Zoltán Halmay facts for kids

Halmay in 1905
Quick facts for kids 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 (born June 18, 1881 – died May 20, 1956) was a famous Hungarian Olympic swimmer. He was one of the best freestyle swimmers of his time. Zoltán competed in four Olympic Games, showing his amazing talent in the water.

Zoltán Halmay's Olympic Journey

Zoltán Halmay was a very successful swimmer at the Olympics. He won many medals during his career. He competed in the Olympic Games from 1900 to 1908.

Medals Won by Zoltán Halmay

Zoltán Halmay earned a total of seven Olympic medals. He won two gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal.

• 1900 Paris Olympics:
  • Silver medal in the 200 meter freestyle race.
  • Silver medal in the 4000 meter freestyle race.
  • Bronze medal in the 1000 meter freestyle race.

• 1904 St. Louis Olympics:
  • Gold medal in the 50 yard freestyle race.
  • Gold medal in the 100 yard freestyle race.

• 1908 London Olympics:
  • Silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle race.
  • Silver medal in the 4 × 200 meter freestyle relay race.

The 1906 Intercalated Games

Zoltán also competed in the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens. These games are not officially recognized by the IOC today. However, Zoltán still won two medals there:

• Gold medal in the 4 × 250 meter freestyle relay.
• Silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle.

A Champion in Many Sports

Zoltán Halmay was not just a great swimmer. He was a very versatile athlete. He won the Hungarian swimming championship 14 times. He also won championships in England, Germany, and Austria.

Setting World Records

Zoltán was a world record holder in swimming. He held records for the 100 meters, 50 yards, and 220 yards freestyle. This showed how fast he was in the water.

Beyond Swimming

Zoltán Halmay was also good at other sports. He was a talented athlete, rower, and even a football player. He even won a national championship in roller-skating for the 5000 meters race. This shows he was truly an all-around sportsman.

Life After Competing

After he stopped competing, Zoltán Halmay became a coach. He helped other swimmers improve their skills. He was also the main coach for the Hungarian Swimming Association.

Remembering a Legend

To honor his achievements, a monument was built for Zoltán Halmay. It includes a memorial plaque and a statue. This monument is in Vysoká pri Morave (Magasfalu), his birthplace. It was created with help from the Slovak Olympic Committee and the local government.

See also

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