Olivér Halassy

Olivér Halassy, born Olivér Haltmayer on 31 July 1909, was a Hungarian water polo player and freestyle swimmer who competed at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics. He lost his left leg below the knee when a train hit him at the age of eleven, and he became the first amputee swimmer to compete at the Olympics. He was part of the Hungarian water polo teams that won one silver and two gold medals, playing every match and scoring three, eleven and six goals at the three Games. He also won three European water polo titles, in 1931, 1934 and 1938, and in 1931 he became European champion in the 1500 metres freestyle a few hours after helping his team to victory. He won 25 national swimming titles and set 12 national records. He worked as an auditor at City Hall after retiring, was killed near his home in Budapest in 1946, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1978.