Kristóf Milák finished far ahead of his competitors, with a time of 1:51.10, faster than the legendary Michael Phelps’ 1:51.51 record.Continue reading
Hungary has been performing so well in the 200-meter butterfly of the European Aquatics Championships in Budapest that teammates have practically been competing with one another. Boglárka Kapás won a third gold medal for Hungary in the women’s 200-meter, followed suit by Katinka Hosszú.
On the fourth day of the championship, Boglárka Kapás was able to secure an exceptional victory in the finals of the 200-meter butterfly, while Katinka Hosszú was able to follow right after winning silver.
Until the first turn, Kapás had been swimming head-to-head with Hosszú and the other competitors. While the Danish Helena Rosendahl Bach had taken the lead at the 100-meter mark, it was short lived, as Kapás had kicked it into high gear, and was in a noticeably clear lead upon reaching the 150-meter mark.
Boglárka Kapás after winning the women’s 200-meter butterfly (Photo: Tamás Kovács/MTI)
Kapás’ lead had grown by more than a second by the end, and she completed her swim well ahead of her competitors. She was followed by Hosszú at 2:08.14 and the Russian Svetlana Chimrova at 2:08.55. With a time of 2:06.50, Kapás secured the second-best record in the world for 200-meter women’s butterfly in 2021.
I secretly hoped for a personal best, so I am very happy. Nothing is decided in the first 100 (meters), in the third 50 I tried to move ahead, and I felt that I was gaining distance from the others. At that point I felt that there would be no trouble in the last few meters either.”
Not only is this a very impressive time, but it foreshadows a great performance from Kapás at the Tokyo Olympics. Hypothetically, to win in the upcoming Olympics, she would need to secure a time below 2:06.
Boglárka Kapás (left) and Katinka Hosszú show their gold and silver medals after the European Aquatics Championships’ announcement of results for the women’s 200-meter butterfly (Photo: Tamás Kovács/MTI)
Hosszú, with a time of 2:08.14, felt that she was a bit disappointed, saying she did not give it her all. She said that she should have started faster in the first 100 meters, but instead adapted to the others. Hosszú should not be too hard on herself, as she has held the 200-meter butterfly European record of 2:04.27 since 2009.
Hungarian athletes have all performed very well in the Duna Arena, and 2021 is off to a good start. One day prior to this victory, Kristóf Milák won gold in the men’s 200-meter butterfly, as had Katinka Hosszú in the women’s 400-meter individual medley on day one.
In the featured photo, the victorious Boglárka Kapás at the announcement of results for the women’s 200 meter butterfly at the European Aquatics Championships in Budapest’s Duna Arena on May 20, 2021. Featured photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI