Zsanett Némethy, a 32-year-old Olympic wrestler and European Championship silver medallist, died on Tuesday 23 June after falling from the balcony of her 11th-floor flat in Bulgaria. The Hungarian-born athlete, who had been competing for Bulgaria since 2023, was reportedly in a close relationship with fellow wrestler Bilyana Dudova, according to Bulgarian media.
Investigation Underway
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Némethy's coach, Sandor, spoke to her three weeks before her death and told Hungarian media that nothing had indicated she was struggling. 'I saw no signs of this. You can usually hear if someone is in trouble,' he said. 'Zsanett still had plans. She said she wanted to compete at the Los Angeles Games and fulfil her dream of winning an Olympic medal.'
Wrestling Career and Achievements
Born in Veszprém, Némethy began wrestling in Berhida after accompanying her brother to training sessions. At age 12, she won gold at an invitational tournament in Újpest, beating the entire boys' field. This was possible because, to support women's wrestling in Hungary in the late 1990s and early 2000s, girls were allowed to compete in boys' competitions in a weight class one category below their own.
Her breakthrough came at junior level in 2011, when she won the Cadet World Championships in Szombathely in the 70kg category. That year, she also earned a bronze medal at the European Cadet Championships in Warsaw, Poland. At the peak of her career, she competed at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. In 2017, she won a silver medal at the European Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia—her greatest senior-level success. In 2019, she added a European bronze medal in Bucharest, Romania. She last competed at a major international event in 2021.
Move to Bulgaria and Later Life
In 2022, Némethy moved to Bulgaria, and the following year she announced she would continue competing under Bulgarian colours. She was competing for CSKA Sofia at the time of her death. Despite the move, she remained in close contact with her coach. According to Hungarian media, there had been discussions about her potentially returning to Hungary, with her former club UTE ready to welcome her back.
Coach Sandor remembered her warmly: 'She was a respectful, helpful girl. Almost every year she found time to visit us at least once. She remains Berhida's greatest pride.'
