Jenő Kamuti presents World Fair Play Award to Slovak fencing legend Katarína Ráczová

Renowned Slovak fencer and coach Katarína Ráczová received the World Fair Play Award at a ceremony held at the Slovak Olympic and Sports Museum. The event was symbolically scheduled on her name day and appropriately titled “Katarína on the Piste.”

Ráczová, a former world-class fencer and World Championship silver medallist, has spent her post-competition years nurturing young fencing talent and promoting the principles of fair play. Long-time friends Vladimír Miller and Gabo Kollar emphasized that the event honored a woman whose life has been inseparable from fencing and the education of future athletes.

Among the well-wishers was her protégé Lukáš Semik, as well as Anton Siekel, president of the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee. Siekel praised Ráczová as a model of perseverance and positivity.
“Katarina never loses her smile. She has an incredible amount of energy. May her story—not only in sport, but also as a human being—be an inspiration and give us the strength we need today,” he said.

The highlight of the evening came when Jenö Kamuti, Honorary President of the International Fair Play Committee and Ráczová’s longtime friend from the fencing world, presented her with the organization’s highest honor for her lifelong commitment to fair play.

In her acceptance speech, Ráczová offered a message of resilience and optimism, recalling advice once given by her parents. She reminded attendees that progress often comes in small, almost invisible steps, and that setbacks serve not to break a person but to strengthen them.
“We all need dreams—big and small—along with courage and goals,” she said. “Dreams inspire us, courage sets us on our path, and goals push us forward so that our dreams can come true.”

03.12.2025