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Sandor Tarics, oldest former Olympic champion, dies at 102

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - Sandor Tarics, a water polo gold medalist for Hungary at the 1936 Berlin Games and the oldest living Olympic champion, has died. He was 102.

The Hungarian Olympic committee, citing information from his family, said Tarics passed away Saturday in San Francisco.

Tarics, an architect, emigrated to the United States in 1949 and became a university professor and also designed earthquake-resistant buildings.

The Hungarians won gold on goal difference over Germany in Berlin, the second of the team's nine Olympic championships in water polo.

"Sport is an area where people love each other," Tarics said last year in an interview published by the Hungarian Olympic committee. "Sports competition leads only to good things among nations."

Tarics was born in Budapest on Sept. 23, 1913. No information about survivors was available.

In this photo taken on Aug. 20, 2012 Sandor Tarics of Hungary attends a photo session in front of the Parliament in Budapest. Sandor Tarics, a water polo gold medalist for Hungary at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin and the oldest living Olympic champion, has died. He was 102. Hungary’s Olympic Committee, citing information from his family, said Tarics passed away Saturday May 21, 2016 in San Francisco. (Tibor Illyes/MTI via AP) The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Aug. 20, 2012 Sandor Tarics of Hungary attends a photo session in front of the Parliament in Budapest. Sandor Tarics, a water polo gold medalist for Hungary at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin and the oldest living Olympic champion, has died. He was 102. Hungary’s Olympic Committee, citing information from his family, said Tarics passed away Saturday May 21, 2016 in San Francisco. (Tibor Illyes/MTI via AP) The Associated Press
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