Dániel Gyurta
Dániel Gyurta (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈdaːniɛl ˈɟurtɒ]; born 4 May 1989)[1] is a Hungarian former competitive swimmer who mainly competed in the 200-metre breaststroke. In 2016, Gyurta became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he is a member of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Athletes' Commission since 2013 and a member of the Athletes Commission since 2016.[2]
Biography
[edit]Gyurta was born in Budapest. When he was 15 years old, he won a silver medal (with 2.10.80) in the men's 200-metre breaststroke at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
His coaches are Sándor Széles, Ferenc Kovácshegyi and Balázs Virth. On 12 August 2008 he set an Olympic record in the preliminaries of the 200-metre breaststroke at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.[3] His record was broken one day later by Kitajima in the semi-finals. Gyurta finished fifth in the final.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships he won gold medal in 200 m breaststroke, edging out Eric Shanteau in the last meters. He was named Hungarian Sportsman of the year for this achievement.
Two years later Gyurta retained the gold medal at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships, thus becoming the second man to defend the world title on 200 metre breaststroke after David Wilkie of Great Britain,[4] who won the first two world titles, in 1973 and 1975.
At the 2012 London Olympics he won the gold medal and set a new world record for the 200 m breaststroke.[5] After the race, he offered a replica of his Olympic medal to the parents of his former competitor Alexander Dale Oen in tribute to him, a gesture much appreciated by Dale's family. Dale had died on 30 April 2012, a few months before the Games.[6][7] Later, Gyurta received the international Fair Play Award from UNESCO, in respect of his medal tribute of a fallen fellow breaststroker: Alexander Dale Oen.[8][9]
His younger brother, Gergely Gyurta is also a competitive swimmer.
Personal bests
[edit]In long course swim pools Gyurta's bests are:
- 100 m breaststroke: 59.53 (29 July 2012, London) Hungarian Record
- 200 m breaststroke: 2:07.23 (2 August 2013, Barcelona) Championship Record, European Record
In short course pools Gyurta's best's are:
- 50 m breaststroke: 27.00 (10 December 2009) Hungarian Record
- 100 m breaststroke: 56.72 (11 December 2009, Istanbul) Hungarian Record
- 200 m breaststroke: 2:00.48 (31 August 2014, Dubai) Former World Record
Awards
[edit]Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Knight's Cross (2004)
- Hungarian swimmer of the Year (5): 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Hungarian Junior Athlete of the Year (2) - the National Sports Association (NSSZ) awards: 2004, 2007
- Junior Príma award (2008)
- Hungarian Sportsman of the Year (3) - votes of sports journalists: 2009, 2012, 2013
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Officer's Cross (2010)
- Best Youth Hungarian Athlete of the year (1) - the National Sports Association (NSSZ) awards: 2011
- Best Hungarian Junior Sportman of the Year (Héraklész) (1): 2011
Order of Merit of Hungary – Commander's Cross (2012)
- UNESCO Fair Play Award (2013)
- Swimming World Magazine – European Swimmer of the Year (1): 2013
- Hungarian university athlete of the year (1): 2015
- Honorary Citizen of Újpest (2016)
References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Dániel Gyurta Biography and Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Daniel Gyurta". The International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ Lonsbrough, Anita (12 August 2008). "Records tumble in breastroke and relays". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Daniel Gyurta Overtakes Kosuke Kitajima for 200 Breast Gold". Swimming World Magazine. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "London Olympics: Gyurta wins 200m breaststroke gold in world record". The Times Of India. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ "Dani Gyurta will send a replica of his Olympic gold to Dale Oen's family". 2 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Daniel Gyurta makes copy of gold medal for family of Norway's Alexander Dale Oen". News Corp Australia Network. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "GYURTA DÁNIEL ÁTVETTE A NEMZETKÖZI FAIR PLAY-DÍJAT". Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "DANIEL GYURTA RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL FAIR PLAY AWARD FROM UNESCO". 19 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
External links
[edit]- Dániel Gyurta at World Aquatics
- Dániel Gyurta at Swimrankings.net
- Dániel Gyurta at Olympedia
- Dániel Gyurta at Olympics.com
- Dániel Gyurta at the Magyar Olimpiai Bizottság (in Hungarian) (English translation)