Dániel Gyurta (; born 4 May 1989) 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
The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based i ...
(IOC), he is a member of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Athletes' Commission since 2013 and a member of the Athletes Commission since 2016.
Biography
Gyurta was born in
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 ...
. 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
The 2004 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad (), and officially branded as Athens 2004 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 13 to 29 August 2004 in Athens, Greece.
The Games saw 10,625 athletes ...
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. 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
The 2009 World Aquatics Championships () or the XIII FINA World Championships were held in Rome, Italy from 18 July to 2 August 2009. This was the second time the championships were held in the city after being previously hosted in 1994 World Aq ...
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
The 14th FINA World Aquatics Championships, FINA World Championships () were held on 16–31 July 2011 in Shanghai, Shanghai, China at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. The 2011 World Championships featured five aquatics disciplines: swimming ...
, thus becoming the second man to defend the world title on 200 metre breaststroke after
David Wilkie of Great Britain, 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.
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. Later, Gyurta received the international Fair Play Award from
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
, in respect of his medal tribute of a fallen fellow breaststroker: Alexander Dale Oen.
His younger brother,
Gergely Gyurta is also a competitive
swimmer.
Personal bests
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
*
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 PrÃma 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
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
Fair Play Award (2013)
*
Swimming World Magazine
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''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 (1): 2013
* Hungarian university athlete of the year (1): 2015
* Honorary Citizen of
Újpest
Újpest (; , ) is the 4th District in Budapest, Hungary. It is located on the left bank of the Danube River. The name Újpest means "New Pest" because the city was formed on the border of the city of Pest, Hungary in 1838. Újpest was a village ...
(2016)
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gyurta, Daniel
1989 births
Living people
Swimmers from Budapest
Hungarian male breaststroke swimmers
Olympic swimmers for Hungary
Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Olympic gold medalists for Hungary
Olympic silver medalists for Hungary
World record setters in swimming
World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming
Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)
European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming
Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
European champions for Hungary
Olympic gold medalists in swimming
Olympic silver medalists in swimming
Hungarian International Olympic Committee members
20th-century Hungarian people
21st-century Hungarian sportsmen