- Article Shared from “Inside the Games“
- By Marcos Menocal Pareja
- Friday, 4 October 2024
The 35-year-old former Olympic champion will be responsible for guiding Hungary’s new sporting talents. He will share his knowledge and experience to help develop the country’s sports. His appointment was announced by the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB).
Dániel Gyurta was a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission and studied economics alongside a long swimming career. Known as a consummate breaststroke swimmer, his greatest achievement was winning the gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the London 2012 Olympic Games, setting a new world record in the event. He had already come close to glory at the 2008 Beijing Games, winning the silver medal.
At the 2009 World Swimming Championships, Gyurta won gold in the 200m breaststroke, beating Eric Shanteau in the final metres. He was named Hungarian Sportsman of the Year. In 2011, he successfully defended his title by winning gold again at the 2011 World Swimming Championships, becoming only the second man to defend the world title in the 200m breaststroke.
Gyurta is also remembered for his gestures of sportsmanship. For example, he dedicated his London 2012 Olympic gold medal to fellow swimmer Alexander Dale Oen, who had tragically died of a heart attack just months before the Games. In recognition of this tribute, Gyurta was awarded the UNESCO International Fair Play Award.
All these achievements were taken into account by the members of the Hungarian Olympic Committee when they selected him for the role.
The appointments were made following the inaugural meeting of the board on 7 September, at which other measures were taken, as reported by Hungary Today. Szabolcs Bényi was elected as the President of the Budapest Olympic Committee, András Bodnár as the President of the Ferenc Mező Sports Committee, Dr András Tállay as the head of the Medical Committee and Csaba Sós as the head of the Sports Science Committee.
The Traditions Committee was dissolved, as its functions were considered redundant to those of the Ferenc Mező Sports Committee.
Finally, the Board also discussed the eligibility of sports to be included in the Olympic programme. It was confirmed that the Hungarian American Football Association is entitled to delegate a member to the MOB General Assembly, as American Football will be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
**Daniel Gyurta was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, Saturday, October 5, as part of the Class of 2024. He is seen here alongside two of his two coaches Ferenc Kovacshegyi and Jozsef Nagy.
