Gregory Benko

{{short description|Australian fencer}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Gregory Benko | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = Australian | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|10|9|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | height = | weight = | website = | country = Australia | sport = Fencing | event = | collegeteam = | club = | team = | turnedpro = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | paralympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Fencing}} {{MedalCountry|{{AUS}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}} {{MedalSilver |1970 Edinburgh | Men's Team Foil}} {{MedalBronze |1970 Edinburgh | Men's Team Sabre}} }}

'''Gregory Laurie Benko''' (born 9 October 1952) is a retired Australian foil fencer who competed at four Olympic Games.<ref name="sports-reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/greg-benko-1.html |title=Gregory Benko Olympic Results |accessdate=2011-02-09 |work=sports-reference.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317043523/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/greg-benko-1.html |archivedate=17 March 2011}}</ref>

After participating in the 1972 Summer Olympics, Benko was recruited as a member of the Wayne State University men's fencing team. He earned three varsity letters and three national championships in individual foil (1974, 1975, and 1976), a record at the time.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} Benko participated in several international tournaments over the years, notably winning the 1975 Martini & Rossi Invitational in New York and the 1982 Paris Invitational, and earning the gold medal in épée at the 1974 Commonwealth Fencing Championships.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Commonwealth Fencing Champions |url=https://www.commonwealthfencing.org/events/open_commonwealth_champions.pdf |access-date=21 June 2025 |website=Commonwealth Fencing Federation}}</ref> He was a member of the Australian team that won silver and bronze medals in the sabre and foil at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-06-18 |title=Greg Benko Results {{!}} Commonwealth Games Australia |url=https://commonwealthgames.com.au/athletes/greg-benko/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=commonwealthgames.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> He also participated in the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympic Games.<ref name="sports-reference" /> Benko was a finalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the only Australian fencer to achieve that feat.<ref name=":0" /> He was the last (and only second) fencer to win all three Australian open national titles (foils, épée, sabre) in the one year.

==See also==

*List of NCAA fencing champions

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benko, Gregory}} Category:Living people Category:1952 births Category:Australian male fencers Category:Wayne State University alumni Category:Olympic fencers for Australia Category:Fencers at the 1972 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 1976 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 1980 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 1984 Summer Olympics Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in fencing Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in fencing Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Australia Category:Fencers at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Category:Medallists at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen