by Ian Marshall, Editor
Born Agnes Almasi on Wednesday 21st June 1935 in Hungary, accompanied by her husband and coach, Bela Simon, following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, she fled to Sweden to seek political asylum.
They were accepted in the Netherlands and then in West Germany; thus Simon competed for the Netherlands in the 1959–1960 season and from 1962 West Germany.
Notably, she claimed three titles at the European Championships.
Berlin in 1962 was the most successful. Lining up alongside Inge Harst, Edith Buchholz and Uschi Matthias, the women’s team title was gained, before later claiming the top step of the podium in the women’s singles event. In addition she was the women’s doubles runner up partnering Inge Harst and the same in the mixed doubles when joining forces with Eberhard Schöler.
Later in 1968 in Lyon, she secured the women’s team title once again; on this occasion alongside Edith Buchholz, Jutta Krüger and Wiebke Hendriksen.
Meanwhile, at World Championships in 1957 in Stockholm, representing Hungary she won the women’s doubles title in harness with Livia Mossóczy.
A sad loss, our condolences are extended to family and friends.