The 1952 Olympic gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke went to Éva Székely, an achievement marked by a new Olympic record. During her career, she secured 44 national titles in Hungary and established six world records. Her performance at the Helsinki Games served as a pinnacle in a life defined by resilience through both international competition and regional conflict.
Early Career and Wartime Survival
Born in Budapest in 1927, Székely began competing for a local swim team during her youth. By 1941, at age 14, she established a national speed record, though her status as a Jew led to her expulsion from the team and a four-year exclusion from organized sports. During the latter stages of World War II, she resided in a Swiss-protected safe-house in Budapest alongside 41 other people. To maintain her physical conditioning, she climbed five flights of stairs 100 times each day.
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Her professional ascent included three gold medals at the 1947 World University Games and five gold medals at the 1951 World University Championship. She attained global recognition for her 1953 performance, where she set the inaugural world record in the 400-meter individual medley. Beyond her 1952 Olympic gold in Helsinki, she earned a silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated consistent dominance across various swimming disciplines.
Post-Competition Life and Contributions
Following her retirement from competitive swimming, Székely practiced as a pharmacist and served as a swimming coach. Among the athletes she trained was her daughter, Andrea Gyarmati, who was born in 1954 and later earned two medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Székely authored three books: Only winners are allowed to cry!, I came, I saw, I lost?, and I Swam It/I Survived. She remained in Budapest until her death on 29 February 2020.
Legacy and Recognition
The international sporting community recognized her accomplishments through several honors, including induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976 and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Domestically, she received the title of one of Hungary's Athletes of the Nation in 2004 and the Prima Primissima award in 2011. She is buried at the Farkasréti Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1927, Budapest
- Died: 29 February 2020, Budapest
- Olympic Gold: 1952, 200-meter breaststroke
- Olympic Silver: 1956
- National Titles: 44
- World Records: 6
- Education: Thomas Mann Gymnasium
- Final Resting Place: Farkasréti Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Éva Székely defect from Hungary?
Yes, she and her family briefly defected following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, but they returned to the country to care for her parents.
Who was her husband?
She was married to Dezső Gyarmati, a three-time Olympic water polo champion.
Achievements
- Competed at 1948 Summer Olympics, swimming at the 1952 Summer Olympics – women's 200 metre breaststroke and swimming at the 1956 Summer Olympics – women's 200 metre breaststroke
- Discipline: competitive swimming
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