After dogwalking, it's time to go skiing
He was once a celebrated star of handball, perhaps the most famous athlete the City of Queens has ever seen, but he hung up his jersey two decades ago. Since then, he has founded a handball school, which has produced many talented players, but for older sports fans, József Éles will always remain an inimitable genius. Even if he doesn't eat consciously these days, but he takes care of himself because he is in good shape and does not have a pot belly; he trains his students in the second division.
As a kid, he swam for eight years in the capital, traveling from Buda to Halász Street, and although he won many medals in the pools, he was not considered an outstanding talent. At school, he was also attracted to ball games, but it was tennis and handball that caught his attention the most. When his tennis coach moved to the US, he decided to pursue a career as a handball player. As a student at a vocational school specializing in construction, he was already playing on an adult team at the age of sixteen, and after a while, his studies began to take a back seat. He didn't want to leave Budapest because of his friends and the city's vibrant atmosphere, but in the end he chose a quieter life in the countryside. Because he dreamed of one day becoming a serious player, he was unable to turn down an invitation from Bramac VSE, which was already showing its strength on the international stage. The rest is history: the star, who turned 57 in February, won ten championships and ten HC titles with Veszprém, won CWC once, and they were runners-up twice in the series, as well as reaching the final of the Champions' League once. The two-time world and one-time European champion played 179 times for our national team and was voted Handball Player of the Year in Hungary three times. The Pro Urbe award-winning virtuoso scored a total of 2,163 goals for Veszprém.
"I moved to Veszprém from Pemű SE weighing seventy-four kilograms. I always told team doctor József Csordás that I was too thin, to which he replied that this was what enabled me to perform at my best. Later, I managed to increase my weight to 86 kg, and with the muscles I gained, I felt stronger,"
– says József Éles. The father-of-three gained a few pounds after retiring from his career, and today he feels good about himself when the scale shows a weight between 215 and 225 pounds.
"That's why, after last Christmas, a sigh of despair slipped out when I looked in the mirror, but the situation wasn't that bad,"
– he adds, then reveals: he also has to watch his weight because of his knee, which immediately signals if he gains any extra pounds.
"I take care of myself, but that doesn't mean I eat consciously. My father used to say that I should eat whatever and however much my body needs, but that's no longer my golden rule. If I feel a little bigger than usual, I pay more attention to my dinners, and if necessary, I skip them once in a while."
The former three-time Super Champion has not completely abandoned his athletic lifestyle, although it has changed significantly. He clearly gets most of his exercise walking his dog, often walking for miles near their home in Felsőörs. He plays less tennis in winter, preferring to "ask to get up" onto clay courts in summer, just as he can often be seen in the saddle of his bicycle. Football and his former great love, soccer, are no longer present in his life, as he does not participate in handball either although he is occasionally invited to play here and there – because he is afraid of hurting his leg. As he explained to us, he doesn't want to get injured, and besides, his knees aren't in best shape. He only occasionally gives demonstrations to the players of Veszprémi Kézilabda Ltd, which competes in NC I/B, more precisely, only when their execution causes problems for the young players.
"I love two more things, one of which is sauna, whose beneficial effects include detoxification, improved blood circulation, but it also strengthens the immune system and improves the condition of the skin and respiratory system. The other is skiing, which has been a part of my life since childhood. In winter, I always look for places where people are invited to enjoy high-quality slopes. Interestingly, I'm not afraid for my legs at those times, although I don't usually show off on snowy slopes, as I always know where my limits are. I particularly like the Austrian slopes, where I pay my respects from time to time. Skiing is not only great cardio training, it also strengthens several muscles at the same time, improves balance, and exercising outdoors also improves my circulation."
Author: Ferenc Király