Aladár Bitskey

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Non-starter
SexMale
Full nameAladár•Bitskey
Used nameAladár•Bitskey
Born18 October 1905 in Eger, Heves (HUN)
Died18 March 1991 in Eger, Heves (HUN)
AffiliationsMOVE Egri SE, Eger (HUN)
NOC Hungary

Biography

Aladár Bitskey started to compete in swimming at the age of 10 and by the age of 18 he was already Hungary’s swimming champion. Following his brother, Zoltán, who competed at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, Aladár participated at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. Prior to that, he twice swam world records in the 200m backstroke. His sporting success includes two European Championship silver medals (1927 and 1931), multiple World Student Games titles and four Hungarian Championship titles. He was also a member of the first water polo team in Eger, who were regional champions in 1924, and from 1929 onwards was the first team from outside Budapest in the Hungarian first division.

Finishing school, Bitskey chose a military career. He took part in World War II and retired as chief officer in 1945, thereafter encountering a period of tribulations for his family. He was considered a class alien by the state and moved with his family from his hometown. Tolerating the ordeal, however, he returned to Eger when he had the opportunity and became known as the master of swimming. After the 1956 Revolution, Bitskey was sentenced to prison for his political views. Four years later, once freed, he returned to this city and continued his swimming training.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1924 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) HUN Aladár Bitskey
100 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) DNS
1928 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) HUN Aladár Bitskey
100 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) 3 h2 r1/3

Olympic family relations

Special Notes