The Eighth Tribe, 1977 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-04-01 / 4. szám
Page 4 THE EIGHTH TRIBE April, 1977 Joseph Széplaki: HUNGARIAN GYMNAST FULFILLS DREAM AS UNIVERSITY COACH —Reprinted from University of Minnesota paper “Back in Hungary our dream was to have a gymnastics school. I think that even if kids aren’t so great, even if they’re not going to make it to the Olympics, they can still learn so much discipline, and learn total control of their bodies. Natural talent isn’t enough. I learned a lot from my coaches in Hungary; I want to give kids what I learned. I want them to be good gymnasts and good people.” When Katalin Deli came to the University, she would have appreciated a well-disciplined, readymade gymnastics team. After all, that was what she was used to and she had come a long way. Prior to the University appointment, she lived in Budapest, Hungary, where she was born and raised. In Hungary, she won a place on the national gymnastics team and competed both nationally and internationally as an all-arounder. Her husband, Gopher women’s assistant coach Gabor Deli, was a member of the national team, and competed in the Olympics,, as well. When the Delis graduated from college in Hungary they were searching for a direction. “We both finished the university,” she said. “We didn’t have a place to live. Gabor was still in a special athlete’s dormitory. We didn’t have much money to get an apartment. We were going to wait for some the government was going to build, but it would be four years and in that time the price doubled. And then, I became pregnant. We thought it would be better in the United States and we had relatives in Minneapolis, so that’s why we settled here.’ Her dream has come true with astonishing speed. In addition to her duties at the University, she and her husband are head coaches at Mini-hops Gymnastics School, which provides instruction for some 600 youths. Deli said the primary difference between gymnastics in the United States and Hungary is organization. Gymnastics in Hungary is more tightly organized and stringently disciplined because, “gymnasts in Hungary are performing in a bigger spotlight. They are performing for the nation. It is the only opportunity for children to be somebody. Athletes are the cream of the crop,” she said. Too often in the United States, perhaps because opportunities for self-development are inconsistent, she thinks talent goes undeveloped. “If a child reaches age 14 and doesn’t want to go on, the parents don’t help. They say, okay honey, don’t do it anymore. At that age they are at a turning point. If they are excellent gymnasts, they should have harder discipline.” To her, gymnastics is an all-around sport. She implements the philosophy at practice by making the gymnasts rotate from event to event, as she did in Hungary. “I was very surprised when I came to the United States and saw gymnasts competing in only one event. We never did that. “In Europe,” she continued, “gymnastics is required starting in first grade. It’s a great sport, a basic sport; it’s good for coordination of all other sports.” ☆ ☆ The Hungarian Ethnic Group To Perform At The Civic Arena Of Pittsburgh, Pa. For Folk Festival The Hungarian Ethnic Group of Western Pennsylvania invites all the subscribers and readers of the Eighth Tribe to come to the 21st Pittsburgh Folk Festival on May 27, 28, 29th. This three day Folk Festival at the Civic Arena is one of the most famous and authentic in the country. Twenty-four nationalities don their homeland costumes and present a three point program for the thousands of visitors. Each nationality must provide a food booth featuring their native foods, a display booth showing off their beautiful arts, crafts, and cultural items, and a performance of folk dances and songs. The Hungarians will perform on Saturday, May 28th. Tickets to the festival for May 28th can be purchased from any member of the group. We ask you to support us by buying your tickets in advance as we receive commission only on per-sales of tickets. And by all means visit our Food Booth and try our delicious Kolbász, Gulyás, Palacsinta, Pörkölt, Haluska, Töltött Káposzta, and our tasty Pastry. Hope to see you there. Rose Gerzsenyi, Publicity Chairman
