The Most Famous
SKATERS from Hungary
Top 9
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Hungarian Skaters of all time. This list of famous Hungarian Skaters is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Karol Divín (1936 - 2022)
With an HPI of 50.80, Karol Divín is the most famous Hungarian Skater. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages on wikipedia.
Karol "Karcsi" Emil Divín (born Karol Finster; 22 February 1936 – 6 April 2022) was a Slovak figure skater who represented Czechoslovakia. He was the 1960 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time European champion (1958–59), and a two-time World medalist (silver in 1962, bronze in 1964).
2. Emília Rotter (1906 - 2003)
With an HPI of 49.17, Emília Rotter is the 2nd most famous Hungarian Skater. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Emília Rotter (8 September 1906 in Budapest, Hungary – 28 January 2003) was a Hungarian pair skater. With partner László Szollás she won the World Figure Skating Championship four times in five years (1931, 1933, 1934, and 1935), and were the 1932 World silver medalists. They were the 1934 European Champions and 1930 & 1931 silver medalists. They represented Hungary at the 1932 Winter Olympics and at the 1936 Winter Olympics, winning two bronze medals. Rotter was Jewish, and was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
3. Lily Kronberger (1890 - 1974)
With an HPI of 48.55, Lily Kronberger is the 3rd most famous Hungarian Skater. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Lily Kronberger (12 November 1890 – 21 May 1974), also spelled Lili Kronberger, was a Hungarian figure skater competitive during the early years of modern figure skating. She was Hungary’s first World Champion.
4. Ede Király (1926 - 2009)
With an HPI of 48.49, Ede Király is the 4th most famous Hungarian Skater. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Ede Király (23 February 1926 – 10 August 2009) was a Hungarian figure skater. As a competitor in men's singles, he was a three-time World medalist (silver in 1949 and 1950, bronze in 1948), the 1950 European champion, and a six-time Hungarian national champion. Competing in pairs with Andrea Kékesy, he became the 1948 Olympic silver medalist, the 1949 World champion, and a two-time European champion (1948–1949). In the 1950s, Király became a coach in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
5. Andrea Kékesy (1926 - 2024)
With an HPI of 47.26, Andrea Kékesy is the 5th most famous Hungarian Skater. Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Andrea Kékesy, later Bernolák (17 September 1926 – 21 November 2024) was a Hungarian pair skater. She was born in Budapest. With her skating partner, Ede Király, she became the 1948 Olympic silver medalist, the 1949 World champion, and a two-time European champion (1948–1949). Born on 17 September 1926, Kékesy died in November 2024, at the age of 98.
6. Marianna Nagy (1929 - 2011)
With an HPI of 45.11, Marianna Nagy is the 6th most famous Hungarian Skater. Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Marianna Nagy (13 January 1929 – 3 May 2011) was a Hungarian pair skater. Together with her brother László Nagy she won five bronze medals at the Olympic Games (1952 and 1956) and World championships (1950, 1953, 1955), as well as two European titles (1950 and 1955). After retiring from competitions she starred in ice shows and worked as a skating coach.
7. Emese Hunyady (b. 1966)
With an HPI of 40.86, Emese Hunyady is the 7th most famous Hungarian Skater. Her biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Emese Hunyady (born 4 March 1966) is a former Hungarian-Austrian speed skater. At age ten, Hunyady participated at the 1977 Hungarian Sprint Championships for Juniors, finishing sixth. Representing Hungary, she had her first international competition in 1979, and in the following years, although still a junior, she entered several senior tournaments. In 1985, after marrying her Austrian coach Tamás Németh, she obtained Austrian citizenship, and started competing for Austria. The marriage was dissolved some years later, but she retained her Austrian citizenship. During her 25-year-long career, she was a steady performer, almost always finishing in the top 10 of the events she participated in. Her best year was 1994, when she won bronze at the European Allround Championships, became World Allround Champion, won the 1500 m World Cup, and became Olympic Champion in the 1500 m, while winning Olympic silver in the 3000 m. After that, her successes became fewer, but in 1999, she surprisingly won the World Single Distance Championships in her favourite distance, the 1500 m. Hunyady participated in six Winter Olympics from 1984 to 2002, and won many Hungarian and Austrian National Allround, Sprint, and Single Distance Championships. She started her sporting career in figure skating, something she used to show when celebrating her victories as a speed skater. Hunyady is married to Timo Järvinen, a former speed skater from Finland. They have a son, Jasper.
8. Júlia Sebestyén (b. 1981)
With an HPI of 33.11, Júlia Sebestyén is the 8th most famous Hungarian Skater. Her biography has been translated into 21 different languages.
Júlia Sebestyén (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈjuːliɒ ˈʃɛbɛʃceːn]; born 14 May 1981) is a Hungarian former competitive figure skater. She is the 2004 European Champion and 2002–2010 Hungarian national champion. At the 2004 European Figure Skating Championships, she became the first Hungarian woman to win the European title. She is also a four-time Hungarian Olympic team member, and was Hungary's flag-bearer at the 2010 Olympics.
9. Shaoang Liu (b. 1998)
With an HPI of 29.79, Shaoang Liu is the 9th most famous Hungarian Skater. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.
Shaoang Liu (Chinese: 刘少昂; pinyin: Liú Shào'áng; Mandarin pronunciation: [ljǒʊ ʂâʊ ǎŋ]; born 13 March 1998) is a Hungarian-born Olympic gold medalist short track speed skater. He is the younger brother of teammate Shaolin Sándor Liu, and has won two golds and two bronzes represent Hungary at the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics in short track speed skating. The gold medals were the first ever team gold, and the first ever individual gold at the Winter Olympics for Hungary. He changed his nationality and may represent China after 2023.
People
Pantheon has 9 people classified as Hungarian skaters born between 1890 and 1998. Of these 9, 3 (33.33%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Hungarian skaters include Emese Hunyady, Júlia Sebestyén, and Shaoang Liu. The most famous deceased Hungarian skaters include Karol Divín, Emília Rotter, and Lily Kronberger. As of April 2024, 1 new Hungarian skaters have been added to Pantheon including Marianna Nagy.
Living Hungarian Skaters
Go to all Rankings
Emese Hunyady
1966 - Present
HPI: 40.86
Júlia Sebestyén
1981 - Present
HPI: 33.11
Shaoang Liu
1998 - Present
HPI: 29.79
Deceased Hungarian Skaters
Go to all RankingsKarol Divín
1936 - 2022
HPI: 50.80
Emília Rotter
1906 - 2003
HPI: 49.17
Lily Kronberger
1890 - 1974
HPI: 48.55
Ede Király
1926 - 2009
HPI: 48.49
Andrea Kékesy
1926 - 2024
HPI: 47.26
Marianna Nagy
1929 - 2011
HPI: 45.11
Newly Added Hungarian Skaters (2024)
Go to all RankingsOverlapping Lives
Which Skaters were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 5 most globally memorable Skaters since 1700.
