Valéria Gyenge


Valéria Gyenge is a Hungarian swimmer who won the 400 m freestyle event at the 1952 Summer Olympics. She remained a leader in this event until 1956, but finished in a disappointing eighth place at the 1956 Olympics. In 1978, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Family

Gyenge was a daughter-in-law of János Garay, a 1928 Olympic fencing champion who died in a German concentration camp in 1945. Her sisters Judy and Suzy as well as her sister-in-law Mària were also swimmers. After 1956 Olympics Gyenge moved to Canada, together with her fiancé and future husband János Garai, a water polo player. In Canada she swam for the EMAC Club in Toronto for a few months and then coached swimming for three years before becoming a famous photographer. Her daughter Soo Garay became an actress.