Dezső Gyarmati

Dezső Gyarmati (23 October 1927 – 18 August 2013) was a Hungarian professional water polo player and three-time Olympic champion; he later became the coach of the Hungarian national water polo team. Widely regarded as a "legendary player", Gyarmati was the most decorated player in the history of the sport.

He married Éva Székely, a swimmer who was the 1952 Olympic champion in the 200-metre breaststroke. Their daughter Andrea Gyarmati has competed as a backstroke and butterfly swimmer; she received two Olympic medals in 1972, and is a one-time world record holder for the 100 metres butterfly.

Playing career As a left-handed utility player, Gyarmati could play in all positions of the field. Gyarmati became European Champion two times, in 1954 and in 1962. He is widely considered the greatest water polo player of all time.

Gyarmati played a total of 108 matches with the Hungary national team. He was among the fastest water polo players of his time, with a personal record of 58.5 seconds for 100 meters.

Gyarmati then returned to Europe and, from 1972 to 1980, coached the Hungary men's national team. He led them again from 1985 to 1988. Under his coaching, the team gained gold medals at 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, a silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, and the bronze medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, making him one of the most successful water polo coaches in Olympic history, and one of a few sportspeople who won Olympic medals in water polo as players and head coaches.

Awards

In addition to his Olympic medals, he received other recognition of his achievements:

1976, Gyarmati was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He was awarded the title of Athlete of the Nation in 2004. In a statement, FINA said that they were "in mourning", calling him one of the best water polo players of all time.