Hungarian Swim Coach Laszlo Kiss Resigns Following 1962 Rape Conviction Revelation

Editorial Coverage Sponsored By FINIS

Laszlo Kiss, the head coach of the Hungarian swimming team for more than two decades, has resigned after the revelation of a 1962 rape conviction according to the Associated Press.

Kiss told the AP that he was leaving “in the interests of Hungarian sports and because his health was shaken by the disclosure of his conviction and three years in prison.”

Kiss, then 21, was convicted for participating in a gang rape of a young woman along with two other swimmers in 1962.

Kiss states that the conviction was based on trumped up charges.

“Please don’t forget that I am the same man as I was a week or 50 years ago,” said Kiss, who also resigned as deputy mayor of the town of Szazhalombatta, south of Budapest. “All my life I’ve lived honorably for my job and, through it, for Hungarian sports.”

Kiss was released from prison in 1963 following a general amnesty provided to many convicts by the Hungarian government at the time.

Kiss’ original conviction was apparently well known within the sport in Hungary, but when the website privatkopo.hu revisited the conviction against earlier this week, it rocked the Hungarian swimming community at large.

The Hungarian Swimming Federation will begin a search to replace Kiss.

Full AP article.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use