László Cseh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
László Cseh

Personal information
Born	(1985-12-03) 3 December 1985 (age 39) Budapest, Hungary
Height	1.88 m
Weight	82 kg
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Individual medley, butterfly, backstroke
Club	Bp. Spartacus ( –2005) Kőbánya SC (2005–14) Egri ÚK (2015–19) BVSC-Zugló (2019– )
Coach	Miklós Kiss György Túri (1997–2014) Zsolt Plagányi (2014– )
Medal record Men's swimming Representing  Hungary Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 4 2 World Championships (LC) 2 6 5 World Championships (SC) 0 2 2 European Championships (LC) 14 4 5 European Championships (SC) 19 3 3 Universiade 3 0 0 Olympic Games Silver 2008 Beijing 200 m butterfly Silver 2008 Beijing 200 m medley Silver 2008 Beijing 400 m medley Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro 100 m butterfly Bronze 2004 Athens 400 m medley Bronze 2012 London 200 m medley World Championships (LC) Gold 2005 Montreal 400 m medley Gold 2015 Kazan 200 m butterfly Silver 2003 Barcelona 400 m medley Silver 2005 Montreal 200 m medley Silver 2009 Rome 200 m medley Silver 2013 Barcelona 100 m butterfly Silver 2015 Kazan 100 m butterfly Silver 2017 Budapest 200 m butterfly Bronze 2005 Montreal 100 m backstroke Bronze 2007 Melbourne 200 m medley Bronze 2009 Rome 400 m medley Bronze 2011 Shanghai 200 m medley Bronze 2015 Kazan 50 m butterfly World Championships (SC) Silver 2012 Istanbul 200 m butterfly Silver 2012 Istanbul 400 m medley Bronze 2010 Dubai 200 m butterfly Bronze 2012 Istanbul 200 m medley European Championships (LC) Gold 2004 Madrid 100 m backstroke Gold 2004 Madrid 400 m medley Gold 2006 Budapest 200 m medley Gold 2006 Budapest 400 m medley Gold 2008 Eindhoven 200 m medley Gold 2008 Eindhoven 400 m medley Gold 2010 Budapest 200 m medley Gold 2010 Budapest 400 m medley Gold 2012 Debrecen 200 m butterfly Gold 2012 Debrecen 200 m medley Gold 2012 Debrecen 400 m medley Gold 2014 Berlin 200 m medley Gold 2016 London 100 m butterfly Gold 2016 London 200 m butterfly Silver 2006 Budapest 200 m backstroke Silver 2012 Debrecen 100 m butterfly Silver 2014 Berlin 100 m butterfly Silver 2016 London 50 m butterfly Bronze 2004 Madrid 4×100 m medley Bronze 2012 Debrecen 4×200 m freestyle Bronze 2012 Debrecen 4×100 m medley Bronze 2014 Berlin 4×100 m medley Bronze 2016 London 4×100 m medley European Championships (SC) Gold 2003 Dublin 400 m medley Gold 2004 Vienna 400 m medley Gold 2005 Trieste 100 m backstroke Gold 2005 Trieste 200 m medley Gold 2005 Trieste 400 m medley Gold 2006 Helsinki 200 m medley Gold 2007 Debrecen 200 m medley Gold 2007 Debrecen 400 m medley Gold 2007 Debrecen 200 m butterfly Gold 2009 Istanbul 400 m medley Gold 2011 Szczecin 200 m butterfly Gold 2011 Szczecin 200 m medley Gold 2011 Szczecin 400 m medley Gold 2012 Chartres 200 m butterfly Gold 2012 Chartres 200 m medley Gold 2012 Chartres 400 m medley Gold 2015 Netanya 100 m butterfly Gold 2015 Netanya 200 m butterfly Gold 2015 Netanya 200 m medley Silver 2004 Vienna 200 m medley Silver 2006 Helsinki 400 m medley Silver 2006 Helsinki 200 m butterfly Bronze 2002 Riesa 400 m medley Bronze 2004 Vienna 100 m backstroke Bronze 2011 Szczecin 200 m freestyle Universiade Gold 2011 Shenzhen 200 m butterfly Gold 2011 Shenzhen 200 m medley Gold 2011 Shenzhen 400 m medley

László Cseh (born December 3, 1985) is a famous retired Hungarian swimmer. He won six Olympic medals during his amazing career. He is also a 33-time European Champion, which is a huge number of wins! László's father, László Cseh Sr., was also an Olympic swimmer for Hungary. In 2020, a swimming website called SwimSwam listed him as one of the top male swimmers who never won an Olympic gold medal.

László Cseh: A Swimming Star

Early Life and Start in Swimming

László Cseh started swimming competitively when he was very young. This was because his father was also an Olympic swimmer. He had dedicated coaches, György Turi and Zoltán Nemes, who helped him become a champion. He also received a special scholarship to help him train for the Olympics.

First Big Wins

At the 2003 World Championships, László won his first major medal. He earned a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley. This was a big step for him on the world stage. He also set new national records in other races.

Kazan 2015

Olympic Journey Begins

Athens 2004 Olympics

László represented Hungary at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Just weeks before the games, he broke his ankle! Even with this injury, he showed incredible courage. He won a bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley. He also placed fourth in the 200-meter individual medley and sixth in the 100-meter backstroke.

World Championships Success

At the 2005 World Championships, László continued to improve. He set new national records and became a strong medal contender. He won his first gold medal at a World Championship in the 400-meter individual medley.

In 2007, at the World Championships, he didn't win medals in his main events. However, he still set a new national record in the 200-meter individual medley.

Beijing 2008 Olympics

László competed for Hungary at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He swam in three events: the 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter butterfly, and 200-meter individual medley. In all three, he won silver medals. He set new European records in each race. He finished second to the American swimmer Michael Phelps, who set new world records. László finished ahead of Ryan Lochte, who won bronze in both individual medley races.

Challenges and More Medals

At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, László faced a challenge. He was rushed to the hospital with a stomach virus. He had to miss his first event. But he recovered and returned to win a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley and a bronze in the 400-meter individual medley.

In 2010, at the European Championships, László won gold in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley races. He also won a bronze medal at the World Short Course Championships.

At the 2011 World Championships, he earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley.

Cseh wins his second World Champs (long course) gold, 10 years after the first

London 2012 Olympics

At the 2012 Olympics, László competed in six events. He just missed the final in the 400-meter individual medley. However, he added another Olympic medal to his collection. He won a bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley. He finished behind Michael Phelps (gold) and Ryan Lochte (silver).

World Champion Again

At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, László won another gold medal. This was 10 years after his first World Championship gold! He won the 200-meter butterfly race, beating Chad le Clos by a very small margin.

Rio 2016 Olympics

László competed in the 2016 Olympics in the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly events. In the 100-meter butterfly, he finished second. Amazingly, he tied for silver with both Michael Phelps and Chad le Clos! Joseph Schooling from Singapore won the race with a new Olympic record. This medal meant László had won Olympic silver medals in four different events. He also won individual medals in four different Olympic Games.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Retirement

At the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 due to the pandemic), László Cseh competed in his fifth and final Olympic Games. He swam in the men's 200-meter individual medley. The 35-year-old Hungarian finished 7th in the race. After this race, he announced his retirement from competitive swimming. He ended his incredible career as a 6-time Olympic medalist and a 13-time World Championship medalist.

Career Best Times

László Cseh set many personal best times throughout his career. These are his fastest times in different swimming events.

Long Course (50-meter pool)

Short Course (25-meter pool)

World Records Set by László Cseh

László Cseh set 5 world records during his career. All of these records were in a short course (25-meter) pool.

Awards and Honors

László Cseh received many awards for his outstanding swimming career:

• Hungarian Swimmer of the Year (9 times): 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Golden Cross (2004)
• Swimming World Magazine – European Swimmer of the Year (2 times): 2005, 2006
• Hungarian Athlete of the Year (1 time) - National Sports Association (NSSZ) awards: 2006
• Budapest Pro Urbe award (2006)
• Hungarian Sportsman of the Year (2 times) - voted by sports journalists: 2006, 2015
• Junior Príma award (2007)
• Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Officer's Cross (2008)
• Honorary Citizen of Balatonalmádi (2008)
• Príma Primissima award (2009)
• Honorary Citizen of Kőbánya (2011)
• Order of Merit of Hungary – Commander's Cross (2012)
• Hungarian university athlete of the year (1 time): 2015
• Hungarian Heritage Award (2015)
• European Swimmer of the Year (LEN) (2015)
• Honorary Citizen of Eger (2016)
• Order of Merit of Hungary – Commander's Cross with Star (2016)

See also

In Spanish: László Cseh para niños