Tibor Benedek

Tibor Benedek
Personal information
Born (1972-07-12)12 July 1972
Budapest, Hungary
Died 18 June 2020(2020-06-18) (aged 47)
Budapest, Hungary
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Wing
Handedness Left
Youth career
1980–
KSI
Senior clubs
Years Team
–1989
KSI
1989–1996
UTE-Office & Home
1996–2001
INA Assitalia Roma
2001–2004
Pro Recco
2004–2007
Domino-BHSE
2006
Sliema (Summer League)
2007–2012
Pro Recco
National team
Years Team Apps
1990–2008
 Hungary 384
Teams coached
2010–2012
Hungary (assistant)
2013–2016
Hungary
2018–2020
UVSE-Hunguest Hotels
Medal record
Men's water polo
Representing  Hungary
Olympic Games
2000 SydneyTeam competition
2004 AthensTeam competition
2008 BeijingTeam competition
World Championships
2003 BarcelonaTeam competition
1998 PerthTeam competition
2007 MelbourneTeam competition
1991 PerthTeam competition
European Championship
1997 SevillaTeam competition
1993 SheffieldTeam competition
1995 ViennaTeam competition
2006 BelgradeTeam competition
2001 BudapestTeam competition
2003 KranjTeam competition
2008 MálagaTeam competition
FINA World Cup
1995 AtlantaTeam competition
1993 AthensTeam competition
2002 BelgradeTeam competition
1997 AthensTeam competition

Tibor Benedek (12 July 1972 – 18 June 2020) was a Hungarian professional water polo player and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics. Benedek also competed at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics, where the Hungarian team placed 6th and 4th, respectively.

Benedek was the head coach of Hungary men's national water polo team between 2013 and 2016.

Benedek was named Hungarian Water Polo Player of the Year in 1992, 1993 and 1994. He made his debut for the national side in 1990. His father, Miklós Benedek, was an actor.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest water polo players of all time, Benedek ranks second on the all-time scoring list in Olympic history, with 65 goals. He was the joint top goalscorer at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, with 22 goals, and the top goalscorer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with 19 goals. Benedek is the ninth player to compete in water polo at five Olympics, and one of ten male athletes who won three Olympic gold medals in water polo. In 2016, he was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Tibor Benedek died on 18 June 2020 due to pancreatic cancer. His death was announced by the Hungarian Water Polo Federation.