Pentathlon: Mixed Relay Team Wins European Championship Title

Gold medalists Mihály Koleszár and Rita Erdős (L-R)

Starting from the last place in the combined event, Rita Erdős and Mihály Koleszár won the gold medal in the mixed relay at the European Modern Pentathlon Championships in Budapest. In addition both the women’s and the men’s team won bronze medals.

On Sunday morning, nine duos started the competition in the BOK Sports Hall. After the riding event, the Hungarians completed the 2x100m with a best time of 1:58.56 at the swimming pool next to the Aladár Gerevich National Sports Hall. However, they could only start from eighth place in the combined event, in which the relay teams had to run 3x600m each, interrupted by pistol shooting. The Hungarian relay team was 33 seconds behind the bronze medalists and 36 seconds behind the Italian leaders. Mihály Koleszár closed the gap in no time, and then ran at a huge pace to finish with a considerable lead over the Italians and Lithuanians.

The combined race was won by the Hungarians in 11:56.66.

“We have been through hell and now we have reached the top,” emphasized Rita Erdős, who went on to say that it was definitely a good way to end the season. “We had a tough day, but we tried to keep smiling throughout. (…) For me, this European Championships was a step into the senior ranks, because bronze, silver and now gold, three medals, a good start,” stressed Koleszár.

In the women’s event, the Hungarian team of Rita Erdős, Sarolta Simon, Kamilla Réti won the bronze medal.In the 18-strong final, the Italians came out on top. The Hungarians were ahead of the British. Out of the three Hungarians, only two competed in the individual event:

Rita Erdős was sixth and Sarolta Simon ninth.

In her post-race assessment, Erdős said that her riding and swimming went well. She rode her favourite horse flawlessly and then swam her best. “The pistol shooting was not good,” she added. Fighting back tears, she told MTI that she was happy to have competed at home, but that she would not be one of the three Hungarian women who qualified for the Olympics in Paris.

In the final of the 18-man event, the Italians finished on the top of the podium, with the Ukrainians taking silver and the Hungarians (Mihály Koleszár, Richárd Bereczki and József Tamás) winning the bronze medal. Koleszár was fourth in the individual, Bereczki ninth and Tamás 16th.

“It felt good to race in front of a home crowd, parents and family. Although I did not win a medal in the individual event, it was still a great experience.I am happy with the team medal,” Koleszár underlined after the finish.

Hungary has won five medals at the European Modern Pentathlon Championships. Two relay teams (men: Mihály Koleszár and Richárd Bereczki; women: Blanka Guzi and Noémi Eszes) won the first two medals on Monday. The men’s duo finished second, while the women’s relay team won bronze.

Via MTI; Featured image via MTI/Kovács Tamás