2012 Olympic champion Daniel Gyurta of Hungary has announced his retirement from competitive swimming. The 28-year-old took to Facebook to reveal his decision, one which he calls the most difficult of his life.
“I am saying goodbye to competitive swimming,” reads his post. “I am not a ‘give-up type of guy’, but I had to admit that it’s time to let go.”
Gyurta blasted onto the international swim scene at just the age of 15, snagging the 2004 Olympic silver medal behind Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima in the men’s 200m breaststroke. He upgraded his result to gold in the 2012 edition of the Games in London, setting a new world record in the process.
Although he would go on to win the 200m breaststroke World Championships title in 2013 and take bronze at the same competition last year, Gyurta was never able to quite capture the same magic that helped him initially bring the spotlight onto Hungarian swimming. He was also dealt a blow in 2017 when his longtime former coach, Sándor Széles, passed away at just 61.
Gyurta was honored with the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary and was named Hungarian swimmer of the year 5 times. He will remain active in the sport outside the pool, as Gyurta has served as a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
No need to worry, Hungary. Milak just did a 1.52.71 200 m fly long course at the national long course championships. Just 01. shy of Laszlo Csehs national record from 2008.
“Although he would go on to win the 200m breaststroke World Championships title in 2013 and take bronze at the same competition last year, Gyurta was never able to quite capture the same magic that helped him initially bring the spotlight onto Hungarian swimming”
Don’t agree with that.
He won the 200m breaststroke for 3 consecutive World Championships (2009, 2011, 2013) and was also on the podium in 2015 (bronze). Gyurta also set the world record for both long and shorts course. He’s one of the best 200 breaststroke swimmers in history.
The dominant force in the 200 breaststroke from 2009-13. Always swam well at big meets. World record holder and multiple world champion in both long course and short course. A Hall of Fame career twice over.
Going to miss this guy. He really seems like a gentleman and a role model. The time when he made a replica of his gold medal from London and gave it to Alexander Dale Oen’s family stands out as one of my favorite memories of Gyurta’s career.
Didn’t he set the scm 200breast world record just a year or two ago? I thought with that record he was going to have a pretty big comeback but if not 🙁
Edit: I was thinking of Marco Koch in 2016 but Gyurta did get it in 2014 but that’s a lot further away now
The prodigy of breaststroke
He took the bronze in Kazan, otherwise we are really sad.
Great swimmer…..best of luck w whatever comes next!