Heroes of the past: Tamás Faragó

Tamás Faragó it is almost impossible to list his successes briefly, let's just say that he formed an Olympic, world and European champion team as a player, and a world champion team as a coach, from the women who reached the Olympics with him for the first time. He was elected Player of the Year, and recently he was admitted to the narrowest elite, the club of twelve members of the Athletes of the Nation. To where Dr. As a result of the death of László Hammerl, another member was added in the person of Sándor Wladár. 

- Olympic champion Wladár also did a lot as a sports leader, and moreover, he was accepted as a representative of a sport - swimming - that had not been represented among the twelve chosen since Éva Székely. However, the current awardee not only represents himself, but also his sport. Choosing is always a difficult task for everyone, as there are many who deserve it. I am also personally happy for Wladar, since he is my friend, he is also a veterinarian and I can even call him my student. When he started playing water polo after finishing swimming, he came to me several times to ask for advice. I got to know him as a kind and studious guy.  

Swimming is definitely a "relative" specialty to you. 

If you think that most T-shirts started out as swimmers, then that assumption does not apply to me. This happened to me because I had two physical education teachers at Kazinczy Street elementary school. One is the now 90-year-old Misi Faludi, who was obsessed with handball and later became the captain of the national team, and the other is György Patyi, who is devoted to polo. In general, I stood out most as a high-shooting handball player, but later I decided on water polo, although it may have been the sport that chose me. The point is: I was captivated by the incomparable swimming pool environment, the special atmosphere that prevailed there. Anyone who takes their first steps in water polo without exception wants to be an Olympic champion. At that time, being in a swimming pool also meant belonging to a culture. The nine Olympic championship victories, the previous fantastic individuals of the sport, these all represent attraction. It was also a cultural environment, where everyone was an educated person, everyone wanted to be a university student. Everyone wanted to aim for the "top", everyone would have been ashamed if he was described as stupid. 

Did you have a hard time at first? 

I couldn't say, since I started when I was just 13 years old, and two years later I was able to play in the BVSC adult team, and at the age of 16 I was called up to the national team. They thought I was talented and I took that seriously and wanted to be the best in the world. And whoever is the best in Hungary is almost the best in the world at the same time. Although I have many, many titles and awards, the recognition of the fans means the most to me, and the memories of my teammates, even decades later. 

It is not usually possible to "climb" the mentioned heights on your own. 

Of course this is true. Even then, there were excellent coaches who helped the talents. There was Kemény Fecsó, who had his first opportunity with BVSC adults, then Peti Rusorán in Vasas, and uncle Béla Rajki in the national team, who was proud to discover someone and, like me, put him in the national team for the first time. Later, Dezső Gyarmati and others. I received something extra from everyone, which I tried to use to the maximum. What is very important in both sports and civil life: receptiveness and demandingness. I have to single out two people. Rusorán Petit, from whom I could learn a lot as a player and coach, the other is Dezső. He lifted me up when he said: "Farago is at least as good a player as I am." Of course, she would have been the first Carpathian Gyurika - if she heard this...

(Detour in our Virtual Museum: let's recall the events of the 1976 Olympics here by clicking!)

How do you feel that you managed to fully exploit your talent, or is there a feeling of missing something online? 

As I said, I am very lucky that I chose water polo, or he chose me. I got what I could get from this sport, and it must be due to my series of good decisions, which were confirmed by my results. 

The question arises: to what extent was he able to pass on the experiences he gained to the next generations? 

Although I could accept the categories of team or team spirit, I thought that I do the most for the team when I play very well myself. During my coaching period, I considered it a great gift when, for example, the Varga brothers, Dani and Dumi, or Krisztián Manhercz suddenly appeared. and I can deal with them. Like a lion: if you only see its claws, you already know exactly what kind of animal you are dealing with - it's the same with talents. It was a huge blessing for me to be able to run into such a God-given talent, to be able to recognize his exceptional talent. 

During your career, who were the companions with whom you understood each other particularly well? 

A long list would be necessary here after I mention Gábor Csapó separately. In fact, I tried to watch everyone in Vasas and the national team with greedy eyes in order to see what I could take over and learn from that person. I was such a player that I could praise anyone, and only very few people can afford to do that. I am characterized by respect and love for talent, and on the other hand, I also accept and praise the work with a good heart. 

Do you consider the period when you were able to work with the women's national team to be a period rich in such lessons? 

Clearly. First, because in those years I was able to visit America and Canada several times, where I could hold summer camps, and there I noticed how popular water polo is over there. It was also striking how aesthetically the women move in the water. I also realized that women's bodies contain more fatty tissue than men's, so they have a lighter specific weight, which affects their movement. In addition, in 2001, I had triplets and therefore I considered it important to work part-time so that I would have enough time for my family. I figured, what if I could manage the women's national team? Several people commented on this: this is a good idea, since you really only understand women and water polo...

And was this really a good choice? 

I feel yes for several reasons. Primarily because I value the fact that women are rational, as opposed to sentimental, romantic men. If they realize the point, they do it, they don't reason. I've always said that the players make the coach. And I was lucky with those players, because they understood the ratio, and I also had good players. I wasn't violent, I just offered them the chance to win, which I had the recipe for, my science. Fortunately, we found each other and won quite a few things. 

The peak was the world championship title won in 2005.

And what happened even before that! We won a European Championship and a World Cup, and were second in the World Championship. The 2004 Olympics, however, did not succeed. At that time, the previous unclouded relationship between me and the girls was broken, the staff fell to pieces, cliques formed. On the other hand, they "hung" a psychologist around my neck - I would like to call her by her name, Ágotá Budavári - who, instead of helping, increased the tension. Perhaps my faith was also manifested in the fact that instead of lamenting, I tried to decipher the message I received. After learning the facts, I once again formed a team, with which I used the tool that leads to long-term success, love. I did not motivate and punish, but based it on love. "Kids, if you want to win, we can win," I told them, but that was not accepted at the Olympics. I replaced half of my former team with unknown youngsters, with whom the new team finally won the World Cup in 2005. That's when I thought that I had won the game, this chapter must be closed now. I also said goodbye to the women's national team. I ran away from the water pump, because I think the players should "dip" the coach if the team doesn't win. Then it would be clear who is the fool. 

After that, he ran his own polo school for a long time, but he also let it go. 

Currently, I am a professional manager at Vasas resupply, I work as a mentor for adults, and on behalf of the association, I am a professional manager for young girls, supervising those between the ages of 9 and 13. As a board member, I can make my voice heard if I have substantive comments. 

Since he has retired from coaching for many years, he can observe the situation of Hungarian polo through an objective lens. 

I still consider Hungarian water polo to be a successful sport, and not only because of the nine Olympic gold medals, the world and European championship successes. I am also thinking about the young talents who are constantly coming up, and through whom we won four out of six age group world competitions in 2023, for example. These facts confirm to me that when a great generation passes away, there is no need to lament about what will happen, since the best of the next generation will be at least as talented as their predecessors. They will win anyway, you just have to be patient with them, which is the essence of Hungarian water polo. And this is brilliant technical knowledge and an inimitable, untraceable tactical repertoire. Anyone who thinks that you have to win a match on a physical basis, I think, is on the wrong track and needs to go back to the basics.       

It is inevitable not to mention the Paris Olympics. 

I would start by saying that we have a chance at every Olympics, we want to win the Olympics. Taking the realities into account, I say that both the men's and women's teams should be among the top four. The cruelest test is how to get from the top eight to the semi-finals. Thanks to the result of the quarterfinals, you can be first or even eighth. Although, for example, in the case of men, the Italian and Spanish teams are considered the most likely to reach the finals, I do not consider it unrealistic at all that the Hungarian boys will get there. And I extend this chance to women as well. 

Why do you think the Italian and Spanish teams are favored? 

Unfortunately, they are a bit ahead of us in terms of our main virtues. I would like to add that the development of water polo increasingly requires complexity. In order to be strong, technically qualified, you need to be smart enough to know exactly not only the next but also the third step. And if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, know yourself because you can stand your ground even there. All in all: you are among the best everywhere except the goalkeeper position. 

How can the recent World Cup victory of the Hungarian national team be repeated in Paris?

The first reason was the perfect, very disciplined team play. The second is the flawless defense, with Vogel Soma at the helm. And the third reason is that the players who are good "on paper" - Dénes Varga, Marci Vámos, Gergő Zalánki - perform above average. Today, perfect team play and two or three extra productions are essential prerequisites for victory. 

Besides the polo matches, what else do you want to follow at the Olympics? 

The Olympics! I was at the Olympics in person, but I didn't even see my own match. I mainly try to watch team sports on TV, because that's where I identify with the participants. I rejoice with them when they win, and I am sad after a possible defeat. In addition to the polo matches, I would like to follow the athletics and swimming competitions in particular.

Károly Jocha