He is one of eight male athletes who won four or more Olympic medals in water polo, and one of ten male athletes who won three Olympic gold medals in water polo.

[2] Kárpáti was born in Budapest, and was a member of the Hungarian team which won the gold medal in the 1952 tournament.

Four years later he was a member of the Hungarian team which won again the gold medal in the 1956 Olympic tournament.

[4] In 1982, Kárpáti was elected in to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and from 1994 he became a member of the Association of Immortal Hungarian Athletes.

[7] He was a great friend of the former water polo player and distinguished Italian actor Bud Spencer.