/strong> (10.01). The 2024 Hungarian champion, 18-year-old Zal\u00e1n De\u00e1k<\/strong>, finished eighth in 10.69.<\/p>\n

In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, American Logan Jolly<\/strong>, seventh at the Pan American Games, triumphed in 9:29.75. The men\u2019s 3000m saw a German victory as two-time national champion Florian Bremm<\/strong> won with a new personal best of 7:43.61. Hungary\u2019s Istv\u00e1n Sz\u00f6gi<\/strong> secured sixth place with a PB of 7:48.76. In the 400m, Bahamian Olympic champion and meeting record holder Steven Gardiner<\/strong> claimed his sixth Memorial victory (44.50), while Hungarian record holder Attila Moln\u00e1r<\/strong> crossed the line fifth in 45.76.<\/p>\n

The men’s long jump was won by defending Gyulai Memorial champion and Olympic\/World gold medalist Miltiadis Tentoglou<\/strong>. The Greek icon reached 8.23 meters this time. In the men\u2019s high jump, Ukraine\u2019s Dmytro Nikitin<\/strong>, fifth at the European Indoor Championships, won with 2.24 meters, while seven-time Hungarian champion D\u00e1niel Jankovics<\/strong> took fifth with 2.21 meters. In the 100m hurdles, Tokyo Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn<\/strong> proved fastest in 12.47 seconds; Gr\u00e9ta Kerekes<\/strong> finished seventh (13.13) and Anna T\u00f3th<\/strong> eighth (13.21). The 110m hurdles saw victory for World silver medalist Trey Cunningham<\/strong> (13.21), with D\u00e1niel Eszes<\/strong> clocking 14.01 for eighth.<\/p>\n

The battle of the giants in the discus throw was won by Lithuania\u2019s Mykolas Alekna<\/strong>. The 2022 European Champion and current world record holder was the only athlete to surpass 70 meters, taking gold with 70.20m. He was followed by two other world champions, Kristjan Ceh<\/strong> (67.99m) and Andrius Gudzius<\/strong> (66.57m). The closing events were the 200m sprints, featuring some of the world’s fastest athletes. On the men\u2019s side, Olympic champion Andre de Grasse<\/strong> was the quickest in 19.98 seconds, while Zolt\u00e1n Wahl<\/strong> finished eighth in 21.49. The women\u2019s race was won by St. Lucia\u2019s Julien Alfred<\/strong> in 22.16. Hungarian record holder Bogl\u00e1rka Tak\u00e1cs<\/strong> finished fifth (23.15), and U20 national record holder Alexa Suly\u00e1n<\/strong> took sixth (23.64).<\/p>\n

The Dr. Bojidar Spiriev Trophy for the most valuable performance of the day was awarded to men\u2019s discus world record holder Mykolas Alekna<\/strong>. The special prizes for the best Hungarian athletes were earned by Gr\u00e9ta Kerekes<\/strong> and Bence Hal\u00e1sz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The legend continued in 2025 at the National Athletic Centre in Budapest. Breathtaking races, sensational performances, a world record, national records, and an electric atmosphere made the meet truly unforgettable.<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s hammer throw brought immediate and massive Hungarian success. Olympic silver medalist, two-time World bronze medalist, and two-time European silver medalist Bence Hal\u00e1sz<\/strong> triumphed with a huge personal best and meet record of 83.18 meters. He was followed by his greatest rival, the reigning Olympic champion, Ethan Katzberg<\/strong>. The women\u2019s long jump saw victory for World Indoor champion Claire Bryant<\/strong>. The intensity of the competition was well illustrated by the fact that only 7 cm separated the top three finishers. Ackelia Smith<\/strong> took second place, while Quanesha Burks<\/strong> finished third. The top Hungarian performer was Petra B\u00e1nhidi-Farkas<\/strong>, who secured seventh position with a jump of 6.34 meters. In the men\u2019s pole vault, the world\u2019s current number one athlete, Armand \u201cMondo\u201d Duplantis<\/strong>, emerged victorious with a vault of 6.29 meters – breaking his own world record once again. M\u00e1rton B\u00f6nd\u00f6r\u2019s<\/strong> debut was also successful, finishing seventh with 5.62 meters. The women\u2019s pole vault was won by World Indoor silver medalist Tina Sutej<\/strong> with a performance of 4.73 meters, which also set a new meet record. A true highlight was the men\u2019s 60-meter sprint, claimed by World Indoor 13th-place finisher Dominik Illovszky<\/strong> with a time of 6.63 seconds. In the men\u2019s high jump, Naoto Hasegawa<\/strong> triumphed by clearing 2.27 meters. In the women\u2019s 400-meter hurdles, Femke Bol<\/strong> left her rivals no chance, winning with a light and confident run in 52.24 seconds. S\u00e1ra M\u00e1t\u00f3<\/strong> finished seventh with a time of 55.53. The meet record was also broken in the men\u2019s 800 meters, thanks to Laban Kipkorir Chepkwony<\/strong>, who crossed the finish line as the fastest runner in 1:42.96. The women\u2019s 1500 meters was won by former Universiade silver medalist Georgia Griffith<\/strong> with a new meet-record time of 3:58.25. In the men\u2019s long jump, Simon Batz<\/strong> won with 8.07, ahead of the Greek icon Miltiadis Tentoglou<\/strong>, who has already won everything there is to win. In the men\u2019s shot put, world champion and Olympic silver medalist American Joe Kovacs<\/strong> – who is of Hungarian descent through his grandfather – won with 22.33 meters.<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s 200 meters, Ashanti Moore<\/strong> won, clocking a new personal best of 22.31 seconds. Alexa Suly\u00e1n<\/strong> finished eighth with a time of 23.54. The men\u2019s 200-meter sprint was won by Bryan Levell<\/strong> with a new meet record of 19.69 seconds. In the women\u2019s 100 meter hurdles, Nadine Visser<\/strong> proved to be the best with a time of 12.43. Anna T\u00f3th<\/strong> finished sixth in 12.94, while Luca Koz\u00e1k<\/strong> was eighth in 13.00. In the men\u2019s 110 meter hurdles, Cordell Tinch<\/strong> won, recording 13.20. In the men\u2019s 3000 meters, Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang<\/strong> triumphed with a time of 7:33.23. In the women\u2019s 400 meters, European Indoor champion Lieke Klaver<\/strong> outpaced all her rivals, storming to a time of 50.11 seconds. Another Hungarian miracle occurred in the men\u2019s 400-meter heat. Attila Moln\u00e1r<\/strong> finished in a prestigious fourth place with a new national record of 44.74 seconds. The event was won by African champion Muzala Samukonga<\/strong> in 44.11. In the women\u2019s 100 meters, three-time World silver medalist Marie-Jos\u00e9e Ta Lou-Smith<\/strong> won in 10.97, ahead of three Jamaican stars: Tina Clayton<\/strong> (10.99), Shericka Jackson<\/strong> (11.00), and the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce<\/strong> (11.07). Bogl\u00e1rka Tak\u00e1cs<\/strong> finished sixth with a time of 11.26. The men\u2019s 100-meter title was snatched by one of the fastest men in the world, Kishane Thompson<\/strong>, who won in 9.95.<\/p>\n

The Dr. Spiriev Bojidar Trophy for the best performance of the competition was awarded to world record holder Armand Duplantis<\/strong>, while the awards for the best Hungarian athletes were presented to Bence Hal\u00e1sz<\/strong> and Anna T\u00f3th<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The legend continues in 2026!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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