Balázs Kiss, Southern California: Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, Class of 2024

Balázs Kiss, a name synonymous with hammer throw excellence, concluded his flawless collegiate career at Southern California with a remarkable achievement: securing his fourth consecutive NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championship title in 1996. This victory not only marked him as the fourth athlete in the history of the meet to win the same event four times in a row but also set the stage for his Olympic triumph in Atlanta later that summer. Kiss’s prowess in hammer throw was unmatched, a fact underscored by his extraordinary 11.04 meters (over 36 feet) winning margin in his final NCAA championship, setting a record for the largest victory margin in any field event at the meet.

Beyond this singular achievement, Kiss’s collegiate dominance was further evidenced by his hold on the event’s collegiate record with a throw of 81.94m (268-10) achieved in 1995. This record, still standing, eclipses the next best collegiate mark by more than 10 feet, a testament to Kiss’s enduring legacy in the sport. His name also dominates the collegiate all-time list, owning the top eight performances, a clear indication of his unparalleled skill and consistency in the hammer throw.