Born: 1982 (Budapest, Hungary)
Biography:
Emese Judit Szász was born on September 7, 1982, in Budapest, Hungary. She is a renowned Hungarian fencer who has left an indelible mark on the sport. From an early age, Szász displayed a strong passion for sports and initially pursued swimming. However, she soon realized that her true calling lay elsewhere, and at the age of 10, she made the decision to embark on a journey in fencing.
Szász’s dedication and natural talent quickly became apparent as she excelled in the sport. At the 1998 World Junior Championships held in Venezuela, she made her mark by achieving an impressive 32nd place in the individual category. Additionally, she showcased her exceptional skills as part of the team, leading them to victory and earning a first-place finish.
The following year, at the Junior European Championships, Szász further solidified her presence in the fencing world. She claimed a silver medal in the individual competition and contributed to her team’s success with a notable sixth-place finish. The 1999 World Junior Championships saw Szász demonstrate her prowess once again, securing 15th place individually and achieving second place in the team event at the Junior European Championships.
Szász continued to make significant strides in her fencing career. In 2000, she triumphed at the Junior European Championships, earning a bronze medal. She also showcased her talent at the Junior World Championships, securing an impressive fourth-place finish. The 2001 World Junior Championships saw Szász achieve 15th place individually and sixth place in the team category. Furthermore, she claimed second place in the team event at the European Junior Championships.
The years that followed brought further success to Szász’s career. In 2002, she finished fourth in the team event at the Junior World Championships. That same year, she triumphed as part of the Hungarian team, emerging as champions. In 2004, Szász achieved a commendable 17th place individually at the European Championships while also securing a silver medal in the team category. Her skills were again recognized at the national championships, where she emerged as the first-place finisher.
At the 2005 European Championships, Szász placed 17th individually and obtained fourth place with her team. She then went on to compete at the World Championships, where she secured 44th place in the individual category and second place in the team event. Szász’s talent was further highlighted as she finished fifth in the ob and claimed the third spot in the csb category. In the same year, she participated in the Universiade, though her journey ended in the round of 16.
The 2006 European Championships brought about new achievements for Szász, as she secured a 39th-place finish individually and achieved second-place glory alongside her team members: Timea Nagy, Adrienn Hormay, and Hajnalka Tóth. The same year at the World Championships, Szász’s exceptional talents led her to a third-place finish individually and a notable fifth-place finish with her team.
Continuing her remarkable career, Szász solidified her status as a formidable fencer in 2007. At the European Championships, she secured fifth place individually and once again achieved second place in the team event, this time alongside Timea Nagy, Adrienn Hormay, and Ildikó Mincza-Nébald. She went on to finish 18th at the World Championships individually and fifth in the team category. Her skills were further showcased as she claimed the first position in the ob event. Additionally, Szász made it to the final eight at the Universiade.
In 2008, Szász’s journey faced a setback when she was unable to compete at the European Championships due to a calf injury. However, she bounced back and qualified for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, her first Olympics. Despite reaching the last 16, Szász was eliminated after losing to Russia’s Lyubov Sutova by a score of 15–12.
Emese Szász’s illustrious career in fencing is a testament to her unwavering dedication and immense talent. She has brought honor and acclaim to herself and her country through her remarkable performances on numerous international stages.
Awards:
– Junior European Championships: Silver Medal (Individual)
– Hungarian National Championships: First Place
– World Championships: Third Place (Individual)
– European Championships: Second Place (Team)
– Junior European Championships: Bronze Medal (Individual)
– European Championships: Silver Medal (Team)