Nickname(s) Richie Hand left-handed Country represented Hungary Club Torekves SE | Residence Budapest Name Richard Osvath Weapon(s) Foil A / Sabre A | |
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Born 28 May 1985 (age 38)
Satu Mare, Romania ( 1985-05-28 ) | ||
Richárd Osváth (born 28 February 1985) is a Romanian-born wheelchair fencer representing Hungary in international competitions. He won a bronze medal in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London and a silver medal in the 2013 Wheelchair Fencing World Championships, both in Foil A. He also won a silver medal in the 2014 Wheelchair European Fencing Championships in Sabre A and a gold medal in Foil A.
Biography
Osváth was born in Satu Mare, Romania. He took up fencing at CSS Satu Mare after a sports recruitment event at this school. His first coaches were Éva Lengyel and Attila File, who specialized in foil. He began fencing in international competitions in 2002 and achieved his best ranking, #105 in juniors, in 2004. He won the Romanian national championship six times between 1998 and 2006.
In 2008, Osváth was injured during a football match between friends and had to undergo seven operations in a row. Despite surgery, Osváth was left with a paralysed leg. He stopped sport for four years, then took up wheelchair fencing. Romania having no wheelchair fencing team, Osváth accepted Hungary's offer for support. He took part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London and reached the semi-finals, where he was defeated 13–15 by China's Yijun Chen after receiving a red card (penalty hit). In the match for the third place, Osváth won 15–7 against Damien Tokatlian of France. He dedicated his bronze medal both to Hungary and Romania, but mentioned he had received no congratulations from the Romanian Fencing Federation.
In 2013 Osváth took part in both the Foil A and Sabre A events of the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Championships in Budapest. In sabre, he was eliminated in the table of 16 by France's Romain Noble. Two days later, in foil, he defeated again top seed Damien Tokatlian and reaped revenge on the Paralympic Games by prevailing 15–8 over Yijun Chen. He reached the final where he was overcome 7–15 by China's Ye Ruyi and won the silver medal.
In 2014 Osváth took a silver medal in the Sabre A event of the European Fencing Championships in Strasburg after being defeated 8–15 by Romain Noble. The day after he won the gold in Foil A after a right 15–14 victory over Poland's Dariusz Pender.
