Hungarian Olympic Champion Eva Risvtov Announces Retirement

Photo Courtesy: Wiki Commons

Olympic gold medalist Eva Risvtov recently announced her retirement from competitive swimming in a social media post on her Facebook. In her post, Risvtov explains,

At the age of 31 you have to realise when the time has come to say good-bye. Now I feel I can’t give any more to this sport and it’s better to begin the next chapter and start the civil life.”

The Hungarian Olympian emerged as Hungary’s next swimming prodigy in the early 2000’s, clinching three silver medals at the 2003 FINA World Championships in Barcelona. A rough performance at the 2004 Games in Athens, however, led her to exit the sport at the age of 20.

After several years away from the sport of swimming, including a short stint in water polo, Risvtov returned to the sport of swimming, turning her focus primarily to open water swimming. She went on to post medal-winning performances at the 2012 Europeans (800m, 1500m) and qualified second for the 2012 Games in London in open water. While in London Risvtov rose to the occasion, leading the race in Lake Serpentine from beginning to end, grabbing the gold medal.

Risvtov, who retired once nearly a decade ago, added that she would not be returning from retirement this time.

The 31-year-old has already begun working for a sport management company and plans to help young talented athletes find the pathways to success.

Read more from FINA about Risvtov’s retirement here.

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