33 Hungarians to start in Copenhagen
After conclusion of the short-course nationals on Saturday, Hungary announced its 33-member national team for Copenhagen. Almost all the big stars will start, including Katinka Hosszu, Laszlo Cseh, David Verraszto, Tamas Kenderesi, Dominik Kozma to name a few.
The couple of missing ones are: Olympic champion Daniel Gyurta, world champ bronze medallist relay swimmer Richard Bohus (completing his university studies in Arizona) – and the two most promising juniors, Kristof Milak and Ajna Kesely.
Both youngsters had a tremendously busy summer as they raced at the junior Europeans, FINA Worlds and junior Worlds and they did an outstanding job. Kesely, 16 years old, won 6 golds at the Europeans, made two finals in Budapest and had a gold and three silvers in Indianapolis. 17 year-old Milak had medals from Netanya, clinched silver in the 100m fly in Budapest and earned four golds in Indianapolis – to prevent them from burning out, the coaches agreed with the youngsters that they skip the December meet. Even if they were in a shape to make a splash: they closed the s/c nationals 4 titles apiece, Kesely is 3rd on the European ranks in the 800m free with the time she clocked on Thursday while Milak tops the European ranks in the 200m fly.
Still, Hungary will have plenty medal hopes: besides Hosszu, Cseh, Verraszto and Kenderesi, rejuvenated Peter Bernek (5 titles) clocked a world best time in the 400m IM (eclipsed by Japan’s Kosuke Hagino a day later at the Beijing leg of the World Cup). Olympic bronze medallist Boglarka Kapas is about to regain her old form and Zsuzsanna Jakabos also did a splendid job by amassing 9 titles at the short-course nationals (three individual and six relays). Keep an eye on Dominik Kozma who – while still clearly has some extra kilos around his belly... – captured the 100m free and 100m IM gold and posted a 20.90 anchor leg in one of the 4x50m relays.
Hungary finished atop on the medal table in Netanya 2015 with 11 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.
The Hungarian National Team for Copenhagen
Men
Márton Barta (Szombathely), Péter Bernek (BVSC), Bence Biczó (FTC), László Cseh (Eger), Dániel Dudás (Iron), Dávid Földházi (Iron), Benjámin Grátz (Százhalombatta), Bence Gyárfás (Gy?r), Gergely Gyurta (UTE), Balázs Holló (Eger), Dávid Horváth (K?bánya), Ákos Kalmár (Baja), Tamás Kenderesi (Pécs), Dominik Kozma (BVSC), Dávid Lakatos (Eger), Maxim Lobanovszkij (Gy?r), Nándor Németh (Eger), Bence Szentes (Gy?r), Martin Szöll?si (Dunaferr), Krisztián Takács (Gy?r), Márk Tekauer (DMTK), Ádám Telegdy (K?bánya), Dávid Verrasztó (FTC)
Women
Beatrix Bordás (Hullám 91), Kata Burián (Eger), Fanni Gyurinovics (Gy?r), Katinka Hosszú (Iron), Zsuzsanna Jakabos (Gy?r), Boglárka Kapás (UTE), Réka Nagy (BVSC), Dalma Sebestyén (Gy?r), Liliána Szilágyi (BHSE), Evelyn Verrasztó (BVSC)