 |
|
| Dénes
VARGA |
| Sport |
Water Polo |
| NOC |
Hungary
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 29 Mar 1987
in Budapest, HUN |
| Height | 2.01 m |
|
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|
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Ferencvarosi TC: Budapest, HUN |
General Interest |
Famous relatives |
His older brother Daniel has represented Hungary in water polo and was part of the team that claimed gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He also played at the Games in both 2012 and 2016. (SportsDeskOnline, 26 Feb 2020; vasarnap.ujszo.com, 11 Jun 2015) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
"It was a family thing. Four of us played water polo. First, I went to a swimming class. But very quickly it became very dull, so I switched to water polo because it's a game after all. Soon I realised that I like to score goals and, more importantly, that I'm able to score them. It was very joyful and I wanted to stay in this atmosphere." |
Name of coach |
Zsolt Varga [club], HUN; Tamas Marcz [national], HUN |
Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Driver |
Handedness |
Right |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began playing water polo in 1993, and took up the sport more seriously at age 11. |
International Debut |
Year |
2006 |
Competing for |
Hungary |
Tournament |
World League |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
English, Hungarian |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Dumi (sport.mandiner.hu, 27 Sep 2021) |
Awards and honours |
He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the European championships in both 2014 and 2020. (total-waterpolo.com, 26 Jan 2020; nemzetisport.hu, 27 Jul 2014)
He was named MVP of the 2019 World League Europa Cup in Zagreb, Croatia. (fina.org, 07 Apr 2019)
He was selected as MVP of the 2014/15 OB 1 league in Hungary. (waterpolo.hu, 18 May 2015)
He received the 2014 Hungarian Male Player of the Year Award. (waterpolo.hu, 10 Dec 2014)
In 2013 he received the Male Water Polo Player of the Year Award from the International Swimming Federation [FINA], and the European Swimming Federation [LEN]. (hvg.hu, 06 Jan 2014; nepszava.hu, 03 Dec 2013)
He was named MVP of the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. (hatharom.com, 03 Aug 2013)
He was chosen as MVP of the 2007 World Junior Championships in Long Beach, CA, United States of America. (vlv.hu, 28 Aug 2007) |
Other information |
COMPETITIVE BREAK
He announced he would take a break from international water polo after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. However, in March the following year he made himself available for the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He then decided to take a break from the Hungarian national team until 2018 after the event had finished. "I went through an interesting journey from the end of the last season and I finally spent this summer with the national team. Even if it was difficult, I do not regret it. I will remember this summer positively." (24.hu, 31 Jul 2017) |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Sons Bendeguz [2013] and Vince [2016] |
General Interest |
Hero / Idol |
Hungarian water polo players Tamas Kasas and Peter Biros, Montenegrin water polo player Veljko Uskokovic, Serbian water polo player Aleksandar Sapic. (total-waterpolo.com, 25 Dec 2019) |
Ambitions |
To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (nemzetisport.hu, 23 Sep 2021) |
Injuries |
In June 2020 he suffered a knee injury while training with the national team and underwent surgery. He returned to action in November 2020. (total-waterpolo.com, 06 Nov 2020, 08 Jun 2020)
A knee injury, which later required surgery, forced him to withdraw during the tournament at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. (nemzetisport.hu, 08 Jun 2020; total-waterpolo.com, 17 Jul 2019)
He broke his neck in a car crash in 2005. He was driving and crashed into a street light. (total-waterpolo.com, 25 Dec 2019) |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Business, Marketing - International Business School [IBS]: Budapest, HUN |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2021 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2008 |
Beijing, CHN |
Team |
|
World Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 7 |
2024 |
Doha, QAT |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2023 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
Team |
|
| 7 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 6 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
Team |
|
| 6 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2007 |
Melbourne, AUS |
Team |
|
World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 4 |
2023 |
Long Beach, CA, USA |
Team |
|
European Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2020 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2016 |
Belgrade, SRB |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2014 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2012 |
Eindhoven, NED |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2010 |
Zagreb, CRO |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2008 |
Málaga, ESP |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2006 |
Belgrade, SRB |
Team |
|
| |
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