Július Baláž

Július Baláž came from a Slovakian family who had moved to Budapest, where he was born. At the end of World War I the family returned to Slovakia, where Baláž started swimming and diving. In 1921-22 he won several Czechoslovak swimming titles, usually as a sprint freestyler. Baláž competed at the 1924 Paris Olympics in both swimming and diving, and also finished third at the 1926 European Championships on the springboard. He won national titles on the springboard in 1924, 1927, and 1928, which enabled him to compete at the 1928 Olympics, this time only in diving.

Baláž helped Czechoslovakia win the 4x100 freestyle relay at a forerunner of the Maccabiah Games in 1930. He then won the springboard event at the 1935 Maccabiah Games, and helped Czechoslovakia win the water polo gold medal.

Baláž continued in aquatic sports after his competitive career ended, coaching in the Hagibor Praha club, and working in administration with the Czechoslovak Maccabi and the World Maccabi Association. He was briefly employed by the Zionist Union in Praha. During World War II Baláž spent time at the Auschwitz concentration camp and was also imprisoned in Terezín and Frýdlant, but survived the war. After the war, he worked professionally in swimming as a coach and official. He is considered the founder of the Czechoslovak diving school.