Ágnes Kovács

Ágnes Kovács
Kovács in 2014
Personal information
Full nameKovács Ágnes
National team Hungary
Born (1981-07-13) 13 July 1981
Budapest, Hungary
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke, medley
ClubBudapesti Spartacus Sport Club
College teamArizona State University (USA)
CoachMike Chasson (USA)
Medal record
Representing  Hungary
Olympic Games
1996 Atlanta200 m breaststroke
2000 Sydney200 m breaststroke
World Championships (LC)
1998 Perth200 m breaststroke
2001 Fukuoka200 m breaststroke
2001 Fukuoka100 m breaststroke
European Championships (LC)
1995 Vienna4×100 m medley
1995 Vienna100 m breaststroke
1997 Seville100 m breaststroke
1997 Seville200 m breaststroke
1999 Istanbul50 m breaststroke
1999 Istanbul100 m breaststroke
1999 Istanbul200 m breaststroke
2000 Helsinki50 m breaststroke
2000 Helsinki100 m breaststroke
2000 Helsinki200 m breaststroke
2006 Budapest50 m breaststroke
2006 Budapest100 m breaststroke
2006 Budapest200 m breaststroke
European Championships (SC)
1999 Lisbon50 m breaststroke
1999 Lisbon100 m breaststroke
1999 Lisbon200 m breaststroke
2002 Riesa100 m breaststroke

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. 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.

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.

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.