The First Olympians 3/7: His Father Drowned. He Won the Olympics in the Sea (The True Story of Alfréd Hajós)

Tales of Life: Ordinary People, Extraordinary True Stories · Oct 24, 2026 · 5m

The First Olympians, Episode 3 of 7. The true story of Alfréd Hajós, the 18-year-old from Budapest who became the first Olympic swimming champion. When he was thirteen, his father drowned in the Danube, and the boy decided to become a strong swimmer. At the 1896 Athens Olympics there was no pool: the swimmers were taken out by boat into the cold, rough water of the Bay of Zea and had to swim back to shore. Hajós won the 100 metres and the 1,200 metres, covered in grease against the cold, and later said his will to live had beaten his wish to win. He went on to become an architect and designed…