Ervin ZADOR

Ervin Zádor played water polo for Hungary, helping them win a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics. He played in the famous Hungary-Soviet Union match that year, played shortly after the Soviet Union had invaded Hungary, and in which the water ran red with blood from the various assault during the match. The most famous picture of the match is of Zádor standing outside the pool, with blood running down his face from a cut under his eye.

Zádor became a coach in Hungary, coaching the Ripon Aquatic and Ripon Sea Lions team, and the Ripon Aquatics Centre is named in his honor. In later life Zádor emigrated to the United States where he became a swimming and water polo coach in California, and where he briefly coached Mark Spitz. In 2006 a documentary, “Freedom’s Fury,” was made about the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, ending with a focus on the Hungary-Soviet water polo match, which followed Zádor and his contribution to the Hungarian effort.