View source for Tibor Benedek

{{Short description|Hungarian water polo player and coach (1972–2020)}}
{{Hungarian name|Benedek Tibor}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox water polo biography
| name           = Tibor Benedek
| nickname       = 
| image          = 
| caption        =
| birth_date     = {{birth date|df=yes|1972|7|12}}
| birth_place    = [[Budapest]], [[Hungarian People's Republic|Hungary]]<ref name="Tibor Benedek SR">{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Tibor Benedek |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/tibor-benedek-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417085259/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/tibor-benedek-1.html |archive-date=17 April 2020}}</ref>
| death_date     = {{death date and age|df=yes|2020|6|18|1972|7|12}}
| death_place    = Budapest, Hungary
| height         = 1.90 m
| weight         = 
| position       = Wing
| L/R            = Left
| youthyears1    = 1980–{{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1    = [[KSI SE (men's water polo)|KSI]]
| years1         = {{0|0000}}–1989
| clubs1         = [[KSI SE (men's water polo)|KSI]]
| years2         = 1989–1996
| clubs2         = [[Újpesti TE (men's water polo)|UTE-Office & Home]]
| years3         = 1996–2001
| clubs3         = [[Associazione Sportiva Racing Sporting Club Nuoto Roma|INA Assitalia Roma]]
| years4         = 2001–2004
| clubs4         = [[Pro Recco]]
| years5         = 2004–2007
| clubs5         = [[Budapesti Honvéd SE (men's water polo)|Domino-BHSE]]
| years6         = 2006
| clubs6         = → [[Sliema A.S.C.|Sliema]] (''Summer League'')
| years7         = 2007–2012
| clubs7         = [[Pro Recco]]
| nationalyears1 = 1990–2008
| nationalteam1  = {{wp|HUN}}
| nationalcaps1  = 384
| nationalgoals1 = 
| coachyears1    = 2010–2012
| coachclubs1    = [[Hungary men's national water polo team|Hungary]] (assistant)
| coachyears2    = 2013–2016
| coachclubs2    = [[Hungary men's national water polo team|Hungary]]
| coachyears3    = 2018–2020
| coachclubs3    = [[UVSE (men's water polo)|UVSE-Hunguest Hotels]]
| show-medals    = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[water polo]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{HUN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Water polo at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003 Barcelona]] | [[Water polo at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1998 World Aquatics Championships|1998 Perth]] | [[Water polo at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2007 World Aquatics Championships|2007 Melbourne]] | [[Water polo at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1991 World Aquatics Championships|1991 Perth]] | [[Water polo at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Team competition]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[European Water Polo Championship|European Championship]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1997 Men's European Water Polo Championship|1997 Sevilla]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1993 Men's European Water Polo Championship|1993 Sheffield]] | Team competition}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1995 Men's European Water Polo Championship|1995 Vienna]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2006 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2006 Belgrade]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalBronze | [[2001 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2001 Budapest]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalBronze | [[2003 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2003 Kranj]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalBronze|[[2008 Men's European Water Polo Championship|2008 Málaga]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA Water Polo World Cup|FINA World Cup]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1995 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|1995 Atlanta]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalSilver | [[1993 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|1993 Athens]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2002 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|2002 Belgrade]] | Team competition }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1997 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|1997 Athens]] | Team competition }}
}}

'''Tibor Benedek''' (12 July 1972 – 18 June 2020) was a Hungarian professional [[water polo]] player and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played on the gold medal squads at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], [[2004 Summer Olympics]] and [[2008 Summer Olympics]]. Benedek also competed at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992]] and [[1996 Summer Olympics]], where the Hungarian team  placed 6th and 4th, respectively.

Benedek was the head coach of [[Hungary men's national water polo team]] between 2013 and 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nemzetisport.hu/vizilabda/vizilabda-kivalasztottak-az-uj-kapitanyt-itt-a-benedek-utod-2542113 |title=''Vízilabda: kiválasztották az új kapitányt, itt a Benedek-utód!'' |website=nemzetisport.hu |language=hu |access-date=31 July 2017}}</ref>

Benedek was named ''Hungarian Water Polo Player of the Year'' in 1992, 1993 and 1994. He made his debut for the national side in 1990. His father, [[Miklós Benedek]], was an actor. 

Widely regarded as one of the greatest water polo players of all time,<ref>{{cite web |title=Tibor Benedek passed away |url=https://total-waterpolo.com/tibor-benedek-passed-away/ |website=total-waterpolo.com |publisher=Total Waterpolo |first=Ivan |last=Curcic |date=18 June 2020}}</ref> Benedek ranks second on the [[List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics#Top goalscorers (all-time)|all-time scoring list in Olympic history]], with 65 goals. He was the joint [[List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics#Top goalscorers (one tournament)|top goalscorer]] at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, with 22 goals, and the top goalscorer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with 19 goals. Benedek is the ninth player to compete in water polo [[List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics#Multiple appearances (five-time Olympians)|at five Olympics]], and one of ten male athletes who won [[List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics#Multiple gold medalists|three Olympic gold medals]] in water polo.<ref name="Tibor Benedek SR"/> In 2016, he was inducted in the [[International Swimming Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Tibor Benedek ISHOF">{{cite web |title=Tibor Benedek (HUN) |url=https://ishof.org/tibor-benedek-(hun).html |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=[[International Swimming Hall of Fame]] |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620040554/https://ishof.org/tibor-benedek-(hun).html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Tibor Benedek died on 18 June 2020 due to pancreatic cancer. His death was announced by the [[Hungarian Water Polo Federation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-18 |title=Legendary Water Polo Player and Coach Tibor Benedek Dies at Age 47 |url=https://hungarytoday.hu/tibor-benedek-dies-aged-47/ |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=Hungary Today |language=en}}</ref>

==Honours==
===As player===
====National====
* [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic Games]]: [[File:Gold medal.svg|15px]] Gold medal – [[Water polo at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000]], [[Water polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004]], [[Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008]]
* [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships]]: [[File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg|15px]] Gold medal – [[2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003]]; [[File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg|15px]] Silver medal – 1998, 2007; [[File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg|15px]] Bronze medal – 1991
* [[European Water Polo Championship|European Championship]]: [[File:Gold medal europe.svg|15px]] Gold medal – [[1997 Men's European Water Polo Championship|1997]]; [[File:Silver medal europe.svg|15px]] Silver medal – 1993, 1995; [[File:Bronze medal europe.svg|15px]] Bronze medal – 2001, 2003, 2008
* [[FINA Water Polo World League|FINA World League]]: [[File:Gold medal blank.svg|15px]] Gold medal – [[2003 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2003]], [[2004 FINA Men's Water Polo World League|2004]]; [[File:Silver medal blank.svg|15px]] Silver medal – 2007; [[File:Bronze medal blank.svg|15px]] Bronze medal – 2002
* [[FINA Water Polo World Cup|FINA World Cup]]: [[File:Gold medal blank.svg|15px]] Gold medal – [[1995 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup|1995]]; [[File:Silver medal blank.svg|15px]] Silver medal – 1993, 2002; [[File:Bronze medal blank.svg|15px]] Bronze medal – 1997

384 present in the national team of Hungary
* Junior World Championships: (Bronze medal – 1991)
* Junior European Championship: (Bronze medal – 1990)
* Youth European Championship: (Gold medal – 1989)

====Club====
'''Újpest''' {{small|(UTE-Primavera, UTE-Office & Home)}}
* [[Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)|Hungarian Championship]] (4x): [[1990–91 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)|1990–91]], [[1992–93 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)|1992–93]], [[1993–94 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)|1993–94]], [[1994–95 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)|1994–95]]
* Hungarian Cup (2x): 1990–91, 1992–93
* [[LEN Champions League|European Cup]] (1x): [[1993–94 European Cup (water polo)|1993–94]]
* [[LEN Euro Cup|LEN Cup]] (1x): 1992–93
* [[LEN Super Cup]] (1x): 1994

'''Racing Roma''' {{small|(INA Assitalia Roma)}}
* [[File:Scudetto.svg|15px]] [[Serie A1 (water polo)|Italian Championship]] (1x): 1998–99
* [[LEN Cup Winners' Cup]] ''runners-up'': 1996–97

'''Pro Recco'''
* [[File:Scudetto.svg|15px]] Italian Championship (1x): 2001–02
* LEN Euroleague (1x): [[2002–03 LEN Euroleague|2002–03]]

'''Bp. Honvéd''' {{small|(Domino-BHSE)}}
* Hungarian Championship (3x): [[2004–05 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)|2004–05]], [[2005–06 Országos Bajnokság I (men's water polo)|2005–06]]
* Hungarian Cup (1x): [[2006 Magyar Kupa (men's water polo)|2006]]
* Hungarian Super Cup (1x): 2005

'''Pro Recco''' {{small|(Ferla Pro Recco)}}
* [[File:Scudetto.svg|15px]] Italian Championship (5x): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
* [[File:Coccarda Coppa Italia.svg|15px]] Italian Cup (4x): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
* [[LEN Champions League]] (3x): [[2007–08 LEN Euroleague|2007–08]], [[2009–10 LEN Euroleague|2009–10]], [[2011–12 LEN Champions League|2011–12]]
* [[LEN Super Cup]] (3x): 2007, 2008, 2010
* [[Adriatic Water Polo League|Adriatic League]] (1x): [[2011–12 Adriatic Water Polo League|2011–12]]

===As head coach===
{{wp|HUN}} (2013–2016)
* [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships]]: [[File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg|15px]] Gold medal – [[2013 World Aquatics Championships|2013]]
* [[European Water Polo Championship|European Championship]]: [[File:Silver medal europe.svg|15px]] Silver medal – 2014; [[File:Bronze medal europe.svg|15px]] Bronze medal – 2016
* [[FINA Water Polo World League|FINA World League]]: [[File:Silver medal blank.svg|15px]] Silver medal – 2013, 2014
* [[FINA Water Polo World Cup|FINA World Cup]]: [[File:Silver medal blank.svg|15px]] Silver medal – 2014

==Awards==
*''Total-waterpolo'' magazine's man water polo "World Player of the Year's2000–20"  award<ref name="total-player-2020">{{Cite web |title=Maggie Steffens and Tibor Benedek are the Best Water Polo Players of the 21st Century |url=https://total-waterpolo.com/total-player-2020/ |website=total-waterpolo.com }}</ref>
*Member of the Best Team of the Year's in the World by ''total-waterpolo'' 2000–20<ref name="total-player-2020" />
* Masterly youth athlete: 1991
* Hungarian Water Polo Player of the Year: 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002
* Member of the Hungarian team of year: 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008
* Honorary Citizen of [[Budapest]] (2008)
* Hungarian head coach of the Year: 2013
* Member of [[International Swimming Hall of Fame]] (2016)<ref name="Tibor Benedek ISHOF"/>

;Orders
* [[File:HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 4class BAR.svg|60px|Ribbon]]  [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary|Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]] (2000)
* [[File:HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 3class BAR.svg|60px|Ribbon]]  [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary|Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]] (2004)
* [[File:HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 2class BAR.svg|60px|Ribbon]]  [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary|Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary with the Star]] (2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mob.hu/engine.aspx?page=showcontent&content=parlamenti_kituntetesek |title=Olimpikonok kitüntetése a Parlamentben |publisher=Hungarian Olympic Committee |date=29 August 2008 |access-date=27 January 2012 |language=hu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805012200/http://www.mob.hu/engine.aspx?page=showcontent&content=parlamenti_kituntetesek |archive-date=5 August 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hungary men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics]]
* [[List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games]]
* [[List of players who have appeared in multiple men's Olympic water polo tournaments]]
* [[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event]]
* [[List of Olympic champions in men's water polo]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in water polo (men)]]
* [[List of men's Olympic water polo tournament top goalscorers]]
* [[List of world champions in men's water polo]]
* [[List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo]]
* [[List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sports links}}
* [http://kataca.hu/sport/polo/valogatott/benedek/ Tibor Benedek] at kataca.hu {{in lang|hu}} 

{{Navboxes
|title = Hungary squads
|bg = #CD2A3E
|fg = #FFFFFF
|bordercolor = #436F4D
|list1 = 
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 1991 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 1998 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Hungary squad 2001 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2001 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Hungary squad 2003 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2003 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2007 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Hungary squad 2008 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2013 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Hungary squad 2014 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2015 World Aquatics Championships}}
{{Hungary squad 2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship}}
{{Hungary men's water polo squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Club squads
|list1 = 
{{1992–93 LEN Trophy champions roster}}
{{1993–94 European Cup (water polo) champions roster}}
{{2002–03 LEN Champions League champions roster}}
{{2007–08 LEN Euroleague champions roster}}
{{2009–10 LEN Euroleague champions roster}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benedek, Tibor}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Water polo players from Budapest]]
[[Category:Hungarian male water polo players]]
[[Category:Water polo drivers]]
[[Category:Left-handed water polo players]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Water polo players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Hungary in water polo]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo]]
[[Category:Hungarian water polo coaches]]
[[Category:Hungary men's national water polo team coaches]]
[[Category:Water polo coaches at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Hungary]]
[[Category:20th-century Hungarian sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Hungarian sportsmen]]