A group of European legislators has stood out both in the Olympic and political spheres.
Los Paris Olympic Games are about to cross the finish line and most lawmakers will return to work hungover from watching too much sport over the summer.
For some lawmakers, the transition from the excitement of the Olympic podium to the hustle and bustle of the EU’s political agenda has come with an added nuance, as in reality they competed in the Olympic Games.
It is not uncommon for political parties take advantage of the fame of former athletes for win votesy several legislators have had a impressive sports record. The MEPs of this select group of ex-Olympians come from Hungary, Italia y Slovakiaand participated in fencing, hockey y soccer. These are his stories.
Pál Szekeres, hero of both worlds
Olympic from 1988 to 2008, and MEP from 2024 (Hungary/Patriots for Europe).
Sports: fencing (foil, sabre).
The Hungarian is a true Olympic hero, since he is the only athlete to have won an Olympic and a Paralympic medal. His first bronze medal was in the team foil event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
After a bus accident which left him in a wheelchair, he participated in five consecutive Paralympic Gameswinning three gold and three bronze medals, and becoming one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in the history of fencing.
After holding various government and administrative positions, this summer he switched from fencing to European Parliamentpresenting himself as a candidate for the Orbán partyFidesz.
Once in Strasbourg, it was much more difficult for him to obtain a high position due to the cordon sanitaire against the extreme right groups than winning an Olympic medal. In fact, he was prevented from being quaestor of the European Parliament despite his distinguished career as affiliate to Orbán’s Patriots for Europe group.
Pietro Mennea, arrow of the South
Olympic athlete from 1972 to 1988, and MEP from 1999 to 2004 (Italy/ELDR, EPP, not registered).
Sports: sprinter (100 m, 200 m, 4×100 m relay).
Authentic legend in ItalyPietro Mennea is remembered as one of the best runners of all time. A major annual athletics gala is named after him, and he was the country’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Mennea qualified for four consecutive Olympic 200-meter finals from 1972 to 1984 and won one gold medal at the Olympic Games Moscow 1980which the United States boycotted.
And what is more important, in 1979 established a world record of 19.72 seconds in the 200 metroswhich lasted almost 17 years before Michael Johnson beat him at the 1996 US Olympic trials.
Mennea was elected MEP in 1999, joining the group of the European Party of Liberals, Democrats and Reformists (precursor of the liberal group ALDE, today Renew Europe). He later moved to the European People’s Party (EPP) and finished his term as a non-registered member. Among his activities, he was rapporteur of a Parliament resolution on sport voted by the plenary session in September 2000.
ADVERTISINGPeter Stastny, Red Star renegade
Olympic in 1980 (with Czechoslovakia) and 1992 (with Slovakia); MEP from 2004 to 2014 (Slovakia/PPE) .
Sports: Ice Hockey
Known as “Peter the Great”, Stastny is a legendary athlete from Slovakiaalso recognized in Canada as one of the all-time greats of the ice Hockey. Born in communist Czechoslovakia in 1956, he and his brothers, Anton and Marián, became stars after winning the 1976 and 1977 World Championships.
The three were forwards (Peter played in the center, Marián on the left wing and Anton on the right) and they all competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1980 Winter Olympics, placing fifth.
ADVERTISINGThe brothers fled to Canada through the Iron Curtain in 1980 and joined the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League (NHL). Peter became fluent in French and English and obtained Canadian nationality.
After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Stastny competed for Slovakia at the 1994 Winter Olympics and was the country’s flag bearer. An anti-communist, he later entered politics, running for the party of then Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and becoming MEP. Re-elected in 2009, he was a co-signer in 2008 of a declaration condemning communism, which led to the adoption of a European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism.
Rivera and Boniperti, Italian soccer hall of fame
Giampiero Boniperti: Olympic in 1952, and MEP from 1994 to 1999 (Italy/EPP).
Giovanni Rivera: Olympic in 1960, and MEP from 2005 to 2009 (Italy/not registered).
ADVERTISINGSports: Soccer.
Many may not know that two of the most famous Italian footballers of all time, Giampiero Boniperti and Gianni Rivera, were also MEPs and participated in the Olympic Games.
Bonipertia Juventus legend Both on the field and in his executive role, he played two games at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics. In addition to being one of the top scorers in Serie A, he was a successful sports director of Juventus and the main sports club of Turin athletics, where he supervised athletes such as high jumper Sara Simeoni and fellow Olympic MEP Pietro Mennea.
Gianni Rivera He began his professional career at Alessandria, in the Italian second division. His performances earned him a place on the national team at the Rome Summer Olympics, where he helped Italy finish fourth, scoring three goals in five games. Nicknamed the “Golden Boy” by his followers, Rivera led Italia to victory in 1968 Euro Cup and won the prestigious Golden Ball in 1969.
ADVERTISINGIn 2005, Rivera became an MEP, becoming part of those not registered. Despite a 73% attendance rate and more than 241 session days between 2005 and 2009, did not leave a significant mark on the European Parliament. Similarly, Boniperti, who was part of the Culture commission, did not achieve notable recognition as a European legislator.
Pál Schmitt, swordsman de Orbán
Olympic from 1968 to 1976, and MEP from 2004 to 2014 (Hungary/EPP).
Sports: fencing (sword).
Another Hungarian fencer on the list, Paul Schmittwon team gold medals in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games and competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
ADVERTISINGAfter retiring from competition at the age of 35, he remained active in the world of sport, becoming general secretary of the Hungarian Olympic Committee in 1983 and later as its president after the fall of communism. He also held various positions in the International Olympic Committee.
In parallel to his sports career, Schmitt worked in the diplomacyas Hungarian Ambassador to Spain from 1993 to 1997 and to Switzerland from 1999 to 2002. A close ally of Viktor Orbán, Schmitt was elected Member of the European Parliament in 2004 by the list of Fidesz. After being re-electedbecame vice president of the European Parliament.
In 2010Schmitt focused on Hungarian politics and became president of the hungarian parliament. Shortly after, in August, he was elected president of Hungary, a largely ceremonial position. His political career suffered a bump in 2012when a plagiarism scandal in relation to his doctoral thesis about the modern Olympic Games, which caused its resignation as president of Hungary.
