György Mitró

György Mitró learned to swim in a mine pit in Szabolcs county. After World War II Mitró began his competitive career with the Nyíregyháza MÁV, then moved to Budapest in March 1947, and was a competitor for Budapesti Előre SC, and then Bp. Honvéd until 1953. Between 1948 and 1953 he won five Hungarian individual championship titles and seven relay championships. In 1952 and 1953 Mitró also won the Balaton long-distance team championship title.

Mitró was a member of the national team between 1947 and 1952. In 1947 he won the European championship title in the 1,500 metres freestyle in Monte Carlo, won the silver medal in the 400 metres, and was a member of the 4 x 200 metres freestyle relay that won bronze. At the 1948 London Olympics he finished second in the relay, third in the 1,500 metres, and fifth in the 400 metres. At the 1949 World University Championships in Budapest, he won silver in the 1,500 metres and bronze in the 400 metres. In 1947 György Mitró was named as Hungary’s sportsman of the year.

In March 1950 the State Protection Authority initiated proceedings against him for a Stalin joke he had told in a public place, and as a result, he spent 32 months in harsh conditions in the military, which effectively ended his sports career.

After his retirement Mitró first worked in the bakery industry, then in trade, and was the head of the merchandise department of the Nyírség Clothing Cooperative. In the meantime, he obtained a coaching qualification at the College of Physical Education and trained the swimmers of Vasas Izzó.