Tamás Darnyi

Tamás Darnyi (born 3 June 1967 in Budapest) is a Hungarian retired male swimmer. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest medley swimmers in history.[1] He won four gold medals at two Olympic Games (1988 and 1992) and was unbeaten in the individual medley events from 1985 until his retirement in 1993.[1] He is the first swimmer ever to swim the 200 m medley (long course) in less than 2 minutes.

Tamás Darnyi
Personal information
Full nameDarnyi Tamás
NationalityHungarian
Born (1967-06-03) 3 June 1967
Budapest
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesIndividual medley
ClubÚjpesti TE

Career

Possibly one of the greatest medley swimmers of all time, Tamás Darnyi dominated his speciality between 1985 and 1993. He won the 200/400 m medley double at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, the 1986 and 1991 World Championships, and the 1985, 1987 and 1989 European Championships.[1] He also won a European title in the 200 m butterfly, and a world bronze in the same event.

A teen talent, Darnyi might have competed at the 1984 Olympics, but both the Eastern European boycott and a personal accident prevented this. He was hit by a snowball in the left eye, which left him blind in one eye. After recovering, he started an unbeaten streak in medley events that lasted from 1985 to 1993. During that period, he bettered the world record in both medley events three times. After his final European title in 1993 (400 medley), he retired and managed a Budapest sports school.[1]

He was named Male World Swimmer of the Year in 1987 and 1991 by Swimming World magazine.[2] He was elected Hungarian Sportsman of the Year in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992 for his achievements.

See also

Records
Preceded by
Alex Baumann
Men's 200 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

23 August 1987 20 August 1989
Succeeded by
David Wharton
Preceded by
David Wharton
Men's 200 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

13 January 1991 11 September 1994
Succeeded by
Jani Sievinen
Preceded by
David Wharton
Men's 400 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

19 August 1987 11 September 1994
Succeeded by
Tom Dolan
Awards
Preceded by
Matt Biondi
World Swimmer of the Year
1987
Succeeded by
Matt Biondi
Preceded by
Mike Barrowman
World Swimmer of the Year
1991
Succeeded by
Yevgeny Sadovyi
Preceded by
Attila Mizsér
Hungarian Sportsman of The Year
1986-1988
Succeeded by
László Fábián
Preceded by
László Fábián
Hungarian Sportsman of The Year
1990
Succeeded by
István Kovács
Preceded by
István Kovács
Hungarian Sportsman of The Year
1992
Succeeded by
Antal Kovács
Preceded by
Michael Groß
European Swimmer of the Year
1987 1988
Succeeded by
Giorgio Lamberti
Preceded by
Adrian Moorhouse
European Swimmer of the Year
1991
Succeeded by
Yevgeny Sadovyi

References

  1. "Tamás Darnyi". sport-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  2. "Swimming World's - WORLD SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
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