Károly Takács was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1910: an exceptional pistol shooter with the Hungarian Army. He was known for his impressive shot placement and for not flinching from the discipline of shooting.
A Shattering Accident
Tragically, in 1938, a grenade explosion during a training accident shattered his right hand, the one he used for shooting, seemingly ending his sporting dreams forever.
Takács did not give up. He began teaching himself to shoot with his left hand out of reluctance to let go of his passion. For months, he practised, determined to regain his lost skill.
Olympic Glory
In 1939, he shocked the world by winning the Hungarian National Championship and beating other able-bodied shooters.
The Second World War pushed his first Olympic Games a few years into the future, but by 1948, with the Games in London, Takács was ready.
Competing in the 25-metre rapid-fire pistol, he not only won the gold medal but broke the world record, basing it on what only destiny allowed.
The Golden Repeat
Four years later, at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, he repeated the feat, securing a second gold and etching his name as an Olympic legend.
Károly Takács was the third known physically disabled athlete to compete at the Olympic Games and is the only shooter to win two golds in his event. His story remains a powerful symbol of resilience.
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