Tibor Benedek Facts for Kids

The native form of this personal name is Benedek Tibor. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Quick facts for kids

Tibor Benedek

Personal information

Born

12 July 1972
Budapest, Hungary

Died

18 June 2020 (aged 47)
Budapest, Hungary

Nationality

Hungarian

Height

1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)

Position

Wing

Handedness

Left

Youth career

1980–0000

KSI

Senior clubs

Years

Team

0000–1989

KSI

1989–1996

UTE-Office & Home

1996–2001

INA Assitalia Roma

2001–2004

Pro Recco

2004–2007

Domino-BHSE

2006

→ Sliema (Summer League)

2007–2012

Pro Recco

National team

Years

Team

Apps

1990–2008

Hungary

384

Teams coached

2010–2012

Hungary (assistant)

2013–2016

Hungary

2018–2020

UVSE-Hunguest Hotels

Medal record

Men's water polo

Representing Hungary
Olympic Games
Gold	2000 Sydney	Team competition
Gold	2004 Athens	Team competition
Gold	2008 Beijing	Team competition
World Championships
Gold	2003 Barcelona	Team competition
Silver	1998 Perth	Team competition
Silver	2007 Melbourne	Team competition
Bronze	1991 Perth	Team competition
European Championship
Gold	1997 Sevilla	Team competition
Silver	1993 Sheffield	Team competition
Silver	1995 Vienna	Team competition
Silver	2006 Belgrade	Team competition
Bronze	2001 Budapest	Team competition
Bronze	2003 Kranj	Team competition
Bronze	2008 Málaga	Team competition
FINA World Cup
Gold	1995 Atlanta	Team competition
Silver	1993 Athens	Team competition
Silver	2002 Belgrade	Team competition
Bronze	1997 Athens	Team competition

Tibor Benedek (born July 12, 1972 – died June 18, 2020) was an amazing Hungarian water polo player and coach. Many people think he was one of the best water polo players ever! He was part of the Hungarian team that won gold medals at three Summer Olympics. These were in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008.

Tibor also played in the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The Hungarian team finished 6th and 4th in those games. Later, he became the head coach for the Hungary men's national water polo team from 2013 to 2016.

Tibor Benedek was named Hungarian Water Polo Player of the Year three times: in 1992, 1993, and 1994. He started playing for the national team in 1990. His father, Miklós Benedek, was a famous actor.

Tibor Benedek is known for scoring many goals in the Olympics. He is second on the list of all-time top goal scorers in Olympic history, with 65 goals! He scored the most goals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics (22 goals) and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (19 goals). He was one of only nine players to play water polo in five different Olympic Games. He was also one of only ten male athletes to win three Olympic gold medals in water polo. In 2016, he was added to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Tibor Benedek passed away on June 18, 2020, due to pancreatic cancer. The Hungarian Water Polo Federation shared the sad news of his death.

Tibor Benedek's Achievements as a Player
Tibor Benedek's Coaching Success
Awards and Honors
- Special Orders and Recognitions
See also

Tibor Benedek's Achievements as a Player

Tibor Benedek won many important medals and championships during his career as a water polo player.

Olympic and World Medals

Olympic Games:
- Gold medal: 2000, 2004, 2008
World Championships:
- Gold medal: 2003
- Silver medal: 1998, 2007
- Bronze medal: 1991
European Championship:
- Gold medal: 1997
- Silver medal: 1993, 1995, 2006
- Bronze medal: 2001, 2003, 2008
FINA World Cup:
- Gold medal: 1995
- Silver medal: 1993, 2002
- Bronze medal: 1997

He played 384 games for the Hungarian national team.

Junior and Youth Success

Junior World Championships: Bronze medal – 1991
Junior European Championship: Bronze medal – 1990
Youth European Championship: Gold medal – 1989

Club Championships

Tibor Benedek played for several clubs and won many titles with them.

Újpest (Hungary)

Hungarian Championship: 4 times (1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95)
Hungarian Cup: 2 times (1990–91, 1992–93)
European Cup: 1 time (1993–94)
LEN Cup: 1 time (1992–93)
LEN Super Cup: 1 time (1994)

Racing Roma (Italy)

Italian Championship: 1 time (1998–99)

Pro Recco (Italy)

Italian Championship: 1 time (2001–02)
LEN Euroleague: 1 time (2002–03)

Bp. Honvéd (Hungary)

Hungarian Championship: 2 times (2004–05, 2005–06)
Hungarian Cup: 1 time (2006)
Hungarian Super Cup: 1 time (2005)

Pro Recco (Second Time)

Italian Championship: 5 times (2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12)
Italian Cup: 4 times (2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11)
LEN Champions League: 3 times (2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12)
LEN Super Cup: 3 times (2007, 2008, 2010)
Adriatic League: 1 time (2011–12)

Tibor Benedek's Coaching Success

As the head coach for the Hungarian national team (2013–2016), Tibor Benedek also led his team to great success.

World Championships:
- Gold medal: 2013
European Championship:
- Silver medal: 2014
- Bronze medal: 2016
FINA World League:
- Silver medal: 2013, 2014
FINA World Cup:
- Silver medal: 2014

Awards and Honors

Tibor Benedek received many special awards and honors throughout his life.

Total-waterpolo magazine's "World Player of the Year" award: 2000–20
Member of the Best Team of the Year in the World by total-waterpolo: 2000–20
Masterly youth athlete: 1991
Hungarian Water Polo Player of the Year: 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002
Member of the Hungarian team of the year: 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008
Honorary Citizen of Budapest: 2008
Hungarian Head Coach of the Year: 2013
Member of International Swimming Hall of Fame: 2016

Special Orders and Recognitions

Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2000)
Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2004)
Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary with the Star (2008)