Matylda Pálfyová

Biography Personal life She was born in Hernádszentistván, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary (now Kostoľany nad Hornádom, Slovakia). Her first job was as a correspondent in the construction company of Ing. Beřich Minařa, who was a member of Sokol and fully supported Matylda. Then Pálfyová worked in Košice as a correspondent from the age of 18, between 1934 and 1937 at Východoslovenské elektrárne, úč. spol.

She died on 23 September 1944 in Brestovany while riding her favorite mare, which was attacked by a wild stallion while galloping. After her death, her husband JUDr. Marek went to the warfront at the beginning of 1945 and all trace of him was lost. Their marriage was childless due to its brevity. She is buried at the new cemetery in Trnava.

Gymnastics career When she studied at the Gymnasium, she became a member of the Sokol Košice at the age of twelve. She scored 7.3 and took fourth place in the so-called elimination (i.e. nomination) Sokol competitions on 18 May 1936 and thereby secured participation in the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin. At the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, she won a silver medal in the women's team competition (the only gymnastics discipline for women) as a member of the Czechoslovakia women's national artistic gymnastics team.

At the 1938 World Gymnastics Championships in Prague, the strength of the Czechoslovak team, operating on the basis of the Sokol physical education units, was fully demonstrated. As a member of the Czechoslovakia team, Pálfyová won the title of world champion, while she received the highest marks in rings and vault.

In 1939, after the establishment of the First Slovak Republic, she quit gymnastics because she refused to train in the physical education organization Hlinkova garda. She worked as part of the Club of Slovak Tourists and Skiers, where she was engaged in canoeing or equestrianism.

Legacy The Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee awards the Matylda Pálfyová Award annually since 2005, which is intended exclusively for women - for their sporting achievements, activity in sports and in the Olympic movement.

Competition history YearEventTeamAAVTUBBBFX 1936 Sokol Gymnastics Competitions 4 Olympic Games 1938 World Championships