Istvan BARANY

István Bárány, who earned a doctorate in law and political science, was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1924 100 metre freestyle. Four years later, he won the silver medal in this event and was fourth in the 4 x 200 metre relay, winning another bronze medal with the Hungarian relay in 1932. In 1926 he was European champion in the 100 freestyle and in 1931 in the 400 freestyle and the 4 x 200 free relay. In addition he won three medals at the European Championships – silver in 1926 4x200 relay; silver in 1927 100 freestyle; and bronze in 1927 4x200 free relay. In 1929 he became the first European to swim the 100 metre freestyle in less than a minute. From 1957-59 Bárány was the general secretary of the Hungarian Swimming Association. He was also a national coach and a referee and wrote numerous books on the sport of swimming. In 1978 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.