European Championship Medal Record Broken in Belgrade

The European Aquatics Championships ended in Belgrade on Sunday evening, with the best result ever for Hungary, writes Index. On Saturday, the Hungarian delegation won three gold medals, while on the last day of the competition Hubert Kós and Ajna Késely won gold, the women’s relay team won silver, and Zalán Sárkány and Boglárka Kapás won bronze. Furthermore, the Hungarian European Championship medal record was broken during the event.

On Saturday, the show started with the men’s 200m butterfly final. Kristóf Milák took the lead immediately and led all the way, but Krzysztof Chmielewski was chasing him and it was a close race.

In the end, Milák won in a very mediocre time of 1:54.43, with Richárd Márton fourth in 1:56.07 behind two Poles.

After 2018 (Glasgow, 1:52.79 min), 2020 (Budapest, 1:51.10) and 2022 (Rome, 1:52.01), the 24-year-old world record holder, Olympic and world champion won the event for the fourth time in a row. In doing so, he equaled the record of the legendary Michael Gross (“the Albatross”), who triumphed in four European Championships in this event between 1981 and 1987.

Meanwhile, Petra Senánszky won the 50m freestyle final,and she set a new national record.

I am very happy, even though this is not the happiest day of my life,” Senánszky said, whose specialty is scuba diving. “It is getting harder and harder, and now I am motivated by the fact that I get a break when I finish. Petra also revealed that after the Tokyo Olympics, she decided to focus on swimming rather than scuba diving, as she was denied a place in Japan due to controversial circumstances surrounding COVID.

The final medal for Hungary was in the 4×200 mix freestyle relay on Saturday. Richárd Márton started, Balázs Holló continued, followed by Minna Ábrahám and finally Nikolett Pádár. The Hungarian team won by three lengths to claim the country’s eighth gold medal in Belgrade.

The finals of the final day were opened by the men’s 1,500m freestyle, postponed from Saturday to Sunday due to the storm, with two Hungarians, Zalán Sárkány and László Gálicz. Up to 900m, it was mainly Ireland’s Nathan Wiffen, who led the field, followed by Sárkány, Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk and Turkey’s Kuzey Tuncelli. However, at 1,000m Tuncelli took the lead, and Sárkány finished third. This was Hungary’s 23rd medal.

Soon after, Boglárka Kapás secured a bronze medal, and the title holder in 200m medley, Hubert Kós, defended the title he won in Rome two years ago, and won the 25th medal of Hungary.

Then, the delegation quickly got the 26th medal, because Ajna Késely won the 400 m freestyle.

She fought a tough battle with Barbora Seemanová of the Czech Republic, but eventually won.

Finally, the women’s 4×100 m mixed relay team of Lora Komoróczy, Eszter Békési, Panna Ugrai, Nikolett Pádár finished second with a national record of 4:01.50 minutes. It was Hungary’s 27th medal, breaking the Hungarian European Championship medal record.

Medal table podium finishers:

1. Hungary 10 gold, 9 silver, 8 bronze,
2. Greece 5, 8, 4,
3. Israel 4, 2, 1.

Via Index; Featured image via MTI/Derencsényi István