Paralympics 2024 – Welcome home ceremony for the Hungarian delegation

The Hungarian paralympic delegation traveled with police escort from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport to the Koltai Jenő Sports Center of the Hungarian University of Physical Education and Sports Science (TF).

The hall of the Center was packed with family members, friends and supporters, who gave a big round of applause to the 39 Hungarian athletes who competed in 68 disciplines of 13 sports at the Paris Paralympics, and returned home with altogether 15 medals, among them five gold, six silver and four bronze ones. Thanks to their performance, among the 168 participating countries, Hungary finished 26th in the competition of nations.

“The Paralympic spirit is the spark of hope, which kindles the flame of potential in all of us, and I am convinced that you have kindled this flame. Today, I have no other duty than to congratulate you and say thanks to you” – said Ádám Schmidt, who went on recalling that he had participated in the Paralympians’ oath-taking ceremony as well, and then said thanks to the experts preparing the competitors, as well as to their family members and relatives, who help the athletes in their everyday lives. He highlighted that the 26th place on the medal table speaks for itself, and every Hungarian can be proud of it.

“You are true role models for all of us” – said the state secretary.

TF Rector Tamás Sterbenz mentioned that he had the chance to cheer on the spot for the Hungarian competitors – among whom there are some TF students as well, for example gold medalist Luca Ekler and Péter Pál Kiss –, and then said thanks to the experts preparing them, who had graduated from the TF.

“Your performance proves that sport is for everyone” – pointed out the rector while addressing the competitors.

“You are the heroes of everyday life, you train under circumstances that we cannot begin to imagine” – noted Zsolt Gyulay, President, Hungarian Olympic Committee.

Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest welcomed the competitors not as a sport leader but as the head of the municipality, and talked about the importance of providing step-free access.

“The golden era of Hungarian para-sport has continued, and even become more shining” – pointed out László Szabó, President, Hungarian Paralympic Committee, who said that the Hungarian nation holds the Paralympians in high esteem, and went on saying thanks to the government and the sponsors for their financial support to the preparation. The Hungarian paralympic team returned home from the 17th Paris Paralympic Games with altogether 15 medals, 30 point-scoring and 25 non-point-scoring places and a number of individual records.

“To me, it was much harder to defend the title than to win for the first time” said kayaker Péter Pál Kiss, who did not deny that he was tired because he had a tiring journey, and also felt drained of energy because he had carried the flag at the closing ceremony, but “now nothing else matters, we must be happy!”

Hungarian medalist Paralympians

Gold medal: Zsófia Konkoly (women’s 200m medley and women’s 400m freestyle), Luca Ekler (women’s long jump), Péter Pál Kiss (men’s kayak single 200m), Bianka Pap (women’s 100m backstroke).

Silver medal: Luca Ekler (women’s 400m dash), Fanni Illés (women’s 100m breaststroke), Zsófia Konkoly (women’s 100m butterfly), Petra Luterán (women’s long jump), Bianka Pap (women’s 200m medley), women’s wheelchair foil team (Éva Hajmási, Zsuzsanna Krajnyák, Boglárka Madarászné Dr. Mező, Amarilla Veres).

Bronze medal: Endre Major (men’s singles para table tennis), Péter Pálos (men’s singles para table tennis), Bianka Pap (women’s 400m freestyle), Alexa Szvitacs (women’s singles para table tennis).