Ágnes Kovács

"Agnes Kovacs" redirects here. For other uses, see Agnes Kovacs (disambiguation).

The native form of this personal name is Kovács Ágnes. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Ágnes Kovács (born 13 July 1981) is a Hungarian swimmer who competed at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics. In 2000, she won the 200 m breaststroke and set the Hungary records in the 100 m and 200 m breaststrokes events (1:07.79 and 2:24.03). As of 2014, these records still stand.^[1] She won a bronze medal in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1996 Olympics and placed fifth in 2004; in 2004 she also finished fourth in the 200 m individual medley event.^[2]

Ágnes Kovács

Kovács in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Kovács Ágnes
National team	Hungary
Born	(1981-07-13) 13 July 1981 (age 44) Budapest, Hungary
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Breaststroke, medley
Club	Budapesti Spartacus Sport Club
College team	Arizona State University (USA)
Coach	Mike Chasson (USA)
Medal record Representing  Hungary Olympic Games 1996 Atlanta 200 m breaststroke 2000 Sydney 200 m breaststroke World Championships (LC) 1998 Perth 200 m breaststroke 2001 Fukuoka 200 m breaststroke 2001 Fukuoka 100 m breaststroke European Championships (LC) 1995 Vienna 4×100 m medley 1995 Vienna 100 m breaststroke 1997 Seville 100 m breaststroke 1997 Seville 200 m breaststroke 1999 Istanbul 50 m breaststroke 1999 Istanbul 100 m breaststroke 1999 Istanbul 200 m breaststroke 2000 Helsinki 50 m breaststroke 2000 Helsinki 100 m breaststroke 2000 Helsinki 200 m breaststroke 2006 Budapest 50 m breaststroke 2006 Budapest 100 m breaststroke 2006 Budapest 200 m breaststroke European Championships (SC) 1999 Lisbon 50 m breaststroke 1999 Lisbon 100 m breaststroke 1999 Lisbon 200 m breaststroke 2002 Riesa 100 m breaststroke

Kovács learned to swim aged two and a half years and started to train seriously at nine. Aged fourteen, she became a European Junior champion in the 100 yard breaststroke, and next year won an Olympic medal. From 1995 through 2007 she won 17 medals at European championships and 53 Hungarian titles. She was named Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year in four consecutive years, from 1997 to 2000. In 2014, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.^[3]

Kovács lives with her husband and son in Hungary. She is a PhD student at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences of Semmelweis University.^[3]

Awards

• Masterly youth athlete: 1995, 1996
• Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Silver Cross (1996)
• Best Hungarian Junior Athlete of the Year (Telesport) (1): 1996
• Hungarian swimmer of the Year (7): 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006
• Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year (4) – votes of sports journalists: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• Swimming World Magazine – European Swimmer of the Year (2): 1997, 1998
• Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Officer's Cross (2000)
• Honorary Citizen of Kőbánya (2001)
• Presidential recognition (2004)
• Budapest Pro Urbe award (2006)
• Member of International Swimming Hall of Fame (2014)
• Honorary Citizen of Budapest (2014)
• Arizona State University Hall of Fame (2015)