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Blue skies and rippling water
Blue skies, rippling waters, and an unforgettable community experience await you in Balatonberény. Balaton SUP Festival is coming on Saturday, June 13, where the focus is not on performance, but on shared relaxation and joyful movement. A SUP tour to the Zala River estuary, water yoga, family activities, and sunset paddling await young and old alike—whether you’re trying it for the first time or are already an experienced paddler. Unwind at your own pace!
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“It’s the Journey that Counts”
“I’m the type who gets hooked,” admits András Fodor candidly, who, instead of giving up, made sports his new passion. The founder of Veszprém Triathlon Club is a nine-time Ironman who started a completely new life at the age of forty. Discover the story of a sportsman with boundless energy—someone even thirty-year-olds could learn from.
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Staying Active
Jenő Burján teaches, coaches, trains, and competes—because he believes that sports are about more than just performance.
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You Must Play for a Lifetime
As kids, they used to climb over the fence to fight for a spot on the field in their Veszprém housing complex; today, they’ve become a championship team and an unbreakable family. Read the inspiring story of the Haszkovó small-sided soccer team, from childhood friendships to international matches. 👇
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She Teaches Kids Taekwondo
She is a role model, even though she is now a grandmother, and her career serves as an inspiration for today’s generation. Mónika Papirovnyik, one of the most successful figures in Veszprém and Hungarian taekwondo, has won 23 medals at world championships throughout her career—including two world championship golds. Today, as the founder of Phoenix Taekwondo SE and a 4th-degree black belt coach, she passes on her knowledge, teaching kids respect, discipline, and the strength of the spirit.
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Effortlessly Defying the Passage of Time
Nine world championship titles, six Olympic silver medals, and an unstoppable will. Mária Gosztolai, a 79-year-old ticket taker at Petőfi Theater in Veszprém, proves that age is just a number. This year, she’s aiming for a world record at the World Championships in South Korea, and next year, an Olympic gold medal in Japan—all funded by her own efforts and pure passion.
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Former Handball Star in the Ring
How does the life of a world-class athlete change after retirement? László Nagy, sports director of One Veszprém HC and vice president of the Hungarian Handball Federation (MKSZ), talks about how he balances daily exercise, conscious health maintenance, and his leadership responsibilities. The article also reveals the new sport in which the former team captain has found mental and physical rejuvenation. 💼🏃♂️
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Three sports, one journey
Petra Mucsy is a household name in Hungarian taekwondo: her career has been marked by European and world championship titles. But how does a “difficult” little girl become a disciplined champion, and then a physical education teacher who inspires her students? Petra talks about her strict military-style training, her love of tennis, and why discipline remains important in sports today.
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Table tennis: a lifelong passion
What do waste management and reflexes have in common? Dr. Róbert Kurdi, Vice Rector for General Affairs at the University of Pannonia, demonstrates that an academic career and competitive sports can not only coexist but also complement each other. A story spanning 44 years, countless championship matches, and an unyielding passion, where the motivation remains just as strong today as it was as a kid in the basement of his home.
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You won't get bored even while running
“Running is infinitely simple, yet it can teach us complex lessons.” As both a journalist and a coach, Gábor Horváth lives and breathes the magic of sports, but he finds true peace and answers during his long runs. What drives an amateur runner to complete 75 kilometers in a single race? Read an inspiring story about the will to persevere and the joy of movement.
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Fencing: The Love of a Lifetime
There are some things you never grow too old for. Miklós Kocsis, a legendary figure in Veszprém’s fencing community, will soon celebrate his 88th birthday, but he still dons his gear today to teach the young. What keeps him on the piste even after six decades? How did a coal shed become a successful fencing workshop? A moving and inspiring life story from the world of fencing, where the sport is not a job, but a lifelong passion.
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Soccer is the Spice of Life
“If you took that away from him, his life would be dull.” Soccer is the one constant in László Nagy’s life, but not all of his family members have found happiness on the soccer field. In this candid portrait, you’ll read about the dark side of elite sports, burnout, the European champion hip-hop dancer, and a 32-year-long partnership where humor and sports help them overcome every hardship.
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Ever Closer to Little Bro
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Running made her life complete
How does a mother-of-four become a marathon runner at age 42 with no athletic background? Szilvia Végh Rugovics(“Szilvi Rugo”)’s story isn’t just about the miles; it’s about finding inner strength after a difficult time in her family life.
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A Lasting Friendship Through Volleyball
Have you heard of Veszprém RC “Musketiers”? They’re the former Extra League stars who, even at 45 and older, just can’t hang up their jerseys. Though their speed isn’t what it used to be, and their warm-ups require a bit more effort in the locker room, their humility toward the game and their experience remain as strong as ever.
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She knows what it takes to make a good race
She started out in the ring, and today she inspires tens of thousands!
Meet Zsófia Sisak, a four-dan black belt in martial arts, who—as former race director of Spartan Race and now the host of Fighters' Run—is bringing one of Hungary’s most exciting obstacle course races to Veszprém.
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Gets the most out of life
"You can live a full life even without legs!" – Meet Tibor Traier! Tibor's life changed forever two and a half years ago in an accident in Alabama: a heavy pipe fell on his legs, resulting in the amputation of one of them below the knee. Many would have given up, but as he lay on his hospital bed, he kept repeating one thing: "I will get back on my feet."
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Still in good shape
A legend who is still going strong today!
Seventeen years of loyalty, 16 championship titles, 14 Hungarian Cup victories and 2,262 goals scored in Veszprém colors. Gergő Iváncsik, one of the best left wings in the history of the Bakony club, has now found his calling in training the next generation.
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Walking for their health
Would you like to learn about healthy living from a reliable source while getting some exercise? As part of the Walk with the Doctor program, you can walk and ask questions in Veszprém while accompanied by a medical specialist.
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After dogwalking, it's time to go skiing
Perhaps Veszprém's most famous athlete ever, József Éles hung up his jersey two decades ago, but his athletic mentality is still his lifeblood today. Although chasing goal-scoring titles is no longer his goal these days, the "inimitable genius" is still actively working to stay healthy.
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The competitive spirit is still with her today
How does an Olympic marathon runner become a master of future pastry chefs? Ida Kovács, seven-time Hungarian champion, now teaches young people as a pastry chef instructor, while proving with her six-day-a-week training routine that competitive spirit and perseverance are eternal.
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Those who exercise instead of relaxing
What is the secret of a successful enterpreneur from Veszprém who, even at nearly sixty years of age, exercises for several hours every day and cannot be stopped even by serious surgery? For Kornél Bódy, founder of Plasticor Ltd, exercise is not just a hobby, but the cornerstone of his physical and mental balance.
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With a white cane in the gym
"At times like this, I always knock down a brick from the imaginary wall between the visually impaired and the sighted," says Attila Németh. The man lost his sight in 2013 due to a rare disease, but instead of giving up, he found new goals at the gym.
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The region on the move: Tés, the exemplary village
Tés has proven that spinning, karate, and hiking build community even in the smallest villages. The Veszprém–Balaton European Region of Sport 2026 tenders open new doors for small settlements. Get inspired by the Tés program!
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Always Needing Goals
According to Péter Ovádi, it is the joy of movement and goals that keep him going. In addition to marathon running and training, the politician encourages everyone to lead healthier, more active lives through the Region of Sport program.
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Adventures by Bike
For the Tóth-Dänhardt family, exercising together is a way of life. Whether it's bike tours or active camping, sport is the main source of family unity and relaxation for them.
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Uplifting Feelings in Her Soul
Andrea Rajkai, a taekwondo legend from Veszprém, teaches physical education today after her successes in world and European championships. Her perseverance and humility towards exercise remain exemplary even after her knee injuries.
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Sensation of Success Fuels Him
Máté Gyömrei, winner of Ninja Warrior and silver medalist of the Spartan Race World Championship, believes in pushing boundaries. As an IT manager and family man, he finds the motivation he needs to grow in sports.
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We can still exercise outdoors in winter
Winter running is healthy if you follow the rules: layered clothing, a warm-up, and hydration are important. Choose a safe route, run at a slower pace, and take a break when the temperature drops below -10 °C. Strengthen your immune system!
