Henrietta Ónodi

Henrietta Ónodi (born May 22, 1974) is a Hungarian artistic gymnast. She competed at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and won a gold and a silver medal in 1992.[1] After retiring from gymnastics in 1997 she moved to the United States, married American Olympic pentathlete Jimbo Haley, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. In 2010, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.[2]

The native form of this personal name is Ónodi Henrietta. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Henrietta Ónodi
Ónodi (center) at the 1992 Olympics
Personal information
Country represented Hungary
Born (1974-05-22) May 22, 1974
Békéscsaba, Hungary[1]
Height146 cm (4 ft 9 in)[1]
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
ClubBékéscsabai Előre Atlétikai Club
ATorna Club Békéscsaba[1]
Head coach(es)Mihály Unytyinszky
Assistant coach(es)Júlia Karakas
Retired1997
Medal record
Representing  Hungary
Olympic Games
1992 Barcelona Vault
1992 Barcelona Floor exercise
World Championships
1992 Paris Vault
1991 Indianapolis Vault
1992 Paris Floor exercise
World Cup Final
1990 Brussels Vault
1990 Brussels Floor exercise
1990 Brussels All-around
1990 Brussels Uneven bars
Goodwill Games
1990 SeattleAll Around
European Championships
1989 Brussels Uneven bars
1989 Brussels Floor exercise
1990 Athens All-around
1990 Athens Floor exercise

Career

Ónodi, also known as "Henni" in the gymnastics community, began gymnastics in 1978 and made her international debut in 1986. Too young to qualify for the 1988 Olympics, she made her senior debut in 1989 and represented Hungary at the World Championships that year, where she placed 19th in the all-around and 5th in the balance beam event finals.

Over the next few years, Ónodi established herself as a medal contender at major events. In 1989 she became the first female Hungarian gymnast to medal at the European Championships with a gold on the uneven bars; at the 1990 Europeans she placed third in the all-around and the floor exercise. In 1990, she also finished third in the all-around at the Goodwill Games and the World Cup where she won the vault event. At the 1991 World Championships Ónodi suffered a sudden back injury but was able to win a silver medal on vault and helped the Hungarian squad qualify for the 1992 Olympics with an eighth-place finish in the team final.

The next year at the Olympics in Barcelona, Ónodi became the first female Hungarian gymnast in over 30 years to win an Olympic gold medal. She tied with Romanian Lavinia Miloșovici for the gold in the vault event final; on floor exercise, performing to "Hungarian Rhapsody" she finished second behind Miloşovici. Ónodi's difficulty level on vault was actually higher than Miloșovici's (they both used full twisting Yurchenkos but Henrietta did a piked barani and Milosovici a tucked). Ónodi also performed the difficult triple twist on floor, then an unusual move (nobody else in the Barcelona floor finals did it).

Ónodi semi-retired after Barcelona Olympics to focus on her studies. She returned to international competitions in 1995 at the World University Games and subsequently led the Hungarian team at the 1996 Olympics. She retired again in 1997 after attending her second University Games.[2]

Skills and style

Ónodi made many contributions to gymnastics during her competitive career. She was lauded for her unique style and power on vaulting and floor. Her uneven bars routine consisted of elements on the low bar at a time when most gymnasts did the minimum two elements on the low bar.

Eponymous skills
ApparatusNameDescriptionDifficultyNotes
Balance BeamOnodiHalf turn jump into a front walkoverDThough it is named after Ónodi as she was the first to compete it at a World Championships or Olympic Games, the skill was originally done in 1983 by Olga Mostepanova; Also performed on floor.

Post-retirement

In 2001 Ónodi graduated with a degree in marketing and found a job in Miami, Florida, as Director of Community Relations for the World Olympians Association. She married Jimbo Haley, an American pentathlete who also competed at the 1992 Olympics, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. In 2010, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.[2]

Personal life

Ónodi is the aunt of Ákos Ónodi, who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League side Aston Villa.[3]

See also

References
  1. Henrietta Ónodi Archived 2013-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  2. Henrietta Ónodi. ighof.com
  3. "Magyar kapus bánta a Liverpool feltámadását". Infostart.hu (in Hungarian).
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