# Tamás Kásás

Tamás Kásás (Hungarian pronunciation:; born 20 July 1976) is a retired Hungarian water polo player.
Kásás is often described as the best defensive player of his era, if not the best overall. He is known for his ability to spring out of the water and block shots, as well as his strength in one-on-one situations. He is also noted for his highly accurate shots and passes.
He picked up the sport at the age of six, being taught by his father Zoltán, who is a coach in Hungary. Zoltán Kásás was also a gifted player who won an Olympic silver medal in 1972, a World Championship in 1973, and a European title in 1974.
He made his Olympic debut in 1996, where Hungary reached the semifinals before losing to the Manuel Estiarte-led Spanish squad. However, the Hungarian team bounced back to win European Championships in 1997 and 1999, as well as a Champions League cup in 1998, culminating with three Olympic gold medals at Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.
Kásás played in five consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country from 1996 to 2012. He is, jointly with Croat Igor Hinić and Greek Georgios Afroudakis, the tenth athlete to compete in water polo at five Olympics. He is also a leading goalscorer in Olympic water polo history, with 56 goals.
In 2007 Kásás won Euro League with Pro Recco. He was named Most Valuable Player at the 2002 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup, where Hungary claimed the silver medal.

## Honours
### National

* Olympic Games: Gold medal – 2000, 2004, 2008
* World Championships: Gold medal – 2003; Silver medal – 1998, 2005, 2007
* European Championship: Gold medal – 1997, 1999; Silver medal – 1995, 2006; Bronze medal – 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012
* FINA World League: Gold medal – 2003, 2004; Bronze medal – 2002
* FINA World Cup: Gold medal – 1995, 1999; Silver medal – 2002, 2006; Bronze medal – 1997
* Junior World Championships: (Gold medal – 1995)
* Junior European Championship: (Gold medal – 1994)

### Club

European competitions:
* Euroleague Winners (5): (1998 – with Posillipo; 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 – with Pro Recco)
* LEN Cup Winners (2): (1997 – with UTE; 2005 – with Savona)
* 0 LEN Super Cup Winners (4): (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 – with Pro Recco)
* Adriatic League: 1x (2012 – with Pro Recco)
Domestic competitions:
* Italian Championship (Serie A1): 9x (2000, 2001 – with Posillipo; 2005 – with Savona; 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 – with Pro Recco)
* Italian Cup (Coppa Italia): 5x (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 – with Pro Recco)

## Awards

* Masterly youth athlete: 1996
* Member of the Hungarian team of year: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008
* Hungarian Water Polo Player of the Year: 1999, 2006
* Member of Hungarian national water polo team in the 20th century (2000)
* World Cup MVP: 2002 Belgrade
* World Cup Top Scorer: 2002 Belgrade
* Honorary Citizen of Budapest (2008)
* LEN Champions League Final Four MVP: 2011
* FINA Aquatics World Magazine – The Best water polo player of the Decade (2010)
* Ministerial Certificate of Merit (2012)
* Immortal member of the Hungarian Association of Athletes (2015)
* Príma díj (2015)
* Member of International Swimming Hall of Fame (2015)

### Orders

* Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2000)
* Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2004)
* Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary with the Star (2008)