Éva Székely: Holocaust Survivor and Olympic Champion Swimmer
Early Life and the Holocaust
Éva Székely was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1927. Her interest in swimming was sparked by listening to a radio broadcast of Hungarian swimmer Ferenc Csik winning the 100-meter freestyle at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. She joined a local sports club team, but was later removed due to her Jewish heritage.
As the Holocaust intensified in Hungary, Székely and her family faced increasing persecution. In 1944, she was rounded up by members of the fascist Arrow Cross Party, but her father intervened, claiming that she was sick and unable to walk. When that failed, he revealed that she was the Hungarian swimming champion, hoping that her fame would save her life.
Miraculously, Székely was spared. She spent the latter years of the war in a Swiss-operated safe house, where she kept fit by running up and down five flights of stairs 100 times every morning.
Post-War Swimming Career
After the war, Székely resumed her swimming career. She competed in the 1948 Olympic Games in London, placing fourth in the 200-meter breaststroke. Four years later, she achieved her Olympic dream by winning the gold medal in the same event at the 1952 Helsinki Games, setting an Olympic record in the process.
Székely continued to dominate Hungarian swimming, winning 32 national individual titles and 11 national team titles between 1946 and 1954. She also married fellow Hungarian athlete Dezső Gyarmati, who was widely regarded as one of the greatest water polo players in history.
Defection and Coaching Career
In 1956, Székely and Gyarmati defected to the United States after the Hungarian Revolution was brutally crushed by the Soviets. However, they soon returned to Hungary to care for Székely’s elderly parents.
Székely retired from active competition and became a coach for young swimmers, including her daughter, Andrea, who went on to become an Olympic medalist herself. Székely also attended the infamous 1972 Munich Games, where Palestinian militants attacked the Israeli Olympic team, killing her friend, Israeli wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg.
Jewish Identity and Legacy
Despite the persecution she experienced, Székely never attempted to hide her Jewish identity. In a 1974 interview with Hungarian television, she recalled the discriminatory laws of the 1940s and stated unequivocally, “I was a Jew.”
Székely’s remarkable life story serves as a testament to her resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit. She is remembered as both a Holocaust survivor and an Olympic champion, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of swimmers and athletes around the world.
Additional Notable Accomplishments
- Székely won a gold medal in an international swimming competition held on Hungary’s Margaret Island in 1950.
- She competed in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, winning a silver medal.
- Székely was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1985.
- In 2000, she was awarded the Hungarian Order of Merit, Commander’s Cross with Star.