Day 9 in Rio2016: Bronze boys
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The 14th of August brought about quite some excitement for Hungarians in Rio2016. The men’s epee team worked very hard the whole day and won a bronze medal in the end, which was more than fascinating. Wrestler Péter Bácsi finished in the 5th place after tough battles, while the men’s water polo team defeated Brazil in the last round of the group phase, thus qualifying to the quarter-finals as the winners of the group.
The first Hungarian wrestler to start his Olympic Games was Péter Bácsi in 75 kg Greco-Roman. He started out so strongly and convincingly that we thought that no one could stop him. Unfortunately, this is not how things go in wrestling and combat sports in general, where the result can change in just a few seconds. He lost the semi-final in a very though and balanced battle so he could try for the bronze medal a few hours later.
He came out confidently but his opponent surprised him with an immediate attack that gave a bad lead. Despite his tries, he couldn’t work off his disadvantage and finished the Rio Olympic Games in the 5th place. “He had four matches, his opponent had two…One wrestles four times, the other two time. He wins a bronze with two won matches and Peti is only the 5th with three wins. It’s crazy” said András Sike, the coach of the World and European Champion wrestler.
On the brighter side, the Hungarian men’s epee team finished the day with a win that meant a bronze medal, more exactly four bronze medals, to Géza Imre, Gábor Boczkó, András Rédli and Péter Somfai. The big dream, of course, was a final and a gold medal, but they had to face the unbeatable French team in the semi-final. The Hungarian team came for a medal and they can now leave with a beautifully shining, well-deserved bronze medal.
“My hair turned grey… András (Rédli) surprised everyone with a hoodlum touch that no one expected, and it gave us a boost. I am so glad that we were able to finish with a win. I am happy and satisfied. It’s no use complain, I am proud of my two medals. Some Koreans even hugged me and told me that this was their last match. I think they also acknowledge what I’ve done” said Géza Imre, who won a silver medal in men’s individual epee.
