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.

The native form of this personal name is Darnyi Tamás. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
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
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Hungary
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul400 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona400 m medley
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place1986 Madrid200 m medley
Gold medal – first place1986 Madrid400 m medley
Gold medal – first place1991 Perth200 m medley
Gold medal – first place1991 Perth400 m medley
Bronze medal – third place1991 Perth200 m butterfly
European Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 1985 Sofia 200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1985 Sofia 400 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1987 Strasbourg 200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1987 Strasbourg 400 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1989 Bonn 200 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1989 Bonn 200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1989 Bonn 400 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1993 Sheffield 400 m medley
European Junior Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place1982 Innsbruck200 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place1982 Innsbruck200 m medley
Gold medal – first place1982 Innsbruck400 m medley
Silver medal – second place1982 Innsbruck200 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place1982 Innsbruck100 m butterfly

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

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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