© Debbie Poe
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'94 Reese's Pro Championships, Baltimore, Maryland © Debbie Poe |
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In 1989 Henrietta became the first Hungarian woman to win a medal (of any color) in an European Championships competition by winning the gold in uneven bars. In 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Henrietta won a gold medal in vault with a score of 9.925. Only a perfect 10.0 score by the Romanian star Lavinia Milosovici prevented Henrietta (who scored a 9.950) from winning a second gold medal, in floor exercise. Nevertheless, her vaulting gold medal is the first Olympic gold medal won by a Hungarian female gymnast since Agnes Keleti won two (UB and BB) back in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. After the Barcelona Olympics, Henrietta came to the United States to attend college in Texas. She went back to Hungary in early 1996 to train with the national team in preparation for the Atlanta Olympic Games. In Atlanta Henrietta competed as part of the Hungarian Team (9th place finish). She did not move on to the all-around competition because she did not perform the uneven bars routine during the team compulsories. She now lives in San Antonio, Texas. She is said to be attending classes at University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, studying marketing (on a scholarship?). She also spends time in her old gymnastics club back in Bekescsaba, Hungary, helping to train young gymnasts there (among them is Adrienn Varga, the finest Hungarian female gymnast since Onodi). After Atlanta Olympics, Henrietta spent time back home in Hungary helping to care for her ailing father, who, sadly, have since passed away. Recently she competed in the 1997 World University Games in Sicily, Italy.
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