Zsofia Balazs

In her Olympic debut, Zsofia Balazs competed as a 22-year-old and finished in 18th place in the 10km open-water Swimming event. She earned an Olympic berth for Canada by finishing sixth in the 10 km FINA Olympic marathon swimming qualifier in June.

Balazs is the first Canadian woman to gain a spot in the Olympic marathon swimming race since the event appeared in 2008. In 2011, Balazs finished in the top-10 at the Pan American Games. She also qualified and competed in the FINA World Aquatic Championships. She represented Canada at the 2007 Pan American Games and finished just off the podium in the 200m butterfly event by finishing fourth. Balazs won the national championship in open water in three consecutive years (2006-2009). She won her first in-pool national title in 2010.

Balazs and her family immigrated to Canada in 2004 from Hungry. Balazs qualified for the 2005 Canada Games Team and won silver in the 200m butterfly. She went on to win her fist open-water national title the following year in 2006.

In her Olympic debut, Zsofia Balazs

competed as a 22-year-old and finished

in 18th place in the 10km open-water

Swimming event. She earned an Olympic

berth for Canada by finishing sixth in the

10 km FINA Olympic marathon swimming

qualifier in June.

Balazs is the first Canadian woman to gain

a spot in the Olympic marathon swimming

race since the event appeared in 2008.

In 2011, Balazs finished in the top-10 at the

Pan American Games. She also qualified

and competed in the FINA World Aquatic

Championships. She represented Canada

at the 2007 Pan American Games and

finished just off the podium in the 200m

butterfly event by finishing fourth.

Balazs won the national championship

in open water in three consecutive years

(2006-2009). She won her first in-pool

national title in 2010.

Balazs and her family immigrated to

Canada in 2004 from Hungry. Balazs

qualified for the 2005 Canada Games Team

and won silver in the 200m butterfly. She

went on to win her fist open-water national

title the following year in 2006.

Club:

Toronto Swim Club

Languages spoken:

Hungarian, English

Idols (in sport or other):

Agnes Kovacs

Favourite activities outside of sport:

spending time with family, trying other sports/activities

Sibling(s) Name(s) (date of birth):

Fruzsina Balazs (1987) Somi Balazs (1997)

Pre-competition rituals / superstitions:

too many of them to count but one importnat one is that I do not eat fish or seafood before my open water races

Training Location(s):

University of Toronto

Preferred sport events / Specialties:

Distance freestyle (800-1500m) and open water (5-10km)

Coach(es):

John Rodgers, Linda Kiefer

Senior national athlete since:

2007

College/ University (year graduated):

Humber College

Focus of studies:

Police Foundations

Favourite movies / TV shows:

Movies: Disney/Pixar movies, 2012, Fast Five, Thor TVshows: Rookie Blue, Blue Bloods, Make it or Brake it, Criminal MInds, Big Bang Theory

Favourite quote / motto:

if i do not eat the fish, they do not eat me.

It would surprise you to know that I …:

I am scared of open water. Especially oceans. I am afraid of the fish and sharks and whatever other creature that can possibly make a meal out of me.

National titles (include event, year):

Open Water 10km- 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
1500Freestyle- 2010

Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2011:

Qualified for the 2011 FISU World Universiade in China.

Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2010:

Won my first ever in pool National Title, and qualified for the Pan Pacifc Championships.
National Champion 1500 Feestyle -16:33.65

2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
10km open water 4th place

Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2009:

Won Open Water Nationals, and qualified for the FINA 2009 World Championships. I also made the Junior Pan Pacific Championship Team.
FINA World Aquatic Championships, Rome, Italy, 2009
10km Open Water, 2:02:24.3, (33rd)

Junior Pan Pacific Championships, Guam, 2009
400m Freestyle, 4:17.99 (6th)
800m Freestyle, 8:58.31 (6th)
1500m Freestyle, 16:36.70 (Bronze)
10km open water 4th

Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2008:

I won open water nationals again this year and qualified for my first ever World Championship Team. (2008 Open Water World Championships Seville, Spain) This year I failed to qualify
for the Olympic Games in both open water and pool events.

Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2007:

I qualified for the Pan?am Games in Brazil for 400fr and 200fly.
Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2007
400 m Freestyle, 4:15.86 (7th)
200 m Butterfly, 2:13.99 (4th)

Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2006:

I won the first ever open water national title. And would have made the Pan/Pac team that year, but I did not have my Canadian Citizenship so I could not go.

Career notes prior (excluding Olympic):

Immigrated to Canada with my family in 2004 from Hungary, made the 2005 Canada Games Team and won silver in the 200fly.

Pan Am Games results — all events, all Games:

Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2007
400 m Freestyle, 4:15.86 (7th)
200 m Butterfly, 2:13.99 (4th)

World Championship appearances – Best results by year:

FINA World Aquatic Championships, Rome, Italy, 2009
10km Open Water, 2:02:24.3, (33rd)

2008 Open Water World Championships Seville, Spain
2010 Open Water World Championships Roberval, Canada