Ágnes Kovács (born 13 July 1981) is a Hungarian swimmer who competed at the

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

and

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

Olympics. In

, she won the 200 m breaststroke and set the Hungary records in the 100 m and 200 m breaststrokes events (1:07.79 and 2:24.03). As of 2014, these records still stand. She won a bronze medal in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1996 Olympics and placed fifth in 2004; in 2004 she also finished fourth in the 200 m individual medley event. Kovács learned to swim aged two and a half years and started to train seriously at nine. Aged fourteen, she became a European Junior champion in the 100 yard breaststroke, and next year won an Olympic medal. From 1995 through 2007 she won 17 medals at European championships and 53 Hungarian titles. She was named Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year in four consecutive years, from 1997 to 2000. In 2014, she was inducted into the

International Swimming Hall of Fame The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests and serving as the central point for the stu ...

. Kovács lives with her husband and son in Hungary. She is a PhD student at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences of

Semmelweis University Semmelweis University (Hungarian language, Hungarian: ''Semmelweis Egyetem'', ) is a research-led medical school in Budapest, Hungary, founded in 1769. With six faculties and a doctoral school it covers all aspects of medical and health sciences. ...

Awards

* Masterly youth athlete: 1995, 1996 * Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Silver Cross (1996) * Best Hungarian Junior Athlete of the Year (Telesport) (1): 1996 * Hungarian swimmer of the Year (7): 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006 *

Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year Hungarian Sportspeople of the Year () awards are granted each year since 1958, with categories for sportsmen, sportswomen, teams, coach (sports), coaches (since 1985) and presidents (since 1995). List of winners Statistics Individual winn ...

(4) – votes of sports journalists: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 *

Swimming World Magazine } ''Swimming World'' is a US-based quarterly swimming magazine that was first published in a magazine format as ''Junior Swimmer'' in January 1960. It concurrently runs online websites ''Swimming World Magazine'' and ''Swimming World News'' (kn ...

– European Swimmer of the Year (2): 1997, 1998 * Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Officer's Cross (2000) * Honorary Citizen of

Kőbánya Kőbánya (, , ) is the 10th district of Budapest () and one of the largest by territory. It is located in southeast Pest (city), Pest, easily accessible from the downtown by Budapest Metro, Metro 3, whose Terminal station, terminus is named ' ...

(2001) * Presidential recognition (2004) * Budapest Pro Urbe award (2006) * Member of

(2014) * Honorary Citizen of

Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...

(2014) *

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the university is o ...

Hall of Fame (2015)

References

1981 births Living people Arizona State Sun Devils women's swimmers Hungarian expatriate swimmers in the United States European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Hungarian female breaststroke swimmers Olympic bronze medalists for Hungary Olympic gold medalists for Hungary Olympic bronze medalists in swimming Olympic swimmers for Hungary Swimmers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists in swimming Swimmers from Budapest 21st-century Hungarian sportswomen {{hungary-swimming-bio-stub