Biography
Something about me...
Having competed at the 2012 London Olympic Games, RIO 2016 Olympic Games and the Inaugural European Games in Baku in summer 2015 , Richard Varga is Slovakia’s most successful Triathlete.
Richard started his sporting career as a swimmer. As the son of a swimming coach, the pool became a large part of his daily routine and Richard soon become the best junior swimmer in Slovakia, breaking both Junior and Senior National Records across all events. He successfully competed at several European and World events, including the Olympic Hopes event in the USA.
In his late teens, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Richard entered a local triathlon race and soon fell in love with a new sport. By the age of 19, Richard had left the pool in pursuit of a new passion and was travelling the World as a Professional Triathlete. He soon established himself as one of the best triathletes in the world, and continues to climb up the ITU World Rankings.
In 2012, Richard made history at the London Olympic Games when he became the most successful Slovakian Olympic Triathlete to date, finishing 22nd in a World-Class field that boasted the best 55 athletes from across the globe. After dominating the swim, Richard also cemented himself as the fastest swimmer in the world of Triathlon, and is now famed for his track record of leading out swims from European to World Series level.
Richard won his first World title when he became the 2010 World Aquathlon Champion in Budapest. A double disciplined event that combines both running and swimming, Richard went on to claim his second World Aquathlon title in 2012 in Auckland, third at the 2013 World Championships in London and defended that crown once again at the 2015 in Chicago; making him a four-time World Champion.
A regular feature on the ITU World Series circuit, the Premier League of triathlon, Richard’s top results include;
SuperLeague triathlon Hamilton Island 2017 - 4th
ITU World Triathlon Series, Kitzbuhel 2013 – 6th
ITU World Cup, Cartagena 2014 – 6th
ITU World Triathlon Series, Auckland 2015 – 7th
The first European Games, Baku 2015 - 5th
4x World Champion in Aquathlon
In addition to becoming an Olympian, 2012 was also the year the Richard won a Silver medal at the European U23 Championships in Aguilas, Spain.
Richard‘s impressive performances and results on an international stage have earned him the accolade of National Triathlete of the year, 8 years running. This highly commended award is decided by a panel of Slovak journalists and sport experts.
Richard is currently a member of the Police sport club ; a honour reserved only for the most successful Slovak athletes. Alongside his training, Richard also studied at the Comenius University in Bratislava, and recently graduated with a Bc. Degree in Triathlon Coaching. In his spare time Richard enjoys good food and sleeping, and spending quality time with friends and family.
This season Richard’s primary aim is to successfully represent Slovakia at the TOKYO 2020 Olympic Games. He’s also looking to build on his previous successes by finishing the year with a top 10 World Series ranking.
Chronological list of Richard's results
Event | Place |
Year 2015 | |
2015 ITU World Triathlon Gold Coast | 15 |
2015 ITU World Triathlon Auckland | 7 |
2015 ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi | 24 |
Year 2014 |
|
2014 New Plymouth ITU Triathlon World Cup | 13 |
2014 ITU World Triathlon Auckland | 9 |
2014 ITU World Triathlon Cape Town | 14 |
2014 Bratislava ETU Sprint Triathlon European Cup | 2 |
2014 ITU World Triathlon London | 40 |
2014 Kitzbühel ETU Triathlon European Championships | 25 |
2014 Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup, final | 12 |
2014 Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup, semifinal | 2 |
2014 ITU World Triathlon Stockholm | 12 |
2014 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton | 27 |
2014 Cozumel ITU Triathlon World Cup | 43 |
2014 Cartagena ITU Triathlon World Cup | 6 |
Year 2013 |
|
2013 Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup | 11 |
2013 ITU World Triathlon Auckland | 18 |
2013 ITU World Triathlon Madrid | 22 |
2013 ITU World Triathlon Kitzbuehel | 6 |
2013 ITU World Triathlon Hamburg | 19 |
2013 ITU World Triathlon Stockholm | 7 |
2013 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final London | 31 |
2013 London ITU Aquathlon World Championships | 1 |
Year 2012 |
|
2012 Barfoot&Thompson World Triathlon Grand Final Auckland | 16 |
2012 Auckland ITU Aquathlon World Championships | 1 |
2012 ITU World Triathlon Yokohama | 12 |
2012 Bratislava Triatlon pre všetkých- superšprint | 1 |
2012 Aguilas ETU Triathlon U23 and Youth European Championships | 2 |
2012 ITU World Triathlon Stockholm | 9 |
2012 London Olympic Games | 22 |
2012 Dextro Energy World Triathlon Hamburg | 21 |
2012 ITU World Triathlon Madrid | 22 |
2012 Jiayuguan ITU Triathlon Premium Asian Cup | 4 |
2012 Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup | 16 |
2012 Geelong ITU Sprint Triathlon Premium Oceania Cup | 9 |
2012 Kinloch ITU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Cup | 9 |
2012 Vina del Mar ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup and Ibero American Championships | 8 |
Year 2011 |
|
2011 Auckland ITU Triathlon World Cup | 16 |
2011 Guatape ITU Triathlon World Cup | 20 |
2011 Tongyeong ITU Triathlon World Cup | 24 |
2011 Banyoles ITU Triathlon Premium European Cup | 19 |
2011 Geneva ITU Triathlon European Cup | 4 |
2011 Brasschaat ITU Triathlon Premium European Cup | 22 |
2011 Quarteira ITU Triathlon European Cup | 12 |
Year 2010 |
|
2010 Budapest ITU Aquathlon World Championships | 1 |
2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU Triathlon World Championship Grand Final Budapest | 23 |
2010 Ďanová Turčiansky amatérsky triatlon | 2 |
2010 Vila Nova de Gaia ETU Triathlon U23 and Youth European Championships | 11 |
2010 Karlovy Vary ITU Triathlon European Cup | 8 |
2010 Podebrady M-ČR v triatlone | 2 |
2010 Geneva ITU Triathlon European Cup | 22 |
2010 Valencia FISU World University Triathlon Championships | 18 |
2010 Senec ITU Triathlon European Cup | 16 |