The Olympics has always been the biggest sporting event in the world. It’s a dream for any athlete to win the Olympic gold medal and sharing these moments with your loved ones is a once in a lifetime experience. However, some lucky few athletes have shared the Olympic podium with their significant other, what are the odds of that?
Let’s explore all the married couples who have shared the stage with their better half in the history of the Olympics Games.
Hermann de Pourtalès and Hélène de Pourtalès
The Olympic Games in 1900 saw the husband and wife pair of Hermann de Pourtalès and Hélène de Pourtalès aboard the Swiss boat Lerina as the pair went on to win the gold medal in the first race of 1 — 2 ton and silver medal in the second race of 1 — 2 ton class. Interestingly, Hélène de Pourtalès also became the first woman to ever win an Olympic gold and the American born sailor was the first woman to represent Switzerland at the Olympic Games.
Cyril and Dorothy Wright
The 1920 Summer Olympics saw another married couple Cyril and Dorothy Wright aboard the British boat Ancora which won the gold medal in the 7 meter class. This extraordinary feat of winning gold as a married couple was not repeated for Great Britain for nearly a century until Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh won the gold medal in women’s hockey at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Aladár Gerevich and Erna Bogen-Bogáti
Fencers Aladár Gerevich and Erna Bogen-Bogáti were a married couple that represented Hungary together at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Widely regarded as ‘the greatest Olympic swordsman ever’ Aladár Gerevich went on to win gold medals in six Olympics, becoming the only athlete to ever do so (despite two Olympic Games being cancelled because of World War). His wife Erna Bogen-Bogáti also went on to win a bronze medal at the 1932 Olympic Games.
Dezső Gyarmati and Éva Székely
The Hungarian pair of Dezső Gyarmati and Éva Székely participated in three Olympics, the 1948 Olympic Games in London, 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki and 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. Dezső Gyarmati is the most decorated player in the history of water polo and a three time Olympic champion. His wife Éva Székely won the gold medal in the 1952 Olympic Games in the 200-metre breaststroke category and a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics. She has set six world records, won 44 national titles and held the first world record in the 400 m individual medley.
Emil Zátopek and Dana Zátopková
Emil Zátopek was a Czechoslovak long-distance runner who won three gold medals at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres run. He was also the first runner to break the 29 minute record for the 10,000 metre distance and is widely considered to be one of the greatest runners of the 20th century. His wife Dana Zátopková was a Czech javelin thrower who also won the gold medal in the 1952 Summer Olympics. She also set a world record in 1958 at the age of 35 with a distance of 55.73 m.
Takashi Ono and Kiyoko Ono
Retired Japanese gymnast Takashi Ono competed in four Olympics from 1952 to 1964 and won five gold, four silver and four bronze medals. He was also the flag bearer of his country at the 1960 Olympic Games and has been inducted at the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. His wife Kiyoko Ono participated alongside him in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics and won a bronze medal in gymnastics. She died on 13th March, 2021 due to COVID-19.
Al Joyner and Florence Griffith Joyner
American track and field coach and former athlete Al Joyner was a 1984 Olympic gold medallist in the triple jump. He was also coach and husband to the four time Olympic medallist Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo). Widely regarded as the fastest woman of all time, her world records from 1988 for 100 m and 200 m have still not been surpassed. Florence won three gold medals at the 1988 Olympics and a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics where she participated alongside her husband.
Also read: Is the Tokyo Olympics 2021 worth it?
Géza Imre and Beatrix Kökény
Hungarian fencer Géza Imre is a three time Olympic medallist, having won a bronze in 1996, silver in 2004 and another silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro. His wife Beatrix Kökény won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games and a silver in 2000 and has been awarded Hungarian Handballer of the Year three times.
Emanuel Rego and Leila Barros
Emanuel Rego has competed in five consecutive summer Olympics, representing Brazil as a male volleyball player. He won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and a bronze medal in Beijing. His wife Leila Barros won two Olympic bronze medals for volleyball in 1996 and 2000.
Erwann Le Péchoux and Inès Boubakri
French foil fencer Erwann Le Péchoux competed in two Olympic Games (2004 and 2016) and is a four time team World Champion (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2014). He converted to Islam to marry Tunisian foil fencer Inès Boubakri who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Jason Kenny and Laura Trott Kenny
Representing Great Britain as a track cyclist in three Olympic Games (2008, 2012 and 2016) Kenny is the joint holder of the highest number of Olympic gold medals for a British athlete (6). His wife Laura Kenny has won four Olympic gold medals from the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and is the most successful female track cyclist and the most successful female competitor for any sport in Britain.
Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton
Two time Olympic champion Ashton Eaton is an American decathlete who is also a world record holder of the indoor heptathlon event. He won two gold medals, one at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the other at the 2016 Olympic Games in Tokyo. His wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton is an Olympic bronze medallist from the 2016 Summer Olympics and is the first and only Canadian woman to podium in the multi-events at the World Championships.
Kate Richardson-Walsh and Helen Richardson-Walsh
English field hockey player Kate Richardson-Walsh is a two time Olympic medallist, having won gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and a bronze at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She has 375 caps for her country and served as captain for 13 years. Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh became the first same sex couple to win an Olympic gold medal together and the first married couple for Great Britain since 1920.
Stay tuned for part 2 for more couples who achieved glory at the Olympics
