Dora Pasztory
| Medal record International medals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Swimming | ||
Representing  Hungary
| ||
| Paralympic Games | ||
 |
2000 Sydney | 200m medley |
 |
2000 Sydney | 100m butterfly |
|
2004 Athens | 200m medley |
 |
2004 Athens | 100m butterfly |
|
2004 Athens | 100m backstroke |
She began taking swimming lessons following her physio’s advice, at first she was terrified of the water and several instructors failed to convince her otherwise. Then she met Istvan Malnai - most of his pupils know him as „Pike” -, a swimming instructor, who specialized in teaching children with disabilities, working multiple charities – they met in a camp organized by the Foundation for Children with Missing Limbs. She spent her early childhood years in a tiny village located in the southern part of Hungary called Palotabozsok before moving to Pecs at the age of 11. By that time she was confident enough to continue swimming at a local club ANK under the guidance of Dr. Anatolij Petrov – she joined a group of able swimmers with several household names like Zsuzsanna Jakabos (she is also an Olympian).
Her professional career started in 1996, acquiring 3 gold medals in the national para-swimming championship. Joining the adult team in 1999,participating at her first European championship– she won the 200 meter medley in SM8 category, qualifying for the Sydney Paralympics. She was elected Sportswoman of the Year in 1999 (this was the first time they handed out this award in a separate category for para-athletes).
In 2000 she won gold in 200m medley and bronze in 100m butterfly at the Sydney Paralympics, getting the first gold for the Hungarian team on day two, bringing her into the national spotlight for the first time. The results at the European Championships in Stockholm in 2001 – two silver medals with slower times compared to her previous season bests in 2000 – came as a huge disappointment, eventually leading to a break in swimming. After regaining her confidence and motivation she began training again for the World Championship. In 2002 she was the first female para-swimmer to break the 3 minute mark in 200m medley, winning gold and placing third in 100m butterfly.
Meanwhile in Hungary, she became an early advocate in fighting for equal rights of para-athletes, using her results driven fame to battle discrimination.
After completing secondary school in 2003, she pursued her swimming career further with the upcoming Olympic Games in sight. In 2004 she defended her title in 200m medley and added two silvers in 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly – Athens was a great success.
Returning to Hungary, she continued to champion social issues close to her heart. She was an ambassador for the Suhanj! Foundation – working on integrating sports into the lives of people living with disabilities and launched a swimming program for children with disabilities. She also worked for an NGO supporting the development of nursery children focusing on healthy nutrition, learning through story-telling and integration.
She gave up competitive swimming in 2005 and pursued further studies, getting degrees in Communications and International Studies – she is also a certified swimming coach.
After working several years for Eurosport as a swimming commentator and expert, she stayed close to the world of media as an independent journalist, writing weekly and monthly columns for women’s magazines and interviews for a major Hungarian weekly paper.
References[edit]
Original Hungarian Wikipedia page - [1]
Sydney Paralympics results - Hungary at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
Athens Paralympics results - Hungary at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
This article "Dora Pasztory" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Dora Pasztory. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
