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Zoltán Halmay facts for kids

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Halmay Zoltán 1905-34.jpg
Halmay in 1905
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Personal information
Born (1881-06-18)June 18, 1881
Magasfalu, Hungary
Died May 20, 1956(1956-05-20) (aged 74)
Budapest, Hungary
Sport
Sport Swimming
Medal record
Representing Kingdom of Hungary
Olympic Games
Gold 1904 St. Louis 50 yd freestyle
Gold 1904 St. Louis 100 yd freestyle
Silver 1900 Paris 200 m freestyle
Silver 1900 Paris 4000 m freestyle
Silver 1908 London 100 m freestyle
Silver 1908 London 4×200 m freestyle relay
Bronze 1900 Paris 1000 m freestyle
Intercalated Games
Gold 1906 Athens 4×250 m freestyle relay
Silver 1906 Athens 100 m freestyle

Zoltán Imre Ödön Halmay de Erdőtelek (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈzoltaːn ˈhɒlmɒi]; 18 June 1881 – 20 May 1956) was a Hungarian Olympic swimmer. He competed in four Olympics (19001908), winning the following medals:

  • 1900: silver (200 m, 4000 m freestyle), bronze (1000 m freestyle)
  • 1904: gold (50yd, 100yd freestyle)
  • 1906: gold (4×250 m freestyle relay), silver (100 m freestyle) (these games are now not officially recognized by the IOC)
  • 1908: silver (100 m freestyle; 4 × 200 m freestyle relay)

Zoltán Halmay, who was a two-time Olympic champion, was the most successful sportsman in freestyle swimming. In 1904 he won the 50 and 100 yards at the St. Louis Games and in 1906 he was a member of the 4×250 m relay team that won the gold medal at the Intercalated Games. He won a further 4 silver medals and a bronze medal at other Olympics. He was Hungarian champion 14 times and won the English, the German and the Austrian Championships as well. He was a world record holder at 100 metres and also at 50 and 220 yards. His versatility is shown by the fact that he was also a remarkable athlete, rower and football player, and he also won a national-level championship in roller-skating over 5000 metres. After his retirement, he worked as a trainer, and he was the federal chief trainer of the Hungarian Swimming Association. At the ceremony organised at the main square of the village, a monument unifying the memorial plaque and the statue of Halmay was set up in collaboration with the Slovak Olympic Committee and the local government of Vysoká pri Morave (Magasfalu).

See also

  • List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
  • World record progression 100 metres freestyle
  • World record progression 200 metres freestyle
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