Krisztina Egerszegi's story

Krisztina Egerszegi was born in 16 August 1974 in Budapest, Hungary and is a Hungarian former world record holding swimmer and one of the greatest Hungarian Olympic champions of the modern era. She is a three time Olympian (1988, 1992 and 1996) and five time Olympic champion; and one of three individuals (Dawn Fraser and Michael Phelps being other two) to have ever won the same swimming event at three Summer Olympics.

She held the world record in the long course 200 m backstroke for almost 17 years (August 1991 – February 2008), after setting it at the1991 European Championships (2:06.62). As of June 2009, that time remains the European and Hungarian records. It is the oldest record on the European list, and the second-oldest on the Hungarian list—Egerszegi's former world record in the 100 m backstroke (1:00.31), set 3 days prior to the 200 m backstroke, is the oldest.

In 1987 Egerszegi competed in her first international event at the European championships in Strasbourg, France, where she finished fifth in the 200-metre backstroke. At age 14 she became the youngest athlete ever to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming when she won the 200-metre backstroke at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; Egerszegi also won a silver medal in the 100 metres. In 1991, at age 16, she won both the 100- and 200-metre backstroke at the world championships in Perth, Australia. Also in 1991, she broke the world records for both distances at the European championships in Athens.

At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, Egerszegi won three gold medals, the most by any woman in individual events. She won the 400-metre individual medley and set Olympic records in both backstroke events. She was named Female World Swimmer of the Year in 1991 and 1992. In 1993 at the European championships in Sheffield, England, she was the first swimmer ever to earn four individual titles in a single European championship, winning the 100- and 200-metre backstroke, the 200-metre butterfly, and the 400-metre individual medley. Egerszegi returned to the Olympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. There she won a gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke and a bronze in the 400-metre individual medley.

She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2001. She was named Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year on a record-breaking seven occasions (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1996) and Female World Swimmer of the Year three times.

Her nickname was "Egér" ("Mouse"), a play on her surname, because of her youthfulness and physical size.

Impact on Hungarian culture

Her 1988 winning in Seoul became one of the biggest TV-moments in Hungary. The famous phrase "Come on Little Mouse! Come on little girl!" ("Gyere Egérke! Gyere kicsi lány!") by Tamás Vitray, who was the speaker on the air, is part of the popular culture. Egerszegi is still regarded as the role model of the "champion" in the country. In 2000 a documentary film called Egerszegi was made about her swimming career.

Image source: [1], [2]