Zachar, Imre

Emmerich Zachar

Sport:
swimming, water polo

Country Represented:
Hungary

Years Competed:
1908, 1912

Medals Received:
silver

Olympic Info:
A freestyle swimmer for Hungary, Zachar participated in two Olympiads and won a silver medal. At the 1908 London Olympics, Zachar competed in two events, the 400-meter individual freestyle and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. In the 400-meter event, he won his preliminary heat (6:09.8) and led the semifinal at the start, but retired later from the race. Teamed with 17-year-old Jozsef Munk in the 4x200-meter relay, Zachar became the ninth youngest medalist of the Games (18 years, 74 days) when the Hungarians captured the silver medal. Munk, the lead leg, gave the Hungarian a four-yard lead when he touched the wall. Zachar extended the lead to eight-yards, but Hungary's third and fourth swimmers were eventually overtaken by the British team and they finished second in 10:59.0; Great Britain finished in 10:55.6.

Zachar returned to the Olympics in 1912 at the Stockholm Games, this time as a member of the Hungarian water polo team. During the tournament, he started in Hungary's first game as they lost in the first round by a score of 5-4 to Austria (the Austrians scored the game-winner in the final moments of the game). Hungary then lost to Belgium 6-5 and officially finished fifth out of six teams. Two of Zachar's teammates were Sandor Adam and Tibor Fazekas.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Origin:
Hungary

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