A graduate of England’s Oxford University, Dr. Leo Donath is referred to as “the administrative genius behind FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur/International Swimming Federation).” As its honorable secretary and treasurer, he ran the world swimming organization from 1928 until his death in 1941.
An outstanding swimmer himself—Donath swam for Oxford University’s swim team—he defeated two-time Hungarian Olympic sprint champion Zoltan de Halmay, in a 1906 event.

In 1911, Donath was one of the founders of the Hungarian Swimming Association. Through Donath’s initiative, the European Swimmers League was established in 1925, and he was elected its first secretary general and treasurer. Based upon his suggestion, the first European Swimming Championships were staged in 1926.