USMS National Records – pool individual 1 lifetime, 1 currently held
USMS Pool All American Honors – 11 years (33 individual)
USMS Long Distance All American Honors – 2 years (2 individual)
USMS Top Ten Achievements – 74 individual
For some, swimming is a healthy exercise, for me, it is a lifestyle. I grew up in Hungary, and by age six, I was a competitive swimmer. Swimming has been so ingrained in my life that I can no longer separate it from my identity. I love the sport; it has provided me with opportunities others can only dream of. Yes, (along with many young children) I had dreams of the Olympics. While I did not attain the rights of the five-ring tattoo on my body, swimming has led me to a New World, to an athletic scholarship, to a master’s degree, to my best friends, and it continues to take me to amazing venues in the world.
A brief overview of my swimming history: I qualified for the Cadet European Championships in the 200- meter butterfly when I was 12 years old. At 16, I received the bronze medal at the Hungarian National Championships in the 200-meter butterfly and anchored the 4x100 free relay to a National title. However, for my Hungarian coach, I become too old and not elite enough.
I tried my luck across the “Pond,” and continued the sport at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania under Olympic alternate and Michigan State alumnus, Pete Williams. He trained me to Junior Nationals and helped me get recruited by his alma mater. At MSU, I became a four-time Academic All-America, earned three individual and two relay school records, was named Student-Athlete of the Month by MSU Athletics, and made the Olympic Trials cut in the 200-meter butterfly in 2002.
After six years of hiatus, I found love again in Masters swimming. These past 11 years with the help of Coach Chris Morgan, I became a World Champion in the 200-meter butterfly in 2014 and 2017, as well as Pan-American Champion in 2018 and 2022. I earned National titles in 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021 as well as Open Water 1-mile Masters National titles in 2017 and 2022. I love to travel to open water races as much as possible, too. I have no doubt racing will be a significant part of the rest of my life.