“Athletes of the Year”: Hosszu and Gyurta

(MTI) – Two world champion swimmers, Daniel Gyurta and Katinka Hosszu, have been elected Hungary’s Athletes of the Year. The winners were selected by the country’s sports journalists for the 56th time. The awards were handed over to the winners in a gala evening in Budapest’s Syma Hall on Thursday evening.

Gyurta, 24, triumphed in the 200-metre breaststroke final of the Barcelona World Championships to become the Athlete of the Year for the third time.

Hosszu, 24, collected two gold medals in Barcelona (200m and 400m medley), and topped the overall points competition in the World Cup series, scoring altogether 32 gold medals.

The men’s national water-polo team triumphed in the team category while its trainer, Tibor Benedek, was voted best national coach. The men’s water-polo team also triumphed in the world championship with Benedek at his helm. During his career as a player, the 41-year-old trainer won three Olympic gold medals as well as world and European champion’s titles.

American swimming trainer Shane Tusup was elected the top coach of the year. Shane Tusup, who is Hosszu’s coach and husband, became the first foreign winner of the title, which has been awarded since 1958.

Photo: MTI – László Beliczay