It’s not unusual in athletics for hard working individuals to fill multiple roles, but Zsuzsanna Oroszi may well be one of the busiest women in the sport.
Her almost super human contributions of time and leadership have served generations of young athletes and helped to shape the sport in her native Hungary. So much so that in 2013 she was given the European Athletics Women’s Leadership Award following her nomination by the Hungarian Athletics Federation.
“I got involved in athletics at an early age on the recommendation of my primary school P.E. teacher, who was also an athletics coach,” she recalls. “I joined a very energetic community of dedicated athletes and, ever since, sport, especially athletics, has played a very important role in my life.”
Indeed, since moving from athlete to teacher and coach after completing her university studies, there is barely a role that Zsuzsanna hasn’t occupied at one point or another, including being the passionate parent of young athletes.
First, there was the career as a physical education teacher and coach in the picturesque town of Ver…‘ce, 50km north of Budapest.
Then, back in 2004, Zsuzsanna accepted the opportunity to work as an associate on the Sports Board of Pest County, her regional government. That led to her becoming the sport portfolio holder in 2008, a job that she took to with relish.
“My office’s primary activities include the coordination of the Student Olympic competitions and other sports events in the county,” she explains. “Most of my day-to-day my work deals with student and junior sports. I coordinate the student competitions in the various districts and I'm responsible for the county championships.”
“I also chair of the Hungarian School Sports Federation's Athletics Committee, and through that I have a leadership role in organising national athletic competitions for primary and secondary schools.”
As if her professional life didn’t show enough commitment to sport, Zsuzsanna spends her spare time as a track and field official and board member of the Hungarian Athletics Federation.
“On weekends I referee national and international athletic competitions held in Hungary,” she says. “A few years ago, I became vice president of the federation’s Referees Committee and in 2013 I was elected to join the board of the federation.
Her many and varied roles within sport have provided Zsuzsanna with plenty of fond memories, as well as a clear sense of what she still wants to achieve.
“The 1998 European Championships in Budapest was an unforgettable experience for me. This was my first international competition where I worked as a referee and the experience was decisive in the further development of my work.”
Despite having officiated at international championships, Zsuzsanna says she is most at home working with younger, developing athletes.
“For me, the greatest joy is children's competitions,” she confirms. “I've been the team leader of the national children’s team for several years. It is a wonderful feeling to see the talented youngsters compete in international events and then see them holding their ground years later in junior and adult competitions.”
The European Athletics Women’s Leadership Award was, then, just reward for decades of service to the sport, but Zsuzsanna’s efforts are not about to cease.
“I was surprised and honoured to receive this prestigious award. This recognition confirms to me that I am on the right track and gives me even more momentum in the coming years to continue my work in athletics.”
The young athletes of Hungary can certainly be thankful for that.
The European Athletics Women's Leadership Awards
The aim of the European Athletics Women's Leadership Awards is to recognise the behind the scenes work and accomplishments that have helped to make the winners role models for other women in athletics. Coaching young athletes, officiating, setting up and managing clubs . . . their achievements are as varied as the individuals themselves.
In 2013, 26 women, including Zsuzsanna, were selected for the award by their national athletics federations.