Zsolt Kaposvári (HUN)

Former national sabre champion who became one of the world’s best referees

The sudden death of Zsolt Kaposvári at the age of 48 was a source of great sadness across the world of fencing. He passed away on April 14 in Wuxi, China, where he had travelled to referee at the Asian qualifying event and Asian Senior Championships. He was a Hungarian national champion sabre fencer, and after an active sports career he became one of the world’s leading referees.

Zsolt Kaposvári started fencing in 1977 and participated in the Junior World Championships representing his club, Honvéd. During his career he won team gold in the seniors.
His results were:
• 1988 – Junior World Cup: 8th place
• 1990 – Senior Hungarian Team Championship: 1st place
• 1990 – Senior Hungarian Individual Championship: 7th place
• 1991 – Champions League: 2nd place
• 1991 – Senior Hungarian Team Championship: 1st place
• 1992 – Champions League: 4th place (’B’ National Team)
• 1993 – Champions League: 3rd place

Kaposvári retired as a fencer in 1994 and started refereeing, finding success in this field quickly. As a referee with a licence for all three weapons, he refereed in the finals of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and Paralympic Games. Prior to his death, he had been assigned to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games by the FIE.

He also refereed in the:
• Senior World Championships in Moscow (2015), Kazan (2014), Budapest (2013), Catania (2011), Paris (2010), Antalya (2009), St. Petersburg (2007), Turin (2006).
• Junior and cadet World Championships in Acireale (2008), Belfast (2009), Baku (2010) and Plovdiv (2014).

Additionally, Kaposvári officiated at many Zonal Championships, World Cup and Grand Prix competitions. He was nominated by the FIE as an elite referee in 2014 and 2015, and third best referee in the world in 2012. He was best referee in Hungary for six years running between 2005 and 2010.

In 1997, he graduated from the marketing college of the Economic University of Pennsylvania. In 2006, he earned an MBA English College degree in marketing. In 2009-2010, he was a member of the Hungarian Paralympic Committee in the role of Marketing Division Leader. The FIE and the sport of fencing have lost a talented fencer and a remarkable referee of great merit. But above all, the FIE has lost a great friend who was appreciated and respected by all. We would like to extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to his family, friends and to the Hungarian Fencing Federation in these difficult times.