FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1948 4th (200m breaststroke); 1952 gold (200m breaststroke); 1956 silver (200m breaststroke); WORLD RECORDS: 10; OLYMPIC RECORDS: 5; HUNGARIAN NATIONAL RECORDS: 101; HUNGARIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 68.
Eva Szekely, more than any other swimmer, took the difficult transitions in World Record stride from butterfly-breast (Olympic gold) allowed in 1952 to orthodox breast (Olympic silver) required in 1956. She was the first World Record holder in the 400m individual medley in 1953. In a long career of 3 Olympics (1948-52-56) Szekely was Europe’s best all-round swimmer in the early 1950s. Still active as a coach, her swimmers — including her World Record daughter, Andrea Gyarmati (butterfly) — have set 21 European Records.