Starting with a swimming gold medal, Hungary also won athletics medals in Besztercebánya (Banská Bystrica), Slovakia, at the XVI Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF). The Hungarian team won 24 medals altogether.
Swimmer Tamara Elekes won the first gold medal for the Hungarian delegation. Elekes told MTI after the race that she only found out at the last moment that she could compete in this event after a last-minute substitution, so she did not expect to win, she just wanted to “enjoy” swimming.
The Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) announced on Tuesday that long jumper Bori Rózsahegyi won the long jump with an individual best of 6.16 meters, Ármin Szabadon won the hammer throw and Zalán Deák won the 100 meters flat race. Albert Szirbek won the 1500 meters, while Szabina Szeleczki came second in the 44 kg weight category of Judo. In the 200m butterfly, swimmer Virág Zámbó finished third, as did Dóra Szabó in the 200m backstroke, Hunor Kovács-Seres in the 1500m freestyle, and Alexandra Kovács in the 5000m sprint.
“I am still at a loss for words,” said Tamás Scherer, the Hungarian Athletics Federation’s junior athletics consultant.
During these three hours we went from one amazement to another. The children really gave their best, one medal was brighter than the other. Based on the preliminary start lists, I was confident of good results and that this could be one of our most successful days. But on the track, it is not so easy to live up to expectations, but these youngsters were on top of their game and proved they can handle situations like this. This is very important for the future.”
According to Wednesday’s announcement, swimmer Alex Kováts won the silver medal in the 200m medley final. Luca Mamira finished third in the 52-kilogram weight category of women’s Judo, Gréta Illyés in javelin throwing, and Zoltán Bagi in 100-meter freestyle swimming.
The girls’ handball team was assured of a medal as they reached the final, where they defeated the Danish team 30-26 after a 14-9 half-time score.
The girls’ basketball team won the bronze medal by beating Belgium 57-46 in the second half.
In the morning program of the closing day, the Hungarian delegation won two medals in athletics: the boys’ relay team of Dániel Alexovics, Zalán Deák, Levente Bodrogi, and Péter Fodor finished second, while the girls’ relay team of Petra Lalik, Bori Rózsahegyi, Angéla Ecseri, Sarolta Kriszt, and Laura Balogh finished third.
The Hungarian delegation finished with six gold, nine silver, and nine bronze medals, the third best performance in a tie.
Sources: Nemzeti Sport, Nemzeti Sport, Nemzeti Sport, 168 óra
Featured image: After the victory over Belgium, the Hungarian girls’ basketball team won bronze. Photo via the Facebook page of the Olympic Team Hungary
