Ákos Kónya

Ákos Kónya is a Hungarian ultramarathon runner born in 1974 who lives in Oceanside, California. He grew up in Kecskemét, Hungary, began running at the age of twelve and ran his first marathon at fifteen. After knee surgery in 2001 forced him to stop running for two years and left him slower, he moved to longer races where endurance mattered more than speed. He began running ultramarathons in 2003 and drew attention at the 2006 Badwater Ultramarathon, where he led for much of the race at record pace before finishing second to Scott Jurek; he was second there again in 2007 and 2008. He won the Lean Horse 100 mile race in 2007, setting the course record, and again in 2009, and in November 2007 he placed first at the U.S. 24 Hour National Championship with 146.25 miles, though he was not declared national champion because he was not a U.S. citizen.