When you mention the sport of water polo there are people of a certain generation that immediately think of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and the epic match between Russia and Hungary known as the “Blood in the Water” match
The backdrop to the match was the 1956 Hungarian revolution which was an uprising by the people against their government’s Soviet imposed policies. It has been said that the Soviet water polo team had taken advantage of their political control of Hungary, and had studied in detail and copied the training methods and tactics of the Olympic champion Hungarians.
However before this famous match there was another Hungarian Olympian in the sport of Water Polo who inspired his fellow countrymen. His name was Oliver Halassy.
Halassy was born on the 31th of July, 1909. in Újpest. As a youth, football was his chosen sport and he played in the youth team of UTE (Újpest Gymnastics Association) where his talent was spotted.
At the age of eight he was involved in an accident that would shatter any dreams he had of becoming a footballer. A tram car severed his leg and his left foot had to be amputated.
Loving sport, within a year he was swimming in the pool at UTE. His performances were far from impressive as he struggled to adjust to the loss of his foot.
Then at the age of 17 he stunned everyone when he came first in a competition that was organised on the famous Danube River. It took him an hour and 4 minutes to cover the 9 km course. The previous year’s champion led the race till the midway point and had a healthy lead. Halassy however had reserves in his personal tank and powered home to win.
Aged 19 he was selected for the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam and became the first known amputee swimmer to compete in the Olympic Games. The Hungarian water Polo team returned with the silver medal after losing 5-2 to Germany.
Halassy would also compete at the Games in Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936. Where Hungary won Gold and then defended that title four years later. He played in every single game in all three Olympic Games scoring three, eleven and six goals respectively.
He was a swimming sensation in his homeland and during his career won 23 National Swimming titles and held 12 records. He also won 10 national Water Polo Championships.
One of the events that he is best remembered for is the European Championships of 1931.
The Hungarians defeated the Netherlands and defended their water polo title. However there was no time for Halassy to join in the celebrations with his team mates. He had to rush, as the finals of the 1500m freestyle were about to start and he was in the final.
Frenchman Jean Taris and the Italian Paolo Costolli were the favourites. However conditions made it hard for everyone; the event was held in a blizzard. No indoor pools in those days. The weather meant that the referees had trouble keeping the times, but that made little difference in the end. At the end of each length of the pool he would be in the lead, but due to his handicap his opponents would catch him on the turn. This did not dampen his spirits and he came home in first place beating the Italian Giuseppe Perentin by a metre.
Understandably exhausted he had to be pulled from the water. He was carried to the changing rooms where they poured hot tea with spoonfuls of sugar down his throat to try and revive his energy.
When he had recovered he returned poolside to watch the Germany v Austria Water Polo match. Unfortunately for those teams the match had to be cancelled because of the crowds ovation for Halassy. They were chanting his name and the referees stopped to applaud as he walked poolside.
Halassy continued to swim for another 6 years and play water polo for another 8 years, before retiring at the age of 30.
Due to his disability, Halassy was exempted from military service during World War II. He started a family, had 3 daughters.
Once the war was over he played a key role in reorganizing the Hungarian aquatic sports scene.
There is much conjecture over what happened on the night of 10th of September in 1946. One story, the most believable, is that he was on his way to the swimming federation in a taxi. A soviet patrol pulled them over. The Soviet soldiers pulled out their guns and pointed them at the driver and Halassy, and claimed the vehicle. It’s believed the two men resisted. The taxi was later found without wheels in a faraway street. At the age of 37, Olivér Halassy had been shot along with the driver. HIs death coming just days before the birth of his third daughter.
Despite there being witnesses the murderers were never found. The case was covered up. In the press it was reported that he had died as a result of a brutal mugging, a burglary that went wrong. There was no mention of Soviet soldiers. It has been said since that his family were threatened and told to stay silent.
Having had his dreams of a career as a footballer shattered and then having carved out a place in history in his nation’s Water Polo and Swimming teams it was a cruel end to such a short life. However he lived a life that was so full. As a result his funeral was attended by thousands.
One wonders whether the memory of Halassy was in the back of the minds of those Hungarian players as they faced the Russians in Melbourne in 1956.
Halassy is not forgotten he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1978 and is another example that when it appears your dreams have been broken, it is important to shift your focus and set your sights on a new goal.
