Background
Krisztina Egerszegi was born on August 16, 1974 in Budapest, Hungary (Budapest, the Hungarian People's Republic at the time). She is a daughter of Janos Egerszegi and Klara Egerszegi.
Krisztina Egerszegi, the Hungarian Little Mouse
1988
Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi wins the gold medal in the women's 200-meter backstroke at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
25 Olympic-ro, Jamsil 2(i)-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi in action competing at the Summer Olympics in the Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi on the way to her gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Photo by Oly/picture alliance.
1988
Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
1991
100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont WA 6010, Ausralia
Krisztina Egerszegi during the women's 400-meter individual medley at the VI FINA World Aquatics Championships at Perth Superdrome, Perth, Australia. Photo by Simon Bruty.
1991
100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont WA 6010, Ausralia
Krisztina Egerszegi in action during the women's 200-meter backstroke final during the 6th World Aquatics Championships at Perth Superdrome, Australia. Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated.
1992
Barcelona, Spain
Krisztina Egerszegi on her way to the gold medal in the women's 400-meter individual medley event during the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1992
Barcelona, Spain
Krisztina Egerszegi en route to winning the gold medal in the women's 400-meter individual medley event during the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1993
Sheaf St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2BP, United Kingdom
Krisztina Egerszegi after the women's 200-meter butterfly during the European Aquatics Championships at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1993
Sheaf St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2BP, United Kingdom
Krisztina Egerszegi competing in the women's 200-meter butterfly during the European Aquatics Championships at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1994
Rome, Italy
Krisztina Egerszegi during the women's 200-meter backstroke during the VII FINA World Aquatics Championships at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. Photo by Shaun Botterill.
1996
750 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi competes in the women's 400-meter individual medley at the XXVI Summer Olympic Games, the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (later known as the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center), Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Allsport.
1996
750 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi wins gold in the women's 200-meter backstroke at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (later known as the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center) during the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Simon Bruty/Allsport.
1996
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi competing in the 400-meter medley at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Mark Sandten/Bongarts.
1996
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
1991
100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont WA 6010, Ausralia
Krisztina Egerszegi after winning gold during the women's 200-meter backstroke final at Perth Superdrome, Australia. Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated.
1992
Barcelona, Spain
Krisztina Egerszegi after receiving the gold medal for the women's 400-meter individual medley event during the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1996
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi as the bronze medalist at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
Krisztina Egerszegi was awarded with the Olympic Golden Ring in 1995.
Krisztina Egerszegi was presented with the Hungarian Heritage Award in 1996.
Krisztina Egerszegi was honored with the Silver Olympic Order in 2001.
Krisztina Egerszegi received the Hungarian Prima Primissima Award in 2007.
Krisztina Egerszegi was presented with the International Olympic Committee President's Trophy in 2005.
1988
Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi wins the gold medal in the women's 200-meter backstroke at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Winning the silver and bronze medals are Katrin Zimmermann (right) and Cornelia Sirch (left) of Germany. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi wins the gold medal in the women's 200-meter backstroke at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
25 Olympic-ro, Jamsil 2(i)-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi in action competing at the Summer Olympics in the Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1988
Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi on the way to her gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Photo by Oly/picture alliance.
1988
Seoul, South Korea
Krisztina Egerszegi at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
1991
100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont WA 6010, Ausralia
Krisztina Egerszegi after winning gold during the women's 200-meter backstroke final at Perth Superdrome, Australia. Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated.
1991
100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont WA 6010, Ausralia
Krisztina Egerszegi during the women's 400-meter individual medley at the VI FINA World Aquatics Championships at Perth Superdrome, Perth, Australia. Photo by Simon Bruty.
1991
100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont WA 6010, Ausralia
Krisztina Egerszegi in action during the women's 200-meter backstroke final during the 6th World Aquatics Championships at Perth Superdrome, Australia. Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated.
1992
Barcelona, Spain
Krisztina Egerszegi after receiving the gold medal for the women's 400-meter individual medley event during the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1992
Barcelona, Spain
Krisztina Egerszegi on her way to the gold medal in the women's 400-meter individual medley event during the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography.
1992
Barcelona, Spain
Krisztina Egerszegi en route to winning the gold medal in the women's 400-meter individual medley event during the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto.
1993
Sheaf St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2BP, United Kingdom
Krisztina Egerszegi after the women's 200-meter butterfly during the European Aquatics Championships at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1993
Sheaf St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2BP, United Kingdom
Krisztina Egerszegi competing in the women's 200-meter butterfly during the European Aquatics Championships at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Photo by Eileen Langsley/Popperfoto.
1994
Rome, Italy
Krisztina Egerszegi during the women's 200-meter backstroke during the VII FINA World Aquatics Championships at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. Photo by Shaun Botterill.
1996
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi as the bronze medalist at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
1996
750 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi competes in the women's 400-meter individual medley at the XXVI Summer Olympic Games, the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (later known as the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center), Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Allsport.
1996
750 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi wins gold in the women's 200-meter backstroke at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (later known as the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center) during the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Simon Bruty/Allsport.
1996
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi competing in the 400-meter medley at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Mark Sandten/Bongarts.
1996
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Krisztina Egerszegi at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts.
Krisztina Egerszegi
Krisztina Egerszegi was awarded with the Olympic Golden Ring in 1995.
Krisztina Egerszegi was presented with the Hungarian Heritage Award in 1996.
Krisztina Egerszegi was honored with the Silver Olympic Order in 2001.
Krisztina Egerszegi was presented with the International Olympic Committee President's Trophy in 2005.
Krisztina Egerszegi received the Hungarian Prima Primissima Award in 2007.
Krisztina Egerszegi's children, two sons and a daughter
Krisztina Egerszegi holding three of her five Olympic Gold medals. Photo by Alchetron.
Krisztina Egerszegi with her husband, coach Ádám Vigassy
Former swimmer László Kiss coached Krisztina Egerszegi from 1986 to 1996.
Krisztina Egerszegi was born on August 16, 1974 in Budapest, Hungary (Budapest, the Hungarian People's Republic at the time). She is a daughter of Janos Egerszegi and Klara Egerszegi.
Krisztina Egerszegi started swimming in about 1978. First coached by Miklos Kiss, whose activity of teaching sports to children was just an additional part-time job to his primary service as an engineer at a factory, Egerszegi revealed her talent for the backstroke. Miklos transmitted his five-year-old ward to the then head coach of the Budapest Swim Club and trainer of the Hungarian women's team, Laszlo Kiss. In his turn, Laszlo put the budding swimmer in the hands of another swimming authority, György Thury, in 1982.
Laszlo Kiss came back to Egerszegi as a trainer six years later. Taught in all four swimming strokes, freestyle, breast, butterfly, and backstroke, she possessed ideal physical characteristics for the latter. Kiss improved considerably her natural ability and already solid technique. Egerszegi's debut at the international level occurred in 1987 at the European Championships in Strasbourg, France. The young swimmer placed fifth in her favorite swimming stroke, the 200-metre backstroke.
Krisztina Egerszegi's first significant breakthrough as a professional swimmer occurred at the Summer Olympics in Seoul in 1988 and attracted immediately the attention of the sports community to the athlete. A fourteen-year-old girl weighing ninety-nine pounds, Egerszegi took her first Olympic gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke, setting an Olympic record in passing, and became a silver medalist in the same discipline of 100 meters.
Egerszegi pursued her victory march as an unmatched athlete in the backstroke the following years. 1991 was marked by world records in two events at the European and the World Championships. A gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke with a record time of 1:00.31 and gold in the 200-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley of the European level were completed by a couple of World titles in the 200-meter backstroke and the 100-meter backstroke, with another world record for the first one.
Egerszegi came as a seasoned eighteen-year-old athlete to her next Olympic Games, hosted in 1992 by Barcelona, Spain. Dubbed Queen of this Summer Olympiad in her homeland, she proved the status by earning three gold medals in individual events at once, in the 400-meter individual medley, the 200-meter and 100-meter backstroke, again with record time. The next year wasn't less triumphant for the Hungarian Little Mouse as she finished first in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke, 400-meter individual medley, and 200-meter butterfly at the European Aquatics Championships. Egerszegi was perceived as the most multitalented swimmer worldwide by the time.
The quite unsuccessful World Championships and European Championships of 1994 (only one silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke) and 1995 in comparison to the previous years pushed Krisztina Egerszegi to think of retiring from the sport. Though, the loss to China's He Cihong motivated her to pursue competing. Believing that her technique was efficient primarily in the longer races, she stopped taking part in the 100-meter backstroke. The approach paid off at the 1995 European Championships as Egerszegi won gold in the 200-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley.
The Summer Olympics of the next year, held in Atlanta, Georgia, turned to be the last ones in Egerszegi's athletic career. She finished first in the 200-meter backstroke and grabbed the bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley. The gold in the 200-meter backstroke was the fifth Olympic title for the Hungarian swimming queen. Shortly after the major sports event of the four years, Krisztina Egerszegi announced her retirement from competitive swimming. That same year, Egerszegi was assigned the board member of the Hungarian Swimming Association. Later, in 2007, the Little Mouse joined the Hungarian Olympic Committee as a member.
An expert in the backstroke, Krisztina Egerszegi dominated women's swimming events from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s. A three-time Olympic medalist and five-time Olympic champion, she is the only woman in the history of swimming, to date, to take five gold medals in an individual event at the Summer Olympics.
The world record of 2:06.62 set by Egerszegi in the 200-meter backstroke at the 1984 European Championships in Athens remained unbeaten for about seventeen years. It was broken only on August 1, 2009, by Anastasia Zuyeva of Russia at the World Aquatics Championships in Rome.
Becoming a sports star in her homeland after her triumphant victory at the 1988 Olympic Games, Egerszegi was honored for her athletic achievements with many accolades since then. Voted the Best Swimmer of the Year 9 times and the Best Female Athlete of the Year 7 times, Egerszegi was named the Hungarian Female Athlete of the Century in 2001 and inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame that same year. In 2013, she joined the notable athletes of the Hall of Fame of the Hungarian Swimming Sports.
Egerszegi is a recipient of the Silver Olympic Order, the Middle Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit and the Order of St. Stephen of Hungary Medal, the highest state honors of Hungary, among others.
Quotations: "I love all my medals, but I think this one [gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics] is the best. I'm not going to swim at the next world championships; I'm just going to swim for fun now."
Egerszegi was described by one of her coaches, Laszlo Kiss, as a peasy to train athlete who appreciated his tutelage.
The swimmer is dubbed Mouse because the first four letters of her last name mean right that word in Hungarian. The famous phrase of Tamás Vitray, "Come on Little Mouse! Come on little girl!", who commented on her triumph at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, added the adjective to Mouse. The nickname gained a firm foothold in popular culture. She was also named Queen Kristina in several media after the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Physical Characteristics: Krisztina Egerszegi is 1.74 meters tall.
Quotes from others about the person
Craig Lord, The Times: "Egerszegi's ability to endure the pain of hard training was said by [Laszlo] Kiss to be one of the key reasons why she was so far ahead of her rivals."
Krisztina Egerszegi married Ádám Vigassy in May 1999. The family produced three children, Bálint Vigassy-Egerszegi, Barnabás Vigassy-Egerszegi and Zille Vigassy-Egerszegi.
(born July 27, 2000)
(born February 18, 2002)
(born February 17, 2004)
(born December 14, 1940)
László Kiss was a professional swimmer before becoming a coach. He competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He coached Egerszegi for ten years, since 1986.
György Thury was Egerszegi's trainer from 1982 to 1986.
