3500 volunteers will assist the organisers of the 17th FINA World Championships

The first training session for volunteers at the 17th FINA World Championships and the following 17th Masters World Championships kicked off on April 23, 2017. More than 8000 people have joined the volunteer programme by BP2017 so far, after the selection process about 3500 volunteers will assist the organisers of the WCH and participating athletes.

The greatest sporting event of all times in Hungary will take place between 14 and 30 July, 2017 in Budapest and Balatonfüred. Millions will follow the FINA World Championships and the following Masters WCH worldwide.

The 800 volunteers taking part in the first session were welcomed by dr. Tünde Szabó, Minister of State for Sport, who said, „It has always been clear for us that we are able to unite and face challenges but this time we have the opportunity to prove that nothing is impossible for us and to show what our nation was meant for” – she added that April 23 marked the first day of the preparation programme for volunteers, who wish to be part of this wonder and are eager to pursue active roles in this global event through their assistance and effort.

Tamás Gyárfás, Vice President of the International Swimming Federation said briefly that now he really feels that the WCH are approaching.

Lajos Mocsai, Dean of the University of Physical Education (TF), responsible for the organisation and training of volunteers pointed out that -professionalism rather than perfectionism shall be sought. The Dean has emphasized and asked volunteers to understand that they are the real managers in their own areas. Finally, he wished that in the future they would think back to this period as one of the most remarkable and unforgettable experiences in their lives.

Éva Szántó, Executive Director at Bp2017 Nonprofit Ltd. informed in her presentation that seven thousand accredited participants are expected to the WCH between 14 and 30 July, 2017 whereas the number of athletes expected to the Masters WCH between 7 and 20 August, 2017 is around 12-14 thousand.

Highly coordinated work by volunteers is a prerequisite for organising the WCH efficiently. Thanks to the recruitment (started last July) and to effective publicity more than 8000 people have registered already, coming from all over the world. About 3500 volunteers will assist organisers and athletes during the WCH. The planning and delivery of volunteer programme by BP2017 is conforming to the methodology of international global tournaments. The online registration platform for volunteers of the BP2017 Volunteer Programme has been available since June, 2016, volunteers joining the programme may choose from 30 areas and 6 disciplines.

The training for volunteers consists of a whole-day General Training and Specialised Trainings. The training is obligatory for all volunteers. During the General Training volunteers learn about national and international federations, associations related to the FINA WCH, disciplines and venues, the guests and target groups of the WCH, the conduct of the event, international protocol, cultural differences and conflict management.

Organisers have received a lot of positive feedback from the participants of the first training session. Ágota Dorottya Demeter travelled straight from Brussels to the event: „It was a truly elevating and inspiring experience for me. I believe that those who had any doubts before the training are now convinced that it was worth taking the plunge and start this adventure, as we will become part of something remarkable. Presentations have demonstrated that this team can accomplish the impossible, we can organise and conduct such a great event in half of the usual time.”

The second and third training sessions will take place on 29 and 30 April, 2017 in Budapest Kongresszusi Központ.

The 17th FINA World Championships taking place in Budapest and Balatonfüred between 14 and 30 July, 2017 are one of the most complex sporting event in the world. Athletes of six discipline will compete in five venues while the WCH operations must at all times be smooth and fluent. In addition to sporting venues, volunteers will have to assist at the airport, in hotels, training venues, conference and media centres.

FINA – Budapest2017: Danube Arena welcomed Olympic and world champion guests – VIDEOS

One of them is preparing for the 17th World Championships to be held in Budapest with a new coach, another one with a packet of parmesan and the third one with a camera in his hand. They look up to different athletes as their role models, namely Therese Alshammar, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, respectively. One of them loved swimming from the very first moment, the second one does not even like cold water up to now and the third one did not dare to get into the shower at all in his childhood. What is common in the trio of Sarah Sjöström, Gregorio Paltrinieri and Adam Peaty? All three claimed Olympic gold medal in Rio and all of them won the World Championships in Kazan – and they were the first international swimmers the new Danube Arena welcomed.

The three greats swimmers arrived in Hungary, more precisely in Danube Arena at the invitation of Arena, the official partner of FINA. All of them may play key roles at the 17th FINA World Championships this summer. Seizing the opportunity of the one-day photo-shooting they looked around in the newly built arena and tried the pool, in which they hope to achieve outstanding results in July.

“The swimming pool is awesome and I was glad to see it before the World Championships” said Sarah Sjöström, Olympic champion of Rio in 100 m butterfly. She is the first female Swedish swimmer who could win individual Olympic gold medal. Since last November she has been preparing with a new coach, and apparently it was a change for the better as Sjöström is leading the world ranking in four events. “Certainly the priority is still 50 and 100 m butterfly, but we have started to work on my sprint technique in freestyle which has already proved to be effective, because in Stockholm I swam my personal best in both 50 and 100 m freestyle. I am looking forward to seeing what I can achieve through hard work in freestyle in the World Championships.”

Though her programme has extended, Sarah does not plan to follow in the footsteps of all-around swimmer, Katinka Hosszú: “The Iron Lady is one of a kind. I will stick to the four sprint events, because regeneration takes much time between the events. Moreover, Katinka competes in the most demanding events, incredible!’

“I am absolutely fascinated by the Arena, it is extremely spacious, the lights are good” Gregorio Paltrinieri went into raptures about Danube Arena. The Olympic champion in 1500 freestyle was delighted not only about his visit to Budapest, but also because his favourite team, Juventus, went on to the semi-final in the UEFA Champions League. “I was there in Torino, when we defeated Barca by 3-0. It was a wonderful experience and a huge victory!” Looking for new challenges Paltrinieri recently tried himself in open water and he finished fourth in 10 km of the European Cup in Eilat. “I liked it very much and I am planning to enter more open water races later, but definitely not in the World Championships. There I will compete only in the pool in 800 and 1500 m freestyle.” As for the preparation, no surprise, as an Italian, in addition to trainings he cares about what to put in his baggage. “I am not going anywhere without some parmesan cheese. I somehow manage to find some pasta abroad, but the original Parmigiano Reggiano is available in Italy only, so I always take some with me wherever I go.”

Adam Peaty, who won Olympic gold medal in 100 m breaststroke in Rio as the first male British swimmer after 28 years, took advantage of the opportunity to see the new Danube Arena, he even made some video recordings. “I am a visual person pretty much, I like to observe venues I am about to compete in, I watched a lot of 360 videos of Rio back then, as well. Now I am glad to be here. The Arena is beautiful, it is spacious and bright. The grandstands can seat a huge amount of fans which definitely inspires me. As soon as I saw the pool I knew that it would be a fast one” he said, while looking around fascinated.

Although he claimed world-leading times both in 50 and 100 m breaststroke at the British Championships held last week, Peaty hit the headlines after giving away his latest gold medal to a 10-year-old young fan. “He was screaming my name and asking for an autograph, but I did not have a pen, I could not give anything else but my medal” told the Brits’ flower. “That is what sport is about, giving inspiration for the younger generation. If that medal inspires him for a week, a year or four years, I will be glad, since it is part of our job as sportsmen.”

Adam Peaty was popular among the kids training in Danube Arena, too, and he was pleased to stop even for a selfie. Whether another young fan could be happy for getting a medal from him in the World Championships this summer, “depends on how many medals I win” smiled Peaty whose target will definitely be world record in Budapest.

Hungarian World Championships team has been announced after the national championships

The Hungarian swimming championships finished on Saturday evening and an hour later Csaba Sós, the national coach announced the hosts’ team for the 17th FINA World Championships to be held in July in Budapest. It seems that in the history of the championships Hungary delegates competitors for all events.

The Hungarian swimming championships were held in Debrecen, which city had organized European Championships in 2012. All of the top swimmers of Hungary participated at the event, since it was qualification race for the World Championships.

The Iron Lady, 3-time Olympic champion Katinka Hosszú started at all events in women’s competition. She claimed 6 gold medals, even though she considered the national championships only as one step towards the World Championships in summer. ‘I did not plan to swim world-leading time of 2:09.38, I did not feel how good form I was in, but it gives me plus motivation’ said Katinka after the 200 m individual medley.

Katinka Hosszú, the Iron Lady – Photo: MTI

Boglárka Kapás also performed the best time of this year’s in 1500 m freestyle with 16:04.19, however the Olympic bronze medallist of 800 m freestyle in Rio was not perfectly satisfied, since she planned to go under 16 minutes. Kapás also claimed gold in 800 m freestyle on the last day of the championships to celebrate her birthday in her hometown. In 400 m freestyle 15-ear-old multiple junior European champion Ajna Késely finished first with top10 time in the world ranking. She qualified for the WCH team earlier in 1500 m freestyle.

Boglárka Kapás, photo: MTI

As of men’s competition 17-year-old Nándor Németh broke the national record in 100 m freestyle and with his time of 48.64 he got into top10 in the world ranking. However, based on Csaba Sós’s decision, he will only compete in relay events in the 17th FINA World Championships in order to be able to reach top form for the Junior World Championships to be held at the end of August where he has real chance even for gold.

Photo: MTI

Dániel Gyurta, Olympic champion of London in 200 m breaststroke claimed all three gold medals of breaststroke events and he qualified for these individual events in the World Championships. László Cseh, who won silver medal in the memorable 3-membered tie in 100 m butterfly in Rio (with Michael Phelps and Chad le Clos) was surprisingly defeated in this event by 16-year-old Kristóf Milák, but Cseh started training only at the beginning of the year because he had a longer relaxation period after Rio. In 200 m butterfly Tamás Kenderesi, the bronze medallist of Rio claimed gold and qualified for the World Championships besides László Cseh.

Here is the World Championships roster that can even be extended until the end of the qualification period (5 July), but as Csaba Sós, the national coach emphasized the members of the confirmed list are so called ‘secured’.

Men

50m freestyle: Krisztián Takács, Maxim Lobanovszkij
100m freestyle: Richárd Bohus, Dominik Kozma
200m freestyle: Dominik Kozma, Péter Bernek
400m freestyle: Péter Bernek
800m freestyle: Gergely Gyurta
1500m freestyle: Kristóf Rasovszky
50m backstroke: Richárd Bohus
100m backstroke: Gábor Balog
200m backstroke: Ádám Telegdy, Péter Bernek
50m breaststroke: Dániel Gyurta (Gábor Financsek)
100m breaststroke: Dániel Gyurta
200m breaststroke: Dániel Gyurta
50m butterfly: László Cseh
100m butterfly: László Cseh, Kristóf Milák
200m butterfly: László Cseh, Tamás Kenderesi
200m medley: László Cseh, Dávid Verrasztó
400m medley: Dávid Verrasztó, Gergely Gyurta

Relay

4x100m freestyle: Nándor Németh, Dominik Kozma, Richárd Bohus, Péter Holoda
4x200m freestyle: Dominik Kozma, Péter Bernek, Kristóf Milák, Benjámin Grátz
4x100m medley: Gábor Balog, Dániel Gyurta, László Cseh, Nándor Németh

Women

50m freestyle: Flóra Molnár
100m freestyle: Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Katinka Hosszú (Evelyn Verrasztó)
200m freestyle: Katinka Hosszú, Boglárka Kapás (Ajna Késely, Evelyn Verrasztó)
400m freestyle: Boglárka Kapás, Katinka Hosszú (Ajna Késely)
800m freestyle: Boglárka Kapás, Katinka Hosszú (Ajna Késely)
1500m freestyle: Boglárka Kapás, Ajna Késely
50m backstroke: Katinka Hosszú (Sára Joó)
100m backstroke: Katinka Hosszú
200m backstroke: Katinka Hosszú, Kata Burián
50m breaststroke: Katinka Hosszú (Anna Sztankovics)
100m breaststroke: Anna Sztankovics
200m breaststroke: Dalma Sebestyén
50m butterfly: Flóra Molnár
100m butterfly: Liliána Szilágyi
200m butterfly: Liliána Szilágyi , Katinka Hosszú (Zsuzsanna Jakabos)
200m medley: Katinka Hosszú, Zsuzsanna Jakabos
400m medley: Katinka Hosszú, Zsuzsanna Jakabos

Relay

4x100m freestyle: Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Katinka Hosszú, Evelyn Verrasztó, Flóra Molnár
4x200m freestyle: Katinka Hosszú, Boglárka Kapás, Ajna Késely, Evelyn Verrasztó
4x100m medley: Katinka Hosszú, Anna Sztankovics, Liliána Szilágyi , Zsuzsanna Jakabos

Liliána Szilágyi, photo: MTI

Mixed relay

4x100m freestyle: Nándor Németh, Dominik Kozma, Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Evelyn Verrasztó
4x100m medley:

1. Gábor Balog, Dániel Gyurta, Liliána Szilágyi , Zsuzsanna Jakabos
2. Katinka Hosszú, Anna Sztankovics, László Cseh, Nándor Németh

Photos: MTI

Legendary golden water polo team of Hungary is back! – FINA Masters – Budapest2017

One of the most eagerly awaited event of the 17th FINA Masters World Championships will be the water polo 40+ tournament. This category will feature several players of the legendary golden water polo team of Hungary, including three, two and one-time Olympic champions. The motivation is already high, the experience will most definitely be remarkable in the water and in the stands alike.

Shortly after the agreement was signed on Budapest hosting the 2017 FINA World Championships and the following Masters World Championships the eyes of Tamás Kásás, three-time Olympic champion alighted. The legendary water polo player -member of the national team earning the Olympic champion title in 2000, 2004 and 2008- is the only member of the previous team who is not engaged in this discipline any more hence it is even more surprising that he was the one to initiate the reunion of the „good old team”.

Sometimes we could see some occasions when they played together again, they last reunited in 2016 autumn for the farewell gala match of Péter Biros in Eger. Back then they all knew that they would soon be preparing for a new challenge. The previous months have seen intense communication and enthusiastic preparation by the team.

Here is the list of players who have registered for the Masters WCH so far:

Tibor Benedek, Péter Biros, Rajmund Fodor, István Gergely, Tamás Kásás, dr. Gergely Kiss, Tamás Märcz, dr. Tamás Molnár, dr. Barnabás Steinmetz, Zoltán Szécsi, Bulcsú Székely, Tamás Varga, Zsolt Varga, Attila Vári. Coaches: dr. Dénes Kemény, Zoltán Kósz

Tamás Märcz will definitely have a busy summer as he is the head coach of the hosting national team preparing for the elite world championships and afterwards he will enter the pool as a member of the team called Millenium in the Masters.

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„We have been dealing with this opportunity for months, so it did not just bounce off our heads. We had several reasons to enter the tournament, the most important thing is that Budapest is to host the Masters WCH so we can play again in front of our own audience. For another thing, we are now part of the 40+ age group, we have matured. Gala matches we have played together lately have also given us a boost. These include for instance the gala in Eger or Debrecen, organised by Tamás Varga earlier. These are nice experiences from the recent past. Although most of us are not active players any more, it was not so long ago when we were, so we can get back in shape relatively fast” – said the center player of the squad claiming gold in Sydney.

As a matter of fact, from the list above it is only Gergely Kiss, who is still an active player, Barnabás Steinmetz played in Honvéd team back in the early season while Zoltán Szécsi enter the pool every now and then as the player-coach of Kaposvár to prove his skills as a goalie – all the others have retired from the sport already.

„This tournament will have a sort of farewell character to it, since the team retired we have not played a match in Budapest with this squad. Personally I have been training to stay in shape ever since, but today I have started wet trainings in BVSC. We cannot afford to enter the tournament unprepared, in addition, we have always aimed at doing our best in the pool. Until we start training together, we motivate one another by sharing our training experiences. No one wants to miss out on this opportunity as we all want to gain some good experience” –Tamás Märcz added.

Two-time Olympic champion in Athens and Beijing, István Gergely is very proud that all Olympic champion members (within the 40+ age group) have agreed to undertake this test together.

„This is actually an ultra last opportunity for us all, who won Olympic and world champion titles and collected some precious metals together, to reunite. I owe a lot to these players and I can’t wait to fight for a common goal again. It will be quite interesting to play together again, to take the positions with a more mature mindset and extensive experience. The mere fact that we can enter an official event once more is a great opportunity and a big challenge” – said István Gergely, working as the managing director of Budapest Honvéd currently.

„I don’t really feel like a 40+ but reading or coming across this number has a certain weight. I keep fit to stay healthy but I haven’t been engaged in swimming or water polo for a while. I have been playing basketball, boxing and working out but now I need to change my trainings. I am planning to start swimming again in May and I will slowly get back on track. I expect some great community experiences I look forward to seeing the old fire light up in us, just like in each world championship before, helping us to succeed. Obviously, our goal is victory, it would be rather weird to lower our expectations to ourselves in a team where the entry ticket is an Olympic champion title” – said István Gergely.

There is a huge interest in the Masters (more than 7000 athletes have registered so far) hence in the water polo tournament, as well. According to the latest information some members of the Russian team (2004 Olympic bronze squad) playing Hungary in the final and claiming a silver in Sydney may participate in the tournament thus the Masters tournament in Hajós Alfréd Swimming Stadium on Margaret island may see the partial repeat of the 2000 Olympic final.

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Photo: MVLSZ/FINA-Budapest2017

The FINA World Championships is a great opportunity to increase the popularity of the Balaton

tihany-balatonfüred

Balatonfüred will be a key venue for the 17th FINA World Championships and the FINA World Masters Championships this summer. The event could have a great impact on the development of not only the city but the whole region. Balázs Balassa, president of the Lake Balaton Association and mayor of Szigliget agrees.

The 2017 FINA World Championships will be the biggest sport event in Hungary’s history, and Balatonfüred will be one of the venues. How big opportunity is that for the region and how can it benefit from the event?

Every event that helps make the Lake Balaton more popular among the sports fans around the world is very important. The World Championships is a great opportunity to increase the popularity of the Balaton. We, who live in the region exactly know that this beautiful lake and the surroundings, as well as the high-quality services around the lake make this area perfect for both recreation and active tourism. It is the responsibility of us and the organisers to keep and even improve more this positive image in connection with the World Championships.

Open water swimming has a great tradition around the Lake Balaton, we can think of the Bay Swim of Baron Miklós Wesselényi, the famous swim of Kálmán Szekrényessy or the major open water events in Balatonfüred (World Cup, Junior World Championships, European Cup). Can we say that Balatonfüred is a cultic venue of this sport?

I think we can confirm that open water swimming has great tradition in every cities and villages around the Lake Balaton. Balatonfüred has already proved in other areas as well that it vivificates the traditions and has an important role in utilizing them. Füred has shown in recent years that it can organise open water events in a very high level, providing the athletes some memorable days during the competitions.

Do you think the World Championships can help the process of boosting quality tourism in the region? Athletes, family members and fans will arrive from all over the world, also from countries where the Lake Balaton has not been well known yet.

As I mentioned, the Lake Balaton region is already appropriate for quality tourism, and the ongoing developments will further improve the situation. The World Championships will stimulate this process. The event is a great opportunity for Balatonfüred and the lake to make the region more popular internationally. The leaders and inhabitants of Balatonfüred, as well as the inhabitants of the region can not wait for the World Championships, because they are aware of its long-term positive effects on the local tourism.

The FINA World Championships will be followed by the FINA World Masters Championships in August, where senior athletes will compete in different disciplines, like open water swimming. There will be much more athletes in Balatonfüred in that period than in July, so can we say that in a sense it will be an even more significant event?

In my view both events will be very important for different reasons. I am sure that for organisers the perfect organisation will be evenly vital at both events. Regarding the communication the FINA World and the FINA World Masters are of course different. The former will be highly represented in the media, but the large number of participants at the FINA Masters will have the chance to gain personal experience in a major event.

How important is the sport in general for the development of the Lake Balaton region?

I think the sport is the most important factor in making the youth more healthy-minded. There are lots of high-standard sports fields around the lake, which are eligible for almost all kinds of sports. Our goal is to help the locals and the tourists find this form of recreation. Active tourism has developed a lot in the region. More and more municipalities are developing their services in connection of sports. The FINA World and the FINA World Masters will be a good example how important role sports can play in the development of the region.

Do you plan to attend the events of the World Championships?

Yes, I would like to enjoy the atmosphere of such a great event. The World Championships is very important for me as a local citizen and as a leading person of the region.

The Lake Balaton will host the open water swimming events, but do you have favourite athletes of other sports as well? Swimmers or water polo players for example?

The members of the Szívós family have strong connections with Szigliget, my home village. I have followed the great results of all the Szívós generations proudly as the mayor of Szigliget. I am a big fan of Márton Szivós, who is still an active water polo player.

People know that you really like sports. Have you done any sports in your life, and which ones do you regularly follow as a fan?

That is true, I am a real sports fan, but the sport has been rather a hobby for me for a while. I used to try a couple of sports, like handball, table tennis and football, but my sport has been jogging for some years. I like to watch every kind of sports, especially when I have the opportunity to support Hungarian athletes.

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Photo: http://masters.fina-budapest2017.com

88 days until the world championships: updated swimming world ranking

We have 88 days left until the start of the 17th FINA World Championships and these days world rankings are changing minute by minute. Still, we intend to provide a momentary status report about where the top competitors are at the moment.

April is very busy for swimmers, since some of the powerhouses organise their national championships this month, such as Australia, Russia, Japan, Italy, China or even Hungary (19-22 April in Debrecen).

The best swimmers of the world fight for making the world championships team and improving the number 1 times continuously.

As for men, the year of 2017 brought a world record already in January, when in 200 m breaststroke 20-year-old Japanese Ippei Watanabe broke the previous record with a time of 2:06.67 in Tokyo.

Since then there has not been any world records, only national ones. Last time on Friday Russian Vladimir Morozov swam a Russian record in 50 m freestyle with 21.44. Australian Cameron McEvoy also excelled in the Australian Championships, he owns the best time in the ‘top event’, 100 m freestyle.

Sun Yang shone in the Chinese, Chad Le Clos in the SouthAfrican and Evgeny Rylov in the Russian championships. Also, Adam Peaty swam excellent times in 100 and 200 m breaststroke in March in a competition held in Indianapolis.

There is a Hungarian world ranking leader, too, namely Dávid Verrasztó, who holds the number 1 time of 2017 in 400 individual medley with a time of 4:10.01. However, two Japanese swimmers went close to him on Day 1 of the Japanese championships.

Latest men’s world ranking times:

50 m freestyle:

1. Vladimir Morozov (Russian) 21.44 Moscow, 14 April. (Russian Championships)
2. Cameron McEvoy (Australian) 21.55 Brisbane, 13 April. (Australian Championships)
3. Evgeny Sedov (Rusdian) 21.74 Moscow, 14 April. (Russian Championships)

100 m freestyle:

1. Cameron McEvoy (Australian) 47.91 Brisbane, 9 April. (Australian Championships)
2. Nathan Adrian (US) 48.18 Mesa, 13 April (Arena Pro Swim Series)
2. Kyle Chambers (Australian) 48.20 Brisbane, 12 April. (Australian Championships)

200 m freestyle:

1. Sun Yang (Chinese) 1:44.91 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)
2. Gabriele Detti (Italian) 1:46.38 Riccione, 6 April. (Italian Champs)
3. Shun Wang 1:46.57 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)

400 m freestyle:

1. Sun Yang (Chinese) 3:42.16 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)
2. Gabriele Detti (Italy) 3:43.36 Riccione, 6 April. (Italian Champs)
3. Mack Horton (Australian) 3:44.18 Brisbane, 9 April (Australian Championships)

800 m freestyle:

1. Gabriele Detti (Italian) 7:41.64 Riccione, 6 April. (Italian Champs)
2. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italian) 7:47.27 Riccione, 6 April (Italian Champs)
3. Sun Yang (Chinese) 7:48.33 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)

1500 m freestyle:

1. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italian) 14:37.08 Riccione, 6 April (Italian Champs)
2. Gabriele Detti (Italian) 14:48.21 Milan, 11 March. (VII. Milano Trophy)
3. Mack Horton (Australian) 14:51.21 Brisbane, 9 April (Australian Championships)

50 m backstroke:

1. Evneny Rylov (Russian) 24.52 Moscow, 8 April. (Russian Championships)
2. Junya Koga (Japanese) 24.53 Sydney, 3 March (New South Wales Open)
3. Marek Ulrich (German) 24.90 Eindhoven, 6 April (Swim Cup)

100 m backstroke:

1. Jiayu Xu (Chinese) 51.86 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)
2. Evgeny Rylov (Russian) 53.13 Moscow, 8 April. (Russian Championships)
3. Matt Grevers (US) 53.31 Austin, 15 January (Arena Pro Swim Series)

200 m backstroke:

1. Evgeny Rylov (Russian) 1:53.81.Moscow, 13 April. (Russian Championships)
2. Jiayu Xu (Chinese) 1:55.04 Indianapolis, 3 March. (Arena Pro Swim Series)
3. Kliment Koleshnikov (Russian) 1:54.49 Moscow, 13 April (Russian Championships)

50 m breaststroke:

1. Adam Peaty (British) 26.86 Indianapolis, 3 March. (Arena Pro Swim Series)
2. Nicolo Martinenghi (Italian) 26.97 Riccione, 6 April. (Italian Champs)
3. Kirill Prygoda (Russian) 27.12 Moscow, 8 April. (Russian Championships)

100 m breaststroke:

1. Adam Peaty (British) 58.86 Indianapolis, 4 March. (Arena Pro Swim Series)
2. Zibei Yan (Chinese) 58.92 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)
3. Yasuhiro Koseki (Japanese) 59.26 Aichi, 13 April (Japanese Champs)

200 m breaststroke:

1. Ippei Watanabe (Japanese) 2:06.67 Tokyo, 27 January (Kitajima Cup)
2. Erik Persson (Swedish) 2:07.85 Stockholm, 8 April (Swim Open)
3. Anton Chupkov (Russian) 2:08.03 Moscow, 8 April (Russian Championships)

50 m butterfly:

1. Oleg Kostin (Russian) 23.27 Moscow, 8 April (Russian Championships)
2. Benjamin Proud (British) 23.29 Marseilles, 3 April (Golden Tour)
3. Zhuhao Li (Chinese) 23.36 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)

100 m butterfly:

1. Chad Le Clos (South African) 51.29 Durban, 7 April (SA National Aquatic Championships)
2. Zhuhao Li (Chinese) 51.34 Indianapolis, 2 March. (Arena Pro Swim Series)
3. David Morgan (Australian) 51.81 Brisbane, 9 April (Australian Championships)

200 m butterfly:

1. Chad Le Clos (South African) 1:55.00 Durban, 5 April. (SA National Aquatic Championships)
2. Zhuhao Li (Chinese) 1:55.09 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)
3. Kenderesi Tamás (Hungarian) 1:55.20 Nizza, 4 February (Golden Tour)

200 m medley:

1. David Morgan (Australian) 1:55.70 Brisbane, 9 April. (Australian Championships)
2. Irvine Grant (Australian) 1:56.05 Brisbane, 9 April (Australian Championships)
3. Shun Wang (Chinese) 1:56.16 Qingdae, 8 April (Chinese Champs)

400 m medley:

1. Verrasztó Dávid (Hungarian) 4:10.01 Marseilles, 3 March (Golden Tour)
2. Daiya Seto (Japanese) 4:10.22 Indianapolis, 3 March (Arena Pro Swim Series)
3. Kosuke Hagino (Japanese) 4:10.45 Aichi, 13 April (Japenese Champs)

Photo: MTi

Women’s swimming world ranking

Let us see the curiosities while examining the women’s rankings! In the contrary of men there was no big bang at the beginning of the year, moreover there has not been any world record until now. (We do hope that the best swimmers save their best for July.)

90 percent of top3 competitors swam their time this month, since many national championships were or are being held in April, which are world championships qualification races as well.

Swedish Sarah Sjostrom, who won 100 m butterfly with world record time in Rio, is present on the lists more times, she owns the best time this year in 50 and 100 m freestyle, 50 and 100 butterfly.

Speaking about freestyle we must mention Katie Ledecky, who swept in Kazan and in Rio, won from 200 m to 1500 m in the world championships and from 200 m to 800 m in the Olympics. Now she leads only in the ranking of 400 and 800 m, but Ledecky had her first race in an Olympic-size pool since Rio Games last week, and she must tune her up for the American Championships in June and certainly for the world championships in July.

This week many Chinese and Japanese swimmers forged ahead in the rankings, since their national championships were held then, Chinese excelled in backstroke, Japanese in butterfly and medley events.

Hungary is represented by Boglárka Kapás, who owns third best time this year in 1500 m freestyle. She wrote her time of 16:12.86 in Golden Tour Marseilles in March, but the Hungarian National Swmimming championships will take place on 19-22 April, so some excellent Hungarian results are expected by the end of next week.

In the world rankings besides the above-mentioned swimmers there are well-known names such as Mireia Belmonte Garcia, Yulia Efimova or Emily Seebohm, but rising teenage stars have emerged as well, such as Australian Ariarne Titmus or Italian Simona Quadarella, who both excelled in longer freestyle events in their own national championships. It will worth to watch them in the world championships either.

50 m freestyle

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 23.83 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
2. Pernille Blume (DEN) 24.14 Danish Open Bronshoj 03.04.2017
3. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 24.34 Swim Cup The Hague 04.03.2017

100 m freestyle

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 52.54 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
2. Cate Campbell (AUS) 52.78 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017
3. Bronte Campbell (AUS) 52.85 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017

200 m freestyle

1. Michelle Coleman (SWE) 1:55.64 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
2. Emma McKeon (AUS) 1:55.68 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017
3. Frederica Pellegrini (ITA) 1:55.94 Italian Champs Riccione 06.04.2017

400 m freestyle

1. Katie Ledecky (USA) 4:01.01 Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa 13.04.2017
2. Li Bingjie (CHN) 4:02.52 Chinese Champs Quindae 08.04.2017
3. Ariarne Titmus (AUS) 4:04.82 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017

800 m freestyle

1. Katie Ledecky (USA) 8:15.44 Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa 04.15.2017
2. Ariarne Titmus (AUS) 8:23.08 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017
3. Simona Quadarella (ITA) 8:25.08 Italian Champs Riccione 06.04.2017

1500 m freestyle

1. Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP) 16:08.73 Spanish Championships Pontevedra 01.04.2017
2. Simona Quadarella (ITA)16:10.66 Italian Champs Riccione 06.04.2017
3. Kapás Boglárka (HUN) 16:12.86 Golden Tour Marseilles 03.03.2017

50 m backstroke

1. Fu Yuanhui (CHN) 27.36 Chinese Champs Quindae 04.08.2017
2. Xueer Wang (CHN) 27.55 Chinese Champs Quindae 04.08.2017
3. Xiang Liu (CHN) 27.56 Chinese Champs Quindae 04.08.2017

100 m backstroke

1. Kylie Masse (CAN) 58.21 Canadian Champs Victoria 06.04.2017
2. Emily Seebohm (AUS) 58.62 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017
3. Yuanhui Fu (CHN) 58.72 Chinese Champs Quindae 08.04.2017

200 m backstroke

1. Emily Seebohm (AUS) 2:07.03 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017
2. Daria K Ustinova (RUS) 2:07.23 Russian Championships Moscow 08.04.2017
2. Kylie Masse (CAN) 2:07.23 Canadian Champs Victoria 06.04.2017

50 m breaststroke

1. Yulia Efimova (RUS) 29.88 Russian Championships Moscow 08.04.2017
2. Jennie Johansson (SWE) 30.39 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
3. Satomi Suzuki (kínai) 30.66 Chinese Champs Quindae 08.04.2017

100 m breaststroke

1. Yulia Efimova (RUS) 1:05.90 Russian Championships Moscow 08.04.2017
2. Jennie Johansson (SWE) 1:06.30 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
3. Katie Meili (USA) 1:06.37 Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa 04.15.2017

200 m breaststroke

1. Yulia Efimova (RUS) 2:23.17 Russian Championships Moscow 08.04.2017
2. Taylor McKeown (AUS) 2:23.58 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017
3. Chloe Tutton (GBR) 2:23.89 Arena Pro Swim Series Indianapolis 03.04.2017

50 m butterfly

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 24.96 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
2. Rikako Ikee (JPN) 25.51 Japanese Champs Aichi 04.13.2017
3. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 25.84 Swim Cup Eindhoven 06.04.2017

100 m butterfly

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 56.26 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
2. Rikako Ikee (JPN) 56.89 10th Tokyo Swminning Championships 28.01.2017
3. Emma McKeon (AUS) 57.27 Australian Championships Brisbane 09.04.2017

200 m butterfly

1. Suzuka Hasegawa (JPN) 2:02.96 Tokyo New Year Swimming Meet 14.01.2017
2. Franziska Hentke (GER) 2:06.84 Swim Open Stockholm 08.04.2017
3. Hiroko Makino (JPN) 2:06.92 10th Tokyo Swminning Championships 29.01.2017

200 m individual medley

1. Sydney Pickrem (CAN) 2:09.56 Canadian Champs Victoria 06.04.2017
2. Yui Ohhasi (JPN) 2:09.96 Japanese Champs Aichi 04.13.2017
3. Rikako Ikee (JPN) 2:09.98 Kitajima Cup Tokyo 27.01.2017

400 m individual medley

1. Yui Ohhasi (JPN) 4:31.42 Japanese Champs Aichi 04.13.2017
2. Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP) 4:35.01 Spanish Championships Pontevedra 01.04.2017
3. Sydney Pickrem (CAN) 4:35.43 Canadian Champs Victoria 06.04.2017

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Photo: MTI

8+1 interesting facts about “the country of waters”

buda castle danube

350 thousand spectators, about 100 thousand of whom are foreigners, are believed to come to the FINA World Aquatics Championships between 14th and 30th July, 2017. The biggest sports event in Hungary for all time will have a considerable effect on tourism as well. Furthermore, it will let tourists and guests arriving get themselves acquainted with possibly the most valuable natural resource: thermal and medicinal waters.

Here are 8+1 interesting facts about the “country of waters” and the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships.

  1. Thermal and medicinal waters can be found under 80% of Hungary’s territory . Hungary, on a world scale, is the 5th country regarding thermal water resources after Japan, Iceland, Italy and France.
  2. The main scene of the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships, the Danube Arena was built in the spirit of sustainability, the first Hungarian complex which will be reduced after the world contest – its capacity of 15 thousand will be reduced to 6 thousand.
  3. In addition to the largest fresh-water lake in Europe, Lake Balaton, the largest natural thermal lake of the world, Lake Hévíz is also located in Hungary. Water lily is both the characteristic feature of the lake and the symbol of the town of Hévíz. The mascots of the world championships, Lili and Lali are also water lilies known throughout the world, but significantly typical of Hungary.
  4. The pool built for synchronized swimmers on the lake of the City Park will be the first mobile pool in the history of the FINA World Aquatics Championships, which will host the competitors in a natural environment instead of a stadium or arena.
  5. Budapest owns the title spa since 1934, as this city has the most thermal and medicinal water wells among the capitals of the world. About 100 thermal and mineral water sources, and more than 400 bitter water sources can be found in the city. Their temperature is between 24 and 78 °C.
  6. Although the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships have not even started yet, they will hold a number of records: this will be the world championship organized in the shortest time, since originally Mexico won the right to host the world championship in 2017, but they withdrew from the opportunity in February, 2015. There will be more nations competing in the world championship in Hungary than ever before in the history of the world aquatics championships: athletes from 208 countries are believed to come to Budapest and Balatonfüred.
  7. Budapest recently provides 15 spas for people who want to heal themselves or simply relax. The most famous among them are the Széchenyi, the Rudas, the Gellért, the Király and the Lukács Thermal Baths. Last year was a record year for the thermal baths of the capital: more than four million guests visited the spas and beaches run by the Budapest Healing Baths and Hot Springs Co. Ltd.
  8. The Széchenyi Thermal Bath – by its nickname “Szecska” – is the largest bath complex of both Budapest and Europe. The complex has three outdoor and fifteen indoor pools, several medical treatments are available in the institution, where also a day care hospital is running. The hottest spring of the thermal baths of Budapest is the II. spring of the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, which is 1257 meter deep (77 °C).

+1. Hungary can be proud of the best female swimmer. Katinka Hosszú, who was chosen to be the best female swimmer of the world in succession (2014, 2015, 2016).

translated by Kinga Fegyó

Ce: bm

The Chain Bridge turned blue

The Chain bridge as one of the most known symbol in Hungary and Budapest, turned blue tonight on the occasion of the 17th FINA World Championships.

Photo: MTI
Photo: fina-budapest2017.com
Photo: fina-budapest2017.com

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Photo: MTI, FINA Budapest 2017

The unique Hungarian Post stamp dedicated to the world championships was launched

Bp2017 Nonprofit LLC and the Hungarian Post presented ceremonially the stamp issued by the Hungarian Post related to the 17th FINA World Championships on Wednesday.

The event was held at the venue of the synchronised swimming discipline for the world championships in the City Park.

The guests of the press conference were welcomed by Sándor Balogh, Chief Financial Officer of Bp2017 Nonprofit LLC:

‘At the end of March FINA delegates visited our country and they were absolutely satisfied with the organising. Organising world championships is a huge task, but enormous success as well. The event of July can be considered as one of the four most prestigious events in the world attracting ten-thousands of tourists to Hungary and TV broadcast is also followed by millions’ he said.

Regarding the venue of synchronised swimming he added that a key aspect was to preserve green areas, both the pools and the stands would be built on the concrete surface of the lake.

At the press conference dr. Anita Boros, Deputy Secretary of State for the Ministry of National Development responsible for asset management was also present. She mentioned that organising the event within such a record time is unique in the history of world championships. She cited Cornel Marculescu’s, FINA Executive Director’s words that everything is given to organise the best ever world championships.

Katinka Hosszú, 3-time Olympic, 5-time world and 13-time European champion swimmer and Kálmán Majtényi, Deputy CEO of Hungarian Post also greeted the guests.

Having issued the stamp ceremonially the participants walked over to the Lake of City Park and released 100 environmentally friendly paper lilies onto the water.

The special stamp issued by the Hungarian Post, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, can be bought at designated post offices and branch offices (or via the webshop of the company) for the price of 435 HUF (1.41 EUR). 200.000 stamps have been produced.

Referring to this special date the organisers also hid 100 world championships mascots at different points of the city attaching motivation messages on Lili and Lali. Closing the 100 days’ counting programme the main venue of the world championships, Duna Arena is enlightened by decorative lights when night falls.

 

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Photo: FINA Budapest

‘Counting back’: 100 days left until the World Championships kick off in Budapest

Summer is approaching as it is reflected by the weather and the calendar is also in line with our expectations. There are 100 days left until the event, the 17th FINA World Championships will begin on 14th July. The biggest sporting event in the history of Hungary will be the world championships of six disciplines. The protagonists are becoming more and more excited and determined, therefore preparation is getting harder and harder.

The 100 days’ milestone is very compact and near, so much so that one may stop and have some thoughts about it. The same thing happened to the Olympic and world championships bronze medallist, 5-time European champion swimmer, Boglárka Kapás and her coach, Balázs Virth. They did not forget about this round number even in Thailand:

‘This is the last week of our training camp in Thailand 100 days before the wold championships. Everybody is healthy and we are preparing for the Hungarian National Championship to be held in Debrecen, where we would like to exceed last year’s results. Debrecen hosted the European Championships earlier and it reminds us of beautiful memories. Now after 100 days Budapest will host the world championships. We are eagerly looking forward to it’ – said Boglárka Kapás in a message and she even recorded this date at the sandy beach in Thailand.

Synchronised swimmers are also preparing for the summer with full determination. We asked Luca Rényi about the milestone:

‘We are counting back at home and we really feel closer and closer to the world championships in Budapest. Our team is great and we pursue a totally different attitude than earlier. We prepare 5-6 hours per day in order to do well at the world championships and after finishing our routine, our coach, Natalia Tarasova, who has been working with us for a year and a half now and can be considered as our ‘second mother’, would tell us: ‘good job’. These two words mean a lot to us and motivate us as well. The routines are improving every day and we would like to show what we are capable of. I believe that thanks to Natalia we will have a very special routine built upon Hungarian traditions.’

 

Villő Kormos is also preparing to take the plunge, more specifically to plunge into the water. In her status report the Hungarian national team member European championship bronze medallist diver informed:

„100 days prior to the world championship my jumps and movements are about to take their final form. Currently I am working on my back two and a half back somersault with a pike.”

This is how it goes:

„It’s one of my favourite jumps and at the same time one of the most difficult ones. I cannot see where I will land since I am standing with my back to the pool. This is why it is highly important for me to become able to control the direction of the movement in the air. I have competed in two European championships in Budapest, I could make it to the solo finals, we finished fourth with Nóri Barta and sixth with Zsófi Reisinger. High diving is my major event and my great longing is to achieve that all jumps are performed well. Concerning synchro Flóra Fazekas-Gondos and I are aiming at making it to the finals, also. As of now we are practicing here in the „Bubble” on Margaret-island but we can’t wait to try the tower of Duna Arena and its amazing dry training room.”

The national water polo team, attracting thousands of fans to their matches typically, is also tuning for the competition.

Ildikó Tóth, the center player of the European champion women’s water polo team says there are lots of other things to do before the world championships, but most certainly looking forward to the event is exciting already.

‘Fortunately, several nice tasks are awaiting us in our clubs such as the LEN Cup finals or the national championship finals. However, I follow the happenings and have some thoughts about the approaching world championships when seeing some recent pictures or news in the social media. In such situations it is really emotional to realise how close the event is. I am looking forward to it. The national team is always busy preparing, as it is now, according to the calendar we are about to visit several places. I even made friends with the thought of China, we will spend two weeks there. It might be more convenient to be away looking at the present swimming-pool situation here. Our team cannot be considered as a young one and it is important that we do not have to waste much time between the training venue and the accommodation facility. We have also trained in Duna Arena to get some taste of the future atmosphere and we could imagine what the wonder arena would feel with full house. I am eagerly waiting for the summer.’

 

The 2013 world champion Bence Bátori definitely would like to get into the men’s water polo team for the world championships and he has great chance to do so:

‘I was fortunate to become world champion and I can say it was a fabulous feeling. If we could repeat it at home, it would even be indescribable. I did not go to Rio with the team, that is maybe why I have greater expectations considering the upcoming event. We have already trained in Duna Arena, we can see the preparation and I am sure that this year’s world championships will be of incredibly high level in all disciplines. 100 days… the world championships are really approaching and now after coming across more and more posters and advertisements, it is impossible to step by. Up to now there were three get-togethers with this new national team, all of them went well and I was charged with positive energies. We will have a new team, the expectations are high, Tamás Märcz (head coach) is also very determined. He and our mental trainer have already spoken about the pressure related to a home event and certainly a professional athlete must deal with it properly. I think I have good chance to get into the team. Just like before I also have to put all my efforts into it in the future so that I could gain the head coach’s trust.’

Kristóf Rasovszky may compete in four different events in the open water competition of the 17th FINA World Championships. The 20-year-old swimmer from Veszprém plans to enter the 5k, 10k and 25k contests in the qualifier competition to be held in early summer in France, and he hopes to be a member of the Hungarian team in the relay competition as well.

“My main event is of course the 10k, so the most important thing for me is to do well in that distance, but I may qualify in other events as well. I will be in good shape during the World Championships, so it will not be a problem to compete in three or four events” – Rasovszky said.

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Rasovszky, who won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships and at the European Junior Championships in 2016, adding 5th places in two World Cup events, finished only in 48th place a couple of weeks ago in the World Cup race in Abu Dhabi, his first major competition this year, but surprisingly it has had a positive effect on him.

“I have changed my approach to my trainings, I wanted to work harder, and I got extra motivation. Thanks to this change I managed to win the European Cup event in Eilat. Márk Papp and I could collaborate efficiently, our tactics proved to be successful and having the sufficient power I could endure till the end of the race. “

Rasovszky’s next contest will be the Hungarian Pool Championship in Debrecen, followed by the Hungarian Long Distance Championship and the WCH qualifier.

“I have the qualifier competition on my mind right now, but it goes without saying that afterwards FINA World will dominate my thoughts” – said Rasovszky, whose goal is to finish in the top six during the World Championships in Balatonfüred.

Photo: MTI

Photo: MTI

FINA – Budapest2017: Balatonfüred will be the perfect place for open water swimming – VIDEO

Members of the FINA Technical Commitees visited Budapest for a whole week. Staff members of the local organising committee hold common workshops with the international representatives.

Short summary about the Technical Open Water Swimming Commitee meeting:

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FINA – Budapest2017: The legendary Rolling Stones might play at the opening ceremony

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Charlie Watts could potentially entertain the spectators at the opening ceremony of the 2017 FINA World Championships, held in Budapest this July.

According to reports, szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu writes that negotiations are currently carried out with the management of the world’s most expensive band. Based on the news of index.hu, the site writes that 4 billion HUF (almost 13 million EUR) from the budget of the event would be devoted for the opening and closing ceremonies, of which 3 billion HUF (almost 10 million EUR) would strictly be spent on the opening night.

The ceremony is planned to last for 90 minutes, and the organizers are negotiating with the iconic Rolling Stones to take on the responsibility of opening the championships. Getting such a band to play at the event would bear in itself a huge significance, but apparently, the organizers aim to get it streamed or broadcast worldwide, which usually only happens at the Olympics.

Index also shares the information that CNN, for instance, might only be interested in a short live broadcast of the opening if the organizers would pay them 200 million HUF (almost 700 thousand EUR). Well, the negotiations are on, and there are less than 117 days left till the best swimmers of the world get into the pool to show who deserves the gold medal.

Photo: facebook.com/therollingstones

Ce: bm

FINA – Budapest2017: Synchronised swimming in Budapest – „wonderful sight for the viewers” – VIDEO

Members of the FINA Technical Commitees visited Budapest for a whole week. Staff members of the local organising committee hold common workshops with the international representatives.

Short summary about the synchronised swimming Technical Commitee meeting on Wednesday.

 

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The brand new application, the selFINA started with a record at the Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Budapest saw a very unique, FINA World Championships-related record being born over the weekend: more than 160 people took selfies simultaneously in one of the pools of the world famous Széchenyi Bath. The photos were taken with the brand new #selFINA mobile application. The freshly set water-record has already been registered into the Book of Hungarian Records.

The record-breaking strongly linked to the 17th FINA World Championships and the World Water Day took place at the Széchenyi Thermal Bath at the heart of Budapest. It was the first time that more than one hundred people took selfies in a pool at the same time. Thanks to the special, newly developed #selFINA mobile app, the participants were also able to take photos and selfies with the two beloved mascots of Budapest 2017, Lili and Lali.

Thanks to the ’augmented reality’ feature of the #selFINA app, anyone can take a virtual tour of the 17th FINA World Championships’ venues as well as look at the most beautiful and famous sights of the Hungarian capital. The freshly inaugurated World Championships countdown clock installation – located on Erzsébet Square, one of the most central, busiest location of Budapest – also provides exciting games and fun selfie-taking opportunities for the public. (The #selFINA application is already available for iOS, and soon for all devices through the Google Play Store free of charge).

Participants of the record-setting and the general bath public were able to enjoy a very spectacular cheerleader show and an exclusive performance by the Hungarian national synchronised swimming team, too. Szofi Kiss and Luca Rényi were among the performing athletes, as well as coach Sára Tringer. The national snychro team truly amazed the spectators by presenting the choreography intended for the actual competition of the 17th FINA World Championships. Along the idea of national head coach Natalia Tarasova, the performance’s accompanying music strongly builds on traditional Hungarians melodies and motifs, making it even more touching.

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The Hungarian Book of Records has authenticated the new record under the name of the Budapest 2017 Organising Committee.

The 17th FINA World Championships will take place between July 14 and 30 this year in Budapest and Balatonfüred. The Event is of the largest volume that Hungary has ever hosted so far, it is a great honour for the entire country and nation to become the center of international attention in July.

Photo: FINA-Budapest

FINA – Budapest2017: Countdown clock revealed by Katinka Hosszú in Budapest

Three-time Olympic, five-time World and thirteen-time European champion swimmer Katinka Hosszú revealed the countdown clock of the 17th FINA World Championships in Budapest. State Secretary for Sports, Dr Tünde Szabó and Executive Director of Budapest 2017, Éva Szántó also spoke at the festive celebration at the Hungarian capital’s most central location, Erzsébet Square.

The countdown to the FINA World Championships has officially begun by revealing the unique, interactive installation and clock at the heart of Budapest on Sunday at 9:53 am. The timing is not a mere coincidence: the clock started exactly 117 days, 11 hours and 7 minutes before the Opening Ceremony of the greatest event Hungary has ever hosted.

The breathtaking installation will remain standing on Erzsébet Square until the end of the Championships. Besides displaying the time left until the start of the Event, the tower-like clock entertains the public through interactive games linked to the #selFINA mobile application (already available for iOS, and soon for Android as well).

“Hosting the FINA World Championships is a great sport diplomatic success that strengthens the Government’s good decision of raising sports as a strategic branch for Hungary, financing and supporting it directly, constructing and developing venues and facilities and hosting international events in order to make the country’s sports more prosperous and famous around the world, and to secure more active, healthier generations” – said Dr Tünde Szabó, State Secretary for Sports.

“The FINA World Championships is among the greatest and most popular sporting events of the world – it is followed by around six billion viewers internationally, while tens or hundreds of thousands of spectators will have the chance to watch the action live (…) Not only the venues will be spectacular, but the competition itself as well: the heroes of the Rio Olympics will fight again in Budapest, and we will see the future idols of Tokyo 2020, and hopefully some great Hungarian triumphs, too. We will celebrate champions in a total of 75 events at the 17th FINA World Championships – explained Éva Szántó, Executive Director of the Budapest 2017 Organising Committee in her speech.

Hungarian swimming star Katinka Hosszú spoke about her feelings towards the home World Championships and her goals:

“For me, it is great that this year Budapest is hosting the FINA World Championships. It would have been a little bit difficult to fully regain my motivation after the Rio Games, where my dream of becoming an Olympic champion came true. However, having the World Championships on home soil feels almost like another Olympics was coming up.”

“I have already learnt that racing in front of home crowds should make the competition even more inspiring, more fun – not extra pressure on the athlete. Having such a great number of fans supporting us is quite extraordinary, we see the positive side of it. The anticipation gives me additional energy to swim those last couple of meters at my trainings knowing what is waiting for me this summer” – said Katinka Hosszú.

The 17th FINA World Championships will be held between July 14 and 30 in Hungary. Athletes will compete in six aquatic disciplines (swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, open water swimming, water polo and high diving) in five venues altogether in Balatonfüred and Budapest (Danube Arena, Alfréd Hajós Swimming Complex, Batthyány Square, City Park).

Olympic Champion Dániel Gyurta: “My coach did not praise my output yet but I am striving for it!”

The Olympic Champion, who took the home the World Champions title three times in a row since 2009 and only winning the bronze medal at the latest World Championships in Kazan has started training with a new coach since last autumn in 2016 to get in shape for the 17th FINA World Championships. Changing coaches after 20 years of training together, he is working with József Nagy now. The trainings’ intensity got higher and Dániel is pushing himself to earn the coach’s appreciation on his performance. He is said to be compete at the National Championship in April with visible signs of the changes of the training techniques. Courtesy of Gergely Csurka.

When you came out from the pool, everything happened the same as before, you smiled. Whether Dani wins or not, whether he is the first or not, the smile and intonation are always the same. Did you have a tiny feeling inside of you at Rio and right after that this isn’t happened as you had wanted or did you just say ‘let’s look forward’?

To be honest, the usual smile was on my face because I knew I did everything in order to be at my best. I didn’t feel any urge to feel sad at that moment. When I won in London, I did my very best to win in order to worthily represent my country, my family, my coach and indeed everyone who helped me in the last four years to concentrate only on the preparation and the training. There are plenty of reasons why I lost in Rio but at that very moment I did not realized deeply what did just happen. Some days prior to the competition one could have seen that my swimming is not that type of movement I was expecting myself to compete.

And after the race when you were alone with your rushing thoughts how did you sort it out? You were representing a high level, you won consecutive World Championship titles and remained undefeated and what happened in 2016, it seemed to be a little crack-like event queue.

I knew that type of knowledge, results and power which was typical of me wasn’t lost from me. I could do several times, I could make myself and everyone else proud. I can feel it now that I will be able to do the same performance as I have done earlier, even if it feels a bit out of space after my Rio results. I knew that I have to say goodbye to my coaches, no matter how painful it was or will be I have to say goodbye and start to train with a completely new approach and to prepare for the World Championships in Budapest this summer. This is the reason we parted apart with my coach trio, Sándor Széles, Ferenc Kovácshegyi and Balázs Virth who were managing my career in the last 17 years and that’s why I am continuing to work with József Nagy, who has just moved back to Hungary from Canada and worked previously at the States at most years of his career. The new point of view and attitude could push me out from the monotony which is not the unanimity of swimming but the weariness of the nearly two decades worth of work. My new coach did bring some new power and blood to our routine which was needed for me. The World Championships will be the key issue and what can I perform there-

As an outsider, one could feel the break of your typical pure preparation a little bit after the season of 2013-14 when you raced at the short course competitions. Some kind of quest started, a little cramped, perhaps with too much effort, feeling that something is not working very well. Was it like this?

This started with the successes in 2009 when I won the World Championships in Rome. This event was followed by a long and efficient period where I won every race and competition I attended, except one Short Course World Championship. Approaching the World Championships in Kazan I imposed high standards on myself to win the fourth World Championships in the row. Yes, everyone was writing about how impossible it was and it is a historical possibility; I was only listening to myself. I was longing to win, to show during that two minutes what I can push out from myself. I over trained myself, Balázs Virth and I wanted to win so badly we lost our sound, rational thinking during the training time. Nonetheless, I was in very good shape. I felt worse after the 200M final in Kazan than in Rio because I was so sure in the 2:06 result. If we did not fail our training in the last one-two weeks, I could have swim better time, I won the bronze with the 2:08.1. I wouldn’t highlight 2014 as worse period of time for me, I would choose the months after Kazan when I wanted to do a comeback. We thought it could happen in Rio.

We ran after ourselves, we couldn’t fix our issues, we made some changes in our intensity and rhythm. I missed the European Championships in London in order to focus on the training of the Olympic Games, I told myself that one week will be needed for it. These all were such a bad idea, if we look at the time results, then for sure. We, in that situation, thought that this will be the better idea and if I could do it over I would do it again without changing anything because it was my, our belief. We had a share of time results to verify our techniques. It is sport after all. If there is just a slight problem in the buoyancy, technique, everything bursts. If I am overweight with just a half kilogram, it could create huge difference in the buoyancy. There is only a short list of swimmers who can hold up their performance for long years. Like Kitajima, Marco Koch or me, we could keep up and bring the same (or better) results. The Kazakh swimmer barely got into the final, later the very same person won the competition. The breaststroke is unpredictable, there are many of us with the same knowledge.

This is a new chapter of your life. Half year has passed since you started to work with József Nagy, what are you getting from him, how different the work with him?

When we started to work together, we got together and he told me that we are nothing at this moment, we must work to be somewhere, anywhere, to that level we have conquered before, him as coach and me as athlete. We stated the work from the base. He changed the training based on kilometres and endurance to training technique based on less kilometres with higher intensity. In his opinion, we can put more focus due to my age, because this opportunity has never been exploited. This is really hard, I must say. He raises high expectations every day for me: I have to do something to make the time difference, I “earned” in 2016, go away. I have never been this tired before like after the high intensity trainings. Sometimes it its unbelievably hard to keep up the work day by day and do the training as he wishes me to do so. He is strict and consistent but kind to me during our trainings. He watches my reactions closely to use every feedback as a requirement source of the next training. I hope at the National Championship in April I can show some visible signs of the changes of the training techniques and our work of the last half year. One will be able to notice the difference in my swimming, I am damn sure. Anyone, who has seen me during my training can say there is really a difference, like night and day. Obviously, we built my training on speed not view. It will be just fine, I can feel it.

There is a restart in almost every year when you are swimming breaststroke. The technique will be rebuilt and small corrections take place even in the last minute that most people can’t recognise. However, you have your own technique that helped you to reach the top. Is it possible to forget the old methods and learn something new?

It was really hard in the beginning, it required a constant and incredible big attention from me to do the proper movements, arm, leg, head coordination and concentrate on my buoyancy in the water. I have to tell that my coach did not praise my output yet but I am striving for it every day to have it till the World Championships. He praised his athletes perhaps for times during his career. I would like to be the fifth one. It is hard, but I was proud when my coach said that my movement is almost like what he expects in January.

How much do you have to reduce your ego? You are a conscious, intelligent but a little bit stubborn guy with a lot of experience. Suddenly you became a young pupil, but you could have politely answer back that for example you would like to swim less. We know that dictatorship is a must in swimming, but it matters, if it is tough or soft.

I think if we have a common goal there is no wrangle inside or outside of the pool that would cause conflict. I consider myself a good racer type, I always do what my coach says. So it was in the period for getting in shape before Kazan. I felt that we shouldn’t have to train two weeks before the World Championships like we did. I asked Balázs and he said: believe me, this is how we have to do. I should have said that it is too much. But I did everything, because my coach asked it. Now it is the same too, even if I don’t know what is too much or too little. It is really hard to decide what is correct when you are tired and feel pain in the water. I have to defeat myself just like in the competition. I think I don’t would have reduce my ego, since – I say it again – our goal is common.

Here is Dániel Gyurta, the Hungarian swimmer and here is Ippei Watanabe, the Japanese young boy, who broke the world record with the time of 2:06.67 in January. He broke through the dream limit, since his time is under 2:07:00 for the first time. Everybody was surprised how can somebody swim like this in February, what will happen in the summer… Let’s say he set the bar high. Do you often think about you probably have to swim under 2:07:00 in the Danube Arena?

We saw it many times from the Japanese that they are capable of achieving great result before a world event. It was expected that he will reach this time. There are many of us, who almost have time under 2: 07:00. I used to be one of them, even if I couldn’t swim under 2:10:00 in the last year. The time, what this Japanese boy swam in Rio showed that he is capable of this incredible performance. He proved it, but I think I don’t have to be afraid of the time. It was good to see, that somebody can do it and it motivates all the breaststroke swimmer in the world to train harder. It is really hard to win the Olympics or the World Championships with world record in breaststroke, because it is totally different if you are the leader swimmer or six or seven swimmers are next to you and you have to watch every flutter of them to win. Expectations are rather high towards everyone, we will see in the end who will benefit from that.

Photo: FINA – Budapest2017

350,000 fans expected for World Aquatics Championships in Hungary

budapest

Budapest, March 9 (MTI) – Nearly 350,000 spectators, including 85,000 foreigners, are expected to turn up for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, to be held in Hungary from July 14 to 30, an organiser said on Thursday.

Altogether 4,700 hotel rooms have been reserved for the competitors, their escorts, media workers and FINA delegates for a total of 85,000 guest nights, spokesman Miklós Borsa of Bp2017 Nonprofit told MTI.

The competitions will take place in four Budapest venues, including the brand-new Duna Arena, as well as in Balatonfüred.

The 17th edition of the world aquatics championships will feature six branches of sport: swimming, water polo, diving, high diving, synchronised swimming and open water swimming.

Hungary will be the centre of the world this summer

Budapest and Balatonfüred are giving away 76 gold medals among the winners at 17th FINA World Championships. But what can the director hosting expect from the World Championships? Based on Windsor, Hungary has a bright future ahead in the sport tourism.

After witnessing the successful performances of the best swimmers of the planet, Windsor, Canada’s southernmost city, is still enjoying the positive impact of the organisation of the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), staged from 6-11. December 2016. The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance recently announced that Windsor is finalist in two categories for its 2017 Prestige Awards, specifically the “International Sport Event of the Year” and “Sustainable Sport Event of the Year”.

Almost 900 athletes from over 150 nations were in Canada to compete in this FINA major event, which were highlighted by two World and five championships’ records. Team USA was the best national squad of the event, while individually, Katinka Hosszú (HUN) and Chad Le Clos (RSA) were the best ones in Windsor. The competition was held in the WFCU venue, normally used by the local ice hockey team – a provisional pool was installed in the venue, thus creating the perfect atmosphere for all participants in the event.

Windsor is part of a list including 24 finalists for the Canadian Sport Tourism Awards, whose winners will be unveiled at a prestigious ceremony to be held in Ottawa on March 21.

Rick Traer, CEO of the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, considered: “Each one of these finalists has contributed to the over $6 billion sport tourism industry in Canada.” Mr Traer then concluded: “Through the Prestige Award programme, we are proud to honour the people, the events, the sponsors and the communities who have helped make Canada a world leader in the sport tourism industry.”

On that basis, Budapest and Balatonfüred also can expect good signs for the 17th FINA World Championships. The Hungarian capital regularly conducts successful competitions such as the Water Polo Champions League Final 6 or the Judo Grand Prix, but at Lake Balaton has repeatedly been held the open water swimming competitions.

However, the fact, which should not be overlooked, is that this event, the 17th World Championships will be the biggest sport event ever hold in the country. The catering facilities have never seen a crowd what will be in Hungary at the time of the World Championships. Says a lot about the fact that the hotels are fully booked during the period between 14 – 30 July, not to mention The Masters World Championships which begins on 7 August, where already more than 5,000 people applied.

The masters’ characteristic is that most of the participants are arriving with family or friends. This means that after the World Championships Budapest and Balatonfüred can expect countless visitors for almost a month.

Balaton and its surroundings already an attractive target for foreigners during the summer, so if one want to spend the summertime at the Hungarian Sea, one needs to be prepared in time. This is especially true on the North coast where Balatonfüred is situated. The two venues are almost 130km away from each other on the highway.

And if one driving to Budapest, one should know that the capital is the fifth cheapest tourist destination in Europe. According to the so-called Daily Backpacker Index* a daily average tourist spends a day in Budapest for at about 26$. According to preliminary calculations, Hungary is expecting 15,000 tourists for the elite competition, while 25,000 foreigners are expected for the Masters. If they spend an average three days in Budapest, it can count 78 dollars per person, so the World Championships during the 17 days will bring around 3.51 million dollars for the trade and service industries. This amount during the 14-day Masters can be 5.85 million. It can be beneficial even for the hospitality sector, the amount is likely to rise during the two events.

* The Daily Backpacker Index takes into account the particular city accommodation, dining, entertainment and travel to and from prices averaged to provide a minimum cost spent the day in the city.