Károly Levitzky (23 September 1885 – 23 August 1978) was a Hungarian rower who competed in the early 20th century. He is primarily known for winning Hungary's first Olympic medal in rowing, a bronze in the men's single sculls at the 1908 London Olympics.
Early Life and National Career Born in Esztergom, Hungary (then part of Austria-Hungary), Levitzky quickly established himself as a dominant force in Hungarian rowing. He achieved significant national success, securing seven consecutive Hungarian national championships in the single sculls event from 1907 to 1913, showcasing his sustained excellence in the sport.
Olympic Participation Levitzky represented Hungary at two Olympic Games:
- 1908 London Olympics: At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, Levitzky competed in the men's single sculls. He advanced through the preliminary rounds of the competition. In the semi-final, he faced British rower Harry Blackstaffe, who ultimately went on to win the gold medal. Although Levitzky lost this semi-final race, the format of the rowing events at the 1908 Games awarded bronze medals to both losing semi-finalists, as there was no dedicated bronze medal race. This result earned Levitzky a bronze medal, a historic achievement as it marked the first Olympic medal ever won by Hungary in rowing.
- 1912 Stockholm Olympics: Levitzky returned to the Olympic stage for the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, again competing in the men's single sculls. However, his performance in Stockholm was not as successful as his previous outing; he was eliminated in the heats and did not progress further in the competition.
Later Life Following his competitive rowing career, Károly Levitzky remained a respected figure within Hungarian sports circles. He lived to the age of 92, passing away in Budapest, Hungary, on 23 August 1978. His bronze medal at the 1908 Olympics secured his place in Hungarian sports history as a pioneering Olympic medalist in rowing.