Anna Kael

The native form of this personal name is Kael Anna. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Anna Kael (2 February 1908 – 24 February 1985) was a Hungarian all-round sportswoman and university professor. She competed successfully in athletics, basketball and gymnastics.

Anna Kael

Personal information
Nationality	Hungarian
Born	(1908-01-02)2 January 1908 Újpest, Kingdom of Hungary
Died	24 February 1985(1985-02-24) (aged 77) Budapest, Hungary
Alma mater	Royal Hungarian College of Physical Education
Spouse	Lajos Balogh
Sport
Country	Hungary
Sport	Athletics, basketball, gymnastics
Club	Testnevelési Főiskola SE
Medal record Women’s gymnastics Representing Hungary World Championship 1934 Budapest Women's team
Updated on 18 October 2014

Teaching career

Kael studied at the Royal Hungarian College of Physical Education, from where she graduated in 1929 as physical education teacher. Subsequently, she remained at the college and worked first as instructor and assistant professor beside Ottó Misángyi (1929–38), and later as full professor (1938–1950). Kael was a docent of the institution from 1950 until her retirement in 1964, including a period between 1950 and 1952 when she served as the head of the Faculty of Athletics.

Sports career

Kael competed for Testnevelési Főiskola SE (TFSE), the sports club of the college during her whole career, that spanned over one and a half decade (1926–1944). Like most of the Hungarian sportswomen of her time, she started with gymnastics; she was part of the Hungarian team that finished fourth at the 1928 Summer Olympics in the women's team event. At the 1934 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships she won the silver medal in women's team final, and finished fourth in the individual all-around.

With the introduction of women's events to the Hungarian Athletics Championships program in 1932, Kael also changed her focus on athletics. She competed in a wide variety of disciplines, winning a total of 8 individual national titles. At the 1932 Hungarian Athletics Championships she won both in the high jump and the long jump, thus becoming the first ever Hungarian champion in these events; in 1936 she won the long jump again. Additionally, she won five titles in the discus throw (1934, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1944).

Kael also showed talent in basketball and was a member of the TFSE team that won the inaugural Hungarian basketball championship in 1933. She repeated this success in 1939 and 1942.

Personal life

Kael married to Lajos Balogh, a fellow athlete, coach and engineer. They had one daughter, Anikó Balogh, who also became and athlete and competed in the javelin throw. Their grandsons, Attila Petőváry and Zsolt Petőváry are former Hungarian international water polo players.