Alajos SZOKOLYI

Alajos Szokoly was of Slovakian ancestry, born Aljoz Szokol, but he competed for Hungary in the era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His bronze medal in the 1896 100 metres came against less than the top competition and he was hardly among the world’s top sprinters. But later in the year Szokoly defeated German Kurt Doerry in a meet in Praha, and also won the inaugural Hungarian 100 yards title.

Szokoly later worked in sports administration, mostly for his club, Magyar Atlétikai Club in Budapest, and later held an office with the Hungarian Athletics Federation. He also ran a small museum and art gallery in Šahy, Slovakia until 1924. Szokoly was also an outspoken supporter of social reform in Austro-Hungary.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.4 (1891); 110H – 17.4 (1897); TJ – 12.48 (1896).