„The most important thing is that I can motivate young people and the next generation with my performance”, said Áron Szilágyi during his visit to Helsinki, at the Finnish premiere of the documentary about his career.
The three times Olympic champion sabre fencer visited Finland to participate in several programmes co-organized by the Embassy of Hungary and the Finnish Fencing and Pentathlon Association. On the day of his arrival, he visited a fencing training led by a Hungarian coach, András Tóth at Kisahalli, where the young athletes had the chance to chat with him, practice in his presence and gain inspiration from him. His trip also included a visit to the commemorative plaque of the Olympic Stadium, which honours the medalists of the Helsinki summer Olympics of 1952.
Áron Szilágyi talking with a young Finnish fencer
Source: Szilágyi Áron Facebook
On the second day of his visit, he conducted successful meetings with Simo Tarvonen, director of the Urhea Capital Sports Academy, Vesa Vihervä, director of Mäkelänrinne Sports Gymnasium, Jyrki Louhi, portfolio manager of Sport Fund Management Oy, Satu Heikkinen and Hannu Tolonen, senior officials of the Ministry of Culture and Education.
Panel discussion at Eurooppasali
After the meetings, his documentary „One for All” was presented for the first time in Finland in Eurooppasali, open to attend for the members of the SM5L community clubs, the Hungarians community in Finland as well as anyone who was interested. After the screening Mr. Szilágyi participated in a panel discussion, along with his manager Gábor Kőrösparti and Krisztina Lantos, Director of the National Talent Center in Hungary. They were happy to answer several questions from the audience in the one hour long session, which was interpreted both in Finnish and Hungarian. As a closure to the event, the Hungarian sabre fencer was available for a quick chat, an autograph or a photo-op.
Guests queued to get autographs from the Hungarian champion
As Klára Breuer, Ambassador of Hungary stated, the importance of the event was that, in addition to Hungarians, foreigners also get to know the achievements of Áron Szilágyi and the several ways Hungary supports talent. From this visit, new forms of cooperation may arise.
