Dániel Gyurta is a swimmer who has competed for Hungary. He competed at the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Gyurta started his Olympic career, as a 15-year-old, in Athens 2004. There, he claimed his first medal with a silver in the 200 metres breaststroke, edging out Brendan Hansen in a close race by 0.07 of a second. Four years later in Beijing, he set a new Olympic record (2:08.68) by winning the last of seven heats in his pet race, but he slipped off the podium to fifth in the final.
At London 2012, Gyurta came from second at the halfway mark to blast a new world record time (2:07.28) for his first gold in the 200 metres breaststroke. With this feat, he became the third Hungarian swimmer to win the gold in the event's history since József Szabó topped the podium in 1988 and Norbert Rózsa in 1996. After his victory, he offered a replica of his Olympic gold to the parents of Alexander Dale Oen, who died a few months before the Games, in a tribute to him. Few months later, he received the International Fair Play Award from UNESCO, as a respect of his medal tribute to Dale Oen. He also set a Hungarian record time (59.53) to clear a minute barrier in the 100 metres breaststroke, but he almost snatched a podium spot by 0.04 of a second.
Gyurta returned to his fourth Games as the defending champion of the 200 metres breaststroke, but he missed the semifinals from the heats by 0.02 of a second. He was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Athlete Commission, along with three other athletes, during the closing ceremony.
His younger brother Gergely Gyurta also represented Hungary in swimming at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
Olympic Results[]
Year | Event | Rank |
---|---|---|
2004 | Men's 200m breaststroke | |
2008 | Men's 100m breaststroke | 24th |
Men's 200m breaststroke | 5th | |
2012 | Men's 100m breaststroke | 4th |
Men's 200m breaststroke | ||
Men's 4x100m medley relay | 5th | |
2016 | Men's 100m breaststroke | 17th |
Men's 200m breaststroke | 17th | |
Men's 4x100m medley relay | 9th |
2004[]
Discipline | Round | Time |
---|---|---|
200 metres breaststroke | Heats | 2:11.29 |
Semifinal | 2:10.75 | |
Final | 2:10.80 |
2008[]
Discipline | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|
100 metres breaststroke | Heats | 1:01.31 | |
Semifinal | Did not advance | ||
Final | |||
200 metres breaststroke | Heats | 2:08.68 | OR, AR |
Semifinal | 2:09.73 | ||
Final | 2:09.22 |
2012[]
Discipline | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|
100 metres breaststroke | Heats | 59.76 | NR |
Semifinal | 59.74 | NR | |
Final | 59.53 | NR | |
200 metres breaststroke | Heats | 2:08.71 | |
Semifinal | 2:08.32 | ||
Final | 2.07.28 | WR | |
4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:34.44 (59.63 split) |
NR |
Final | 3:33.02 (59.01 split) |
NR |
2016[]
Discipline | Round | Time |
---|---|---|
100 metres breaststroke | Heats | 1:00.26 |
Semifinal | Did not advance | |
Final | ||
200 metres breaststroke | Heats | 2:11.28 |
Semifinal | Did not advance | |
Final | ||
4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:33.89 (59.91 split) |
Final | Did not advance |