swimming

BREAKING: Olympic champion swimmer Katinka Hosszú announces retirement

katinka hosszú retirement

Three-time Olympic champion swimmer Katinka Hosszú announced her retirement on Wednesday.

At the height of her career, Hosszú won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke, and 200m and 400m individual medley events at the Rio Olympics in 2016, setting a new world record in the latter. She capped off her outing in Rio with a silver medal in the 200m backstroke event. The 35-year-old athlete, who is also a 9-time world champion, announced her retirement on Facebook.

Related news from 2024: Swimming legend Katinka Hosszú to miss Paris Olympics 2024

Here’s when Hungary’s most popular thermal baths welcome visitors on New Year’s Eve and Day

Rudas thermal baths New Year's Eve

Some of the most popular Hungarian thermal baths will remain open even at night and prepare with a New Year’s Eve party to greet 2025.

According to Termál Online, generally, thermal baths will close earlier on New Year’s Eve, but some will organise parties for their visitors, for which you have to buy a separate entrance ticket. On 1 January, generally, baths will open later.

Rudas thermal baths New Year's Eve
Photo: FB/Rudas

Here are the opening times on 31 December and 1 January for some of the most popular thermal baths:

Aquaworld

31 December: 7 AM – 7 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 9 PM

Csillaghegyi Bath

31 December: 6 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 8 PM

Dagály

31 December: 6 AM – 2 PM
1 January: closed

Dandár

31 December: 9 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 7 PM

Gellért

31 December: 9 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 8 PM

Lukács

31 December: 7 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 8 AM – 8 PM

Palatinus

31 December: 9 AM – 4 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 4 PM

Paskál

31 December: 8 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 8 PM

Rudas

31 December: 6 AM – 6 PM; 9 PM – 3AM.
1 January: 10 AM – 8 PM

Programs include music (DJ set), access to all pools including the panorama pool, authentic Turkish bath experience, cocktail show, free cocktails and free midnight champagne, belly dance show, and prize draw. The entrance ticket includes a welcome drink, snacks, a glass of champagne and the programmes. Rudas offers a New Year’s Eve dinner party and a Hangover party on 1 January, as well. You can buy your tickets HERE. The combined ticket with the dinner costs HUF 39,000 per person (EUR 95).

Rudas New Year’s Eve party starts at 9 PM:

Széchenyi

31 December: 8 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 8 PM

Bükfürdő

31 December: 9 AM – 5 PM
1 January: 12 AM – 7 PM

Debrecen-Aquaticum

31 December: 7 AM – 7 PM
1 January: 10 AM – 8 PM

Egerszalók – Saliris

31 December: 10 AM – 5 PM (Saliris); 9:30 AM – 1 AM (Nostalgia Bath)
1 January: 10 AM – 8 PM (Saliris); 9:30 AM – 11 PM (Nostalgia Bath)

Szeged Aquapolis

31 December: 7 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 9 AM – 8 PM

Nyíregyháza – Sóstó Bath

31 December: 8 AM – 2 PM
1 January: 9 AM – 8 PM

Hajdúszoboszló – Hungarospa

31 December: 7 AM – 6 PM
1 January: 7 AM – 7 PM

You may check out the opening times during the year-end festivities of other thermal baths in THIS article.

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New wooden Danube swimming pools may come: work starts in 2025

Danube swimming pool 2

In the 19th century, there were several open-air, “floating” wooden swimming pools on the River Danube, even in its downtown section, between the Hungarian Parliament and the Elizabeth Bridge.

Wooden Danube swimming pools in the 2020s?

Dávid Vitézy, a member of the Budapest Municipal Assembly and former mayoral candidate supported by PM Orbán’s Fidesz, would like to reintroduce that special kind of swimming pool to the locals and tourists in Budapest. An NGO, Valyo, measured water quality in 2024 and found that – except for periods of heavy rains and floods – the water quality of the Danube is acceptable for swimming and bathing. A good example is the Római Beach, which is free and accessible to many during the hottest days of the summer.

The only free Budapest Danube beach Plázs Római Beach
The Római Beach. Photo: FB/Gergely Karácsony

Vitézy’s proposal to prepare the building and creation of the first Danube wooden swimming pool downtown was accepted by the Municipal Assembly on 18 December.

The politician promised to start the preparatory work in January 2025 by carefully measuring the venue options, water quality results and possible operation.

Paris swimming pool
A River Seine swimming pool in Paris. Photo: FB/Valyo

The cradle of the Hungarian swimming sport

“At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were nine such wooden swimming pools in Budapest”, Valyo wrote on their official website. The pools hovered on rafts floating on the water. They had railed sidewalks, cabins, and a rectangular pool, where safety slats protected the bathers from the constant drift of the river water.

Danube swimming pool 2
Wooden swimming pools in the River Danube before the war. Photo: Valyo/FB

Such pools operated only seasonally, from 1 May until September. In the autumn-winter period, they were dismantled or towed to the shore and stored in warehouses to be rebuilt in early spring.

The last functioning Danube Bath welcomed guests in front of the Hungarian Parliament even in the summer of 1944. During the siege (December 1944-February 1945), it was destroyed like the city surrounding it. The Communist leadership did not reestablish them because of the high pollution level of the Danube water caused by the factories upstream, the lack of wood and the risk of infection.

Danube swimming pool
Photo: FB/Valyo

“We would like such water structures to be rebuilt in Budapest to bring people closer to the river, while also catalysing the view of the Danube as a pure natural asset”, Valyo concludes. It seems the Budapest Municipal Assembly took the first steps in the right direction.

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Infuriating: US university bans Olympic bronze medallist Dávid Betlehem and 5th Betti Fábián from training

Dávid Betlehem and Betti Fábián

Dávid Betlehem won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the men’s 10 km swimming marathon while his teammate, Kristóf Rasovszky, secured the gold medal for the Hungarian team. Everybody talked about a miracle, and Betlehem continued his career as an athlete and a freshman at North Carolina State University with his girlfriend, Olympic 5th Betti Fábián. However, the university did not support their swimming marathon training and, ultimately, even banned Betlehem and Fábián from training.

Dávid Betlehem and Betti Fábián stopped by American university

According to 444, Dávid Betlehem and Betti Fábián are to move home after a short stay in the USA as freshmen at the North Carolina State University. The university proudly presents both on its website, writing that Betlehem won bronze while Fábián finished 5th at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the 10 km marathon swim. However, the institution did not support their training in that swimming stroke. Hungarian media did not report the university’s reasons.

Dávid Betlehem and Betti Fábián
Betti Fábián and Dávid Betlehem, already in the USA. Photo: Instagram/Betti Fábián

444 wrote that the university would have supported their training in pool strokes and university competitions instead of world championships in the 10 km marathon. As a result, they decided to come home.

Interestingly, the university banned them from attending training on campus. Consequently, Betlehem could not prepare for the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest starting next Tuesday, so he will not compete.

Dávid Betlehem and Betti Fábián
Photo: Instagram/Betti Fábián

They shared the following statement this morning:

“First of all, we’d like to thank the opportunity to NC State for including us to their great team. We really enjoyed our time there and we are truly grateful for being part of the family and, even more importantly, being treated as member of the NC State family. It was a tremendous experience for both of us, however, we had to recognise that with open water swimming in our focus, it’s better to return home and prepare for the coming challenges in Hungary as we did before the Olympics.

Dávid Betlehem and Betti Fábián
Photo: Instagram/Betti Fábián

While taking this sad decision, we also ask everyone to accept this – and to avoid generating any conflicts as our story is about gaining experience, learning lessons and finding the way to give our best efforts. We learnt a lesson and acted accordingly.

We are sorry to leave NC State, and again, our hearts are filled with love when we remember of the past months spent there.”

Dávid Betlehem and Betti Fábián
Photo: Instagram/Betti Fábián

She disinfected with pálinka after swimming in the Seine

As you may recall, Betti Fábián and her fellow swimmers were the first to swim in the Seine at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Before, authorities ran several tests concerning the water quality and found it acceptable only last minute. It went viral that Betti disinfected with pálinka, the traditional Hungarian spirit. Then she drank Coca-Cola. Even so, the 19-year-old swimmer became hospitalised after experiencing nausea and a fever.

We hope that both athletes will find their new homes to train, prepare for future competitions and make us all proud again.

Both swimmers were thankful for the opportunity to prepare in the Danube before the Paris Olympics. They mentioned that as a deciding factor in their success. The water quality of the river is already much better than that of the Seine. Consequently, the Danube could host several swimming competitions at a possible Budapest Olympics. There is a chance now for that since both the government and Mayor Karácsony seem to support the idea and many facilities are ready for the event, including the National Athletics Centre recently opened to the general public.

Read also:

  • Miracle in the Seine: Hungarian gold and bronze in men’s 10 km swimming marathon at Paris Olympics – read more HERE
  • Great news: National Athletics Centre in Budapest is open to the general public – PHOTOS and more in THIS article

World Aquatics temporary HQ inaugurated in Budapest

On Monday, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign affairs and trade minister, said that World Aquatics had inaugurated its temporary headquarters in Budapest after relocating from Lausanne. The governing body is set to move its entire global headquarters to the Hungarian capital by 2027.

In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, Szijjártó noted that a few years ago, the Hungarian government and World Aquatics signed an agreement that included establishing a global training and education center.

Szijjártó noted that the office inaugurated on Monday is temporary, and the World Aquatics Centre will be inaugurated next year. By 2026, he said, the entire global headquarters will be ready, and all aquatics-related activities will be managed from Budapest from 2027, according to a ministry statement.

World Aquatics hq in Budapest Hungary 2024
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (left) and Hussein al-Mussalam, President of World Aquatics and Director General of the Asian Olympic Council (right) inaugurate the temporary office of World Aquatics on Alkotmány Street, Budapest, 11 November 2024.

The minister said it was an important goal to bring similar international organisations to Hungary, noting that with the relocation of World Aquatics, the country will host four sports federations.

He also underlined the importance of talent management, noting that the government is establishing a scholarship that will allow 200 athletes to study at Hungarian universities from 2027. Szijjártó said Hungary was proud that a Ugandan scholarship recipient has already qualified for the Olympics, adding that, hopefully, more young swimmers will take advantage of such opportunities.

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Miracle in the Seine: Hungarian gold and bronze in men’s 10 km swimming marathon at Paris Olympics

Hungarian “Superman” swims around Manhattan – PHOTO GALLERY

Hungarian “Superman” swims around Manhattan – PHOTO GALLERY

“Yesterday I swam around Manhattan. It was unique all way long”, wrote Attila Mányoki, the Hungarian “Superman”, in an Instagram post. He completed the 50 km distance in just over 8 hours, despite strong currents and heavy river traffic. By “conquering” Manhattan Island, he achieved the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, a feat accomplished by only 333 people. Congratulations!

Attila Mányoki swims around Manhattan and under 20 bridges

“I started at Pier “A” and my direction was to the East River, Harlem and finally the big Hudson River. In the Hudson, the second part was rough because of the traffic. Boats, yachts, ferries. I felt good myself during this fantastic journey. I spend around Manhattan 8hrs 2min. Thanks to my friends who supported me”, Mr Mányoki wrote in his Instagram post following his remarkable swim.

On Facebook, he shared more details about his experience. He mentioned that the swimming contest around Manhattan was first organised in 1915. He wrote that his average swimming speed was 6 km/h, which is faster than his usual 4 km/h. However, swimming against the current slowed him down to just 2 km/h, while on the East River, he reached a maximum speed of 9 km/h. He added that the Hudson River’s current was particularly strong due to a hurricane and subsequent rainfall, which gave him some extra speed.

The ocean and East River were both 23°C, while the Hudson River was slightly warmer at 24°C. Due to the extreme heat, he drank six litres of a specially formulated energy drink. Mányoki wrote that he performed 33,000 arm strokes and took more than 15,000 breaths while swimming. However, he never lost his strength, thanks to the drinks and a sweet bite to get rid of the salty numbness in his mouth.

Hungarian “Superman” in the Hall of Fame for Long-Distance Swimming

Mányoki mentioned that he had to stop for 15 minutes due to a cargo ship and another 30 minutes because of a tourist boat.

The Hungarian superman also noted that the average time to complete the Triple Crown challenge (Manhattan Island, the English Channel, and the Catalina Channel) is over 35 hours. His time was only 29 hours and 48 minutes for the entire 130 km distance. One of the women who completed the challenge, Elizabeth Fry, assisted Mr. Mányoki during his swim by accompanying him in a kayak.

Hungarian Superman swam around Manhattan
Photo: FB/Mányoki

Mr. Mányoki revealed that only 21 people from 13 countries have completed the two biggest long-distance swimming challenges, the Oceans Seven and the Triple Crown. Ten of these swimmers, including Mányoki, are members of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. He mentioned that after a short break, he would begin preparing for his next challenge.

According to Blikk, all swimmers are required to wear traditional swimming gear, such as textile swimsuits, swimming caps, goggles, and earplugs. Participants can only rely on their physical strength and mental endurance.

Read also:

  • Hungarian athletes included among 100 best Olympians – check out our article HERE
  • Zsófia Konkoly wins Hungary’s first gold at Paris Paralympics – PHOTOS and more in THIS article

Zsófia Konkoly wins Hungary’s first gold at Paris Paralympics! – PHOTOS

Zsófia Konkoly wins Hungary's first gold at Paris Paralympics

Konkoly won gold in women’s 400m freestyle in the S9 category. Her time was 4:39:78, while the World record is 4:23:81 set by Du Toit Natalie from South Africa. Congratulations!

Today, Konkoly won Hungary’s first Paralympic gold medal at the Paris Summer Paralympics in women’s 400m freestyle.

Lakeisha Patterson from Australia received the silver medal, while Vittoria Bianco from Italy won the bronze.

Zsófia Konkoly wins Hungary's first gold at Paris Paralympics
Photo: MTI

The Paris Paralympic Games started on Wednesday. The competition was held in the Paris La Défense Arena, Forbes wrote.

Paris Paralympic Games
Photo: MTI

The 22-year-old athlete competed in the S9 category. She first represented Hungary at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and won a bronze medal in the 100-metre butterfly S9 event. She was only 14 years old then. At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, she won a silver medal in the 400-metre freestyle S9 event. She won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, held in Madeira.

Following her bronze in 2016, she received the Hungarian Bronze Cross of Merit.

Zsófia Konkoly is an outstanding talent

The student of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Pécs won the gold medal at the World Para Swimming Championships in women’s 200-metre individual medley in the SM9 category and defended her world champion title in Manchester in 2023, pte.hu wrote.

“I have a sporty family, my mum played handball, my dad played soccer. When my brother went swimming, I wanted to go too. I came into contact with the world of swimming when I was six years old, my brother had asthma, and they suggested swimming to him. Once, I went to one of his training sessions, where I discovered that those who are good get a balloon from the coach. I also wanted to get it, so I started swimming. Later on, I loved it, and it became an important part of my life. Since then, they haven’t been able to get me out of the pool”, she told glamour.hu in 2023.

The Paris Paralympics will end on 8 September.

Read also:

Danube beaches could be opened at any time to replace docked boats – So why aren’t they?

The only free Budapest Danube beach Plázs Római Beach

Until the mid-20th century, residents of Budapest enjoyed several open-water beaches on the Danube. Today, only two remain, despite the water quality being sufficient for more. Where did people swim in the past, where might they swim in the future, and what lessons can Budapest learn from the Paris Olympics?

New beaches on the Danube could open tomorrow, given that the water quality is so favourable, writes Válasz Online in a recent article, summarising what the Hungarian capital could learn from the urban planning surrounding the Paris Olympics.

The Paris Games rank as the sixth most expensive Olympics to date, with a cost of USD 8.2 billion. However, from an urbanistic perspective, the event might be considered relatively sustainable – certainly more so than previous editions. The biggest challenge, especially in terms of public relations, was the cleaning of the Seine. Despite Paris spending EUR 1.4 billion on this effort, reports during the Games highlighted dangers to swimmers. Even so, the clean-up could prove a significant long-term gain for the city.

The similar pasts of the Danube and the Seine

As Válasz Online points out, the rivers of Paris and Budapest share a similar history, particularly in the 19th century when both the Danube and the Seine were popular for open-water swimming. In the early 20th century, however, the number of wooden bathing sites in Paris began to decline, and open-water swimming was banned in 1923.

In Budapest, open-water swimming reached its peak slightly later, at the beginning of the 20th century, with several floating wooden beaches in operation until the mid-century. During the Second World War, however, the structures were dismantled for firewood, and river bathing was banned on the Danube in 1973.

daube open water beach
An open-water beach on the Danube near Margit Island in 1935.
Photo: Fortepan / MZSL/Ofner Károly

Water quality isn’t the issue in Hungary

Unlike the Seine, the Danube is in relatively good condition: two areas were re-authorised for bathing in 2021 because the water quality met required standards – Flava Beach and Roman Beach, both of which continue to operate.

The Roman Beach then and now:

roman beach danube
The Roman Beach in 1955. Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV

The only free Budapest Danube beach Plázs Római Beach
The Roman Beach today. Photo: FB/Gergely Karácsony

What complicates the reopening of river baths isn’t the water quality, but rather the fact that the riverbanks are largely occupied by hotel and event boats, blocking access to the water almost entirely. The city is attempting to address this by revising its coastal building regulations, but these efforts face strong opposition from nautical tourism organisations – for understandable reasons.

Another major obstacle is soil contamination at the Óbuda gas plant site, specifically the remediation of toxic sludge buried there, which Greenpeace claims seeps into the water when Danube levels are low. The clean-up has been delayed by the gas plant’s successor, MVM Next Energy Trading Ltd., which will likely require state assistance for the task. This means that a beach on Óbuda Island remains a distant prospect.

Lessons to be learned for Budapest

“What they struggled for in Paris is already present in Budapest, yet we are far from fully capitalising on the opportunities,”

writes Válasz Online. Indeed, the water quality along the Budapest stretches of the Danube is already good enough to open beaches in multiple locations, without the need for costly cleaning efforts like those in Paris.

The paper cites three sites where regular accredited measurements have shown that water quality is suitable for bathing. These are the northern tip of Óbuda Island, near Antall József Quay, and along Hengermalom Road. Continuous measurements are also conducted at Szent Gellért Square, though water quality there fluctuates.

Nonetheless, a worthwhile finding from these measurements is that contrary to popular belief, the Danube is swimmable not only upstream of Budapest but also further south. Válasz Online suggests extending measurements to cities downstream of Budapest to assess whether new beaches could be opened there in the near future. The Valyo – City and River Association aims to establish at least one, and ideally several, new beach baths along the inner-city stretch of the Danube within a few years.

Project manager Cili Lohász said, “The issue at Szent Gellért Square is likely caused by inflow from the Ördög Ditch, as during heavy rainfall, sewage can enter the Danube through this channel when the sewer system is overwhelmed. This indicates that while this site may be unsuitable for bathing, the others are promising, and Antall József Quay on the Pest side could become the first modern Danube bathing area in more than 80 years.”

danube beach swimmers
Swimmers posing at a beach with Margit Island in the background.
Photo: Fortepan / Schaffer Anikó

Read also:

Attention, beach-goers: New swimming spot opens in Budapest

new beach budapest illustration

Even though summer is winding down, residents and visitors to Budapest can now enjoy a refreshing swim at a newly reopened location on Lejtő Street. The full-price day ticket is HUF 5,500 (EUR 14), while district residents receive a discounted entry at HUF 4,800 (EUR 12.18).

New beach opens in Budapest

new beach budapest illustration
Residents and visitors to Budapest can now enjoy a refreshing swim at a newly reopened location on Lejtő Street. Photo: illustration, depositphotos.com

On Friday, 16 August, a renovated beach area reopened at the Lejtő Street sports complex in the 12th district. As outlined on the district’s official website, this reopening is part of the Sas Gardens project, which aims to revitalise the entire sports facility.

According to its website, the Sas Gardens complex is located near the main entrance of the Farkasrét Cemetery at 28 Lejtő Street. Originally established in the early 1960s as a project of the Ministry of Agriculture, the facility has gone by several names, including FVM Sports Complex, FM Lejtő Street Guesthouse and Sports Center, Németvölgyi Resort, and Sas-hegy Oasis, HVG reports. It was operated by various organisations linked to the ministry until it was sold to its current owners, Clivus Plc., at the end of 2021.

Clivus Plc.’s two owners, Zoltán Varga and Géza Homonnay, are avid tennis enthusiasts. Homonnay has run the Feneketlen Lake Park Tennis Club for 20 years. Though they haven’t previously operated a swimming facility, Homonnay’s daughter Csilla, a Hungarian synchronised swimming champion, suggests that synchronised swimming may soon become a key feature at the pool.

The renovation includes four tennis courts, new service facilities between the courts and the beach area, locker rooms, a sports café, parking garages, and covered padel courts. Further upgrades are planned for the old guesthouse on the upper part of the property, including additional parking and potential health and wellness services alongside guest apartments.

For now, day tickets are available for HUF 5,500 (EUR 14), with discounted prices for local residents. There are also plans to introduce a season pass option next year.

Read also:

Featured image: depositphotos.com

Hungarian swimmer hospitalised after swimming in the Seine amid health concerns

bettina fábián pálinka swimming seine swimmer Paris

A 19-year-old Hungarian swimmer, Bettina Fábián, who finished fifth in the 10 km open-water race during the Paris Olympics, was taken to hospital after falling ill following the event. Fábián, who competed in the Seine, experienced nausea and a fever, likely caused by something ingested from the river, necessitating IV treatment.

Many hospitalised after swimming in the Seine

bettina fábián pálinka swimming seine swimmer Paris
Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

Fábián shared on social media that she started vomiting during the night and later developed a fever. She noted that several other competitors, including Germany’s Leonie Beck, also fell ill after swimming in the river, which flows through central Paris, Világgazdaság reported based on MTI.

Despite the ordeal, Fábián is now recovering and is on her way back to Hungary. The swimmer humorously mentioned that she attempted to disinfect herself after the race with a shot of pálinka, a traditional Hungarian spirit – we reported this HERE.

Hungary’s open-water swimmers have performed exceptionally well in the Seine despite concerns over the river’s pollution. Following Fábián’s 5th-place finish, Kristóf Rasovszky won gold, and Dávid Betlehem took bronze in the 10 km race on Friday.

Fábián is expected to head straight to Kopaszi Dam in Budapest from the airport on Saturday to meet with fans and the media at the Hungarian team’s fan zone, with her arrival anticipated between 16:00 and 16:30, Világgazdaság writes.

Read also:

Miracle in the Seine: Hungarian gold and bronze in men’s 10 km swimming marathon at Paris Olympics

Hungarian gold and bronze in men's 10 km swimming marathon at Paris Olympics

Kristóf Rasovszky claimed the Olympic gold with a flawless performance in the men’s 10 km swimming marathon in the Seine this morning. This marks Hungary’s fourth Olympic gold at the Paris Games. Dávid Betlehem finished third, securing the bronze.

Hungarians dominate swimming marathon in Paris

Kristóf Rasovszky led the race from start to finish. Prior to the event, swimmers were unable to test the river due to poor water quality. There was even uncertainty yesterday about whether the marathon swimming would proceed as planned.

Hungarian gold and bronze in men's 10 km swimming marathon at Paris Olympics
Rasovszky in the Seine. Photo: MTI

“Today’s results were considered ‘very good’ according to the World Aquatics thresholds for E.coli and Enterococci on all four testing points across the marathon swimming course,” the organisers of the Olympic Games and swimming governing body World Aquatics said in a statement to Reuters yesterday.

The swimming marathon began at 7:30 am, and Rasovszky’s main competitor was the German swimmer Oliver Klemet. Klemet briefly took the lead during the fifth lap. Dávid Betlehem, another Hungarian swimmer aged just 21 and trained in Veszprém, clinched third place with a powerful final lap, finishing ahead of Domenico Acerenza.

Hungarian gold and bronze in men's 10 km swimming marathon at Paris Olympics
The two Hungarian swimmers meet after crossing the finish line. Photo: MTI

Rasovszky won with a time of 1:50:52, while Betlehem clocked 1:51:09.

Risztov’s previous gold

Éva Risztov previously won gold in the 10 km swimming marathon at the 2012 London Olympics.

Originally a freestyle swimmer, Rasovszky switched to marathon swimming following Risztov’s success in 2016. In 2021, Rasovszky earned silver, but this February, he secured gold at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

Rasovszky said that training on the Danube before the Paris Olympics proved to be a big help.

Yesterday, 19-year-old Bettina Fábián finished fifth in the women’s 10 km marathon. Afterwards, she celebrated with pálinka, a traditional Hungarian spirit. You can view the video in THIS article.

These are triumphant times for Hungarian marathon swimming. Congratulations!

Here is a video of the last minutes of the finals:

Read also:

  • Hungary in the world’s top in Olympic gold medals per capita – read more HERE
  • Hungarian women’s kayak four won bronze at Paris Olympics! – PHOTOS and details in THIS article

Hungarian swimmer disinfected with pálinka after finishing 5th in women’s 10km marathon swim in the Seine – VIDEOS

Hungarian swimmer disinfected with pálinka

Miraculously, the 19-year-old swimmer could finish 5th in the women’s 10km marathon swim in the Seine at the Paris Olympic Games today. Afterwards, Bettina Fábián disinfected with pálinka, the traditional Hungarian spirit. Have you ever tasted pálinka?

The Hungarian swimmer prepared in the River Danube

Bettina Fábián did not swim yesterday in the Seine because she did not want to risk an infection in the polluted water. French authorities said yesterday that the bacteria level of the river decreased below the limit.

Betti said before her swimming that her training was successful, but she was afraid of the Seine, the currents in the river, etc.

Hungarian swimmer disinfected with pálinka
Photo: MTI

She said the water was not as dirty as she thought, and currents made swimming hard. Downstream times were around 7.5 minutes, while upstream increased to 13.5 minutes.

 

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

 

Betty Fabian (@bettiifabian) által megosztott bejegyzés

Swimmers needed to complete six rounds, and since Betti trained in the Danube, turns were better for her than for the others. Therefore, she could advance in each turn. Moreover, she stored her energy better, so in the end, she could finish in the 5th position.

She disinfected with pálinka after the contest

Betti was the second youngest among the winners and said training in the Danube helped her the most because currents could not carry her away most of the time. “I think this is a very good result on my first Olympics”, she concluded, and we can only agree with her.

The last metres of her swim:

After she got out of the water, she disinfected with some pálinka sips, the traditional Hungarian spirit. Then she drank Coca-Cola.

Here is the video (the Hungarian Swimming Association wrote below the video that they did not support alcohol consumption):

Congratulations, Betti!

Read also:

BREAKING: Hungary wins its first silver medal at 2024 Paris Olympic Games! – UPDATED: new silver medal!

First Hungarian silver medal at Paris Olympics

Kristóf Milák won Hungary’s first silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this evening in the 200m men’s butterfly. He was the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Champion, so many could be disappointed that he could not be first again.

In today’s final of the 200m men’s butterfly at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Kristóf Milák won silver with 1:51.75. The French Léon Marchand won with 1.51.21, a new Olympic record.

Sports leaders and the press criticised Milák before the Olympics. He disappeared in 2023 and did not talk to journalists. He said before the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Japan that he was both mentally and physically unfit to participate.

After he won the semifinals with the best time in Paris, experts said he prepared for the Olympics following his programme and asked more people to help him apart from his coach.

Congratulations on the silver!

UPDATE: Hungarian men’s sabre team wins Hungary’s second silver!

Hungarian men’s sabre team (Áron Szilágyi, András Szatmári, Csanád Gémesi, Krisztián Rabb) won Hungary’s second silver medal just minutes after Milák’s silver. Before, they won against Iran and Italy. The latter was the silver medallist in Tokyo.

Silver medal men's sabre team Paris Olympics
Photo: MTI

Congratulations!

Read also:

  • How much money do Olympians in Hungary get? – Read more HERE
  • First Hungarian medal at Paris Olympics, Eszter Muhari bronze medallist in fencing – PHOTOS and details in THIS article

Access paid Balaton beaches for free! Here is where and when

budatava beach balatonalmádi

There are municipalities on Lake Balaton where you can swim free of charge on the paid beaches during certain periods.

According to TermálOnline, in Balatonalmádi, visitors can enjoy free entry at the Wesselényi Beach and Budatava Beach, as well as both beaches in Káptalanfüred (a part of Balatonalmádi).

This applies for 45 minutes in the early morning and for 3 hours after closing.

balatonalmádi wesselényi beach
Wesselényi beach. Photo: balatonalmadi.hu

This allows for a refreshing morning swim, but guests must leave by 7:45 AM to give staff time to prepare the facilities for opening. The beaches of Almádi close at 19:00, but this is the end of the paid period; the gates close at 22:00, so swimming is free for 3 hours.

budatava beach balatonalmádi
Budatava beach. Photo: balatonalmadi.hu

According to Infostart, In Alsóörs, you don’t need to buy a ticket from 18:30 in the evening. However, those arriving around 7 AM may be informed that after 8 AM, a ticket is required to remain on the beach.

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This is Lake Balaton’s best beach in 2024!

gyenesdiás diási játékstrand

The Diási Játékstrand in Gyenesdiás has been awarded the title of Best Beach at Lake Balaton for 2024. Additionally, 28 beaches around Balaton received the prestigious five-star Blue Wave Flag (Kék Hullám Zászló), as revealed during the Balaton Association’s award ceremony held on Friday, 12 July, in Vonyarcvashegy, Hungary.

Strict evaluation criteria

gyenesdiás diási játékstrand
The Diási Játékstrand in Gyenesdiás. Photo: gyenesdias.info.hu

This year marks the 21st edition of the Blue Wave Flag certification, which has become a hallmark for the best beaches at Balaton. A total of 46 beach operators participated in the evaluation, which included both free beaches and campsites, Sokszínű Vidék reports.

The assessment considered various factors such as parking facilities, the condition and cleanliness of restrooms, the level of accessibility, and the overall environmental state (including flower arrangements, grass, and the lakebed). The quality and shading of playgrounds, sports opportunities, and child-friendly features like diaper-changing stations and family changing rooms were also important. The range of beachside dining options and the presence of local products were additional criteria.

Lake Balaton’s best beaches: Rating and awards

Beaches were rated on a scale from 1 to 5 stars to indicate the quality and variety of services offered. This year, 28 beaches received 5 stars, 14 received 4 stars, and 4 were awarded 3 stars.

Diási Játékstrand in Gyenesdiás was named the Best Beach at Lake Balaton for 2024.

Special awards

Several special awards were given during the ceremony. Three beaches earned the “Smart Beach” certificate, with the special award going to Vonyarcvashegy Lido Strand. The Hungarian Tourism Agency’s Family-Friendly Award was given to Mandulavirág Strand in Balatonakali.

The Balaton Circle awarded its special prize to Fövenyes Strand in Balatonudvari for its year-round quality offerings and support of local products. The Balaton Tourism Association’s special prize went to Siófoki Nagystrand, recognised for its event programs.

gyenesdiás diási játékstrand
The Diási Játékstrand in Gyenesdiás. Photo: gyenesdias.info.hu

The Balaton Uplands National Park (Balaton-felvidéki Nemzeti Park) awarded the Green Leaf Award to Kisfaludy Strand in Balatonfüred for outstanding green spaces, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation efforts. The Green Frog Award was given to Községi Strand in Szigliget for excellence in environmental education, and the Green Nest Award went to Rigó Street Free Beach in Szántód for exceptional habitat conservation.

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Swimming legend Katinka Hosszú to miss Paris Olympics 2024

hosszú family

Repeat Olympic and world champion swimmer Katinka Hosszú aimed to qualify for the Paris Olympics but failed to meet the qualifying stage. 

Hosszú failed to qualify for the 200m medley at the Sette Colli (Seven Hills) international event in Rome on Sunday and is now certain to miss the Olympics.

The 35-year-old three-time Olympic champion was attempting to secure her place in Paris in the 200m medley. However, her final time of 2:18.41 was well short of the required 2:11.47, meaning she will miss her sixth Olympic Games.

In recent years, Hosszú has been enjoying motherhood following the birth of her child. Despite a long hiatus, she has been striving to reach the qualifying standard. Sadly, this is expected to mark the end of a long and successful career.

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Amazing: Budapest’s immensely popular Danube beach free this summer!

sho beach budapest

The SHO Beach at Budapest’s Kopaszi Dam can be visited free of charge this summer. The Danube beach is expected to open in early May 2024.

danube beach sho beach budapest
SHO Beach. Photo: Facebook/SHO BEACH

From this year’s beach season, you can swim for free at the Kopaszi Dam beach, the SHO Beach! The great news was spotted by spabook.net in a recent Facebook post by the operator of the Danube beach.

Free Danube beach: SHO Beach welcomes everyone!

budapest sho beach danube
Source: shobeach.hu

According to them, one of the main reasons for their decision is that they want to show the charm of SHO Beach to as many people as possible, regardless of their financial means. The Danube beach is expected to open in early May 2024.

The post also responds to those who are concerned about the possible deterioration of the beach environment and its condition. They point out that there are successful outdoor beaches in other locations and that they have not experienced problems on previous free SHO Beach days.

In addition, the Danube beach at the Kopaszi Dam will offer a number of fantastic activities, including the II MOL Campus Gulf Swimming.

The operators of the beach expect that the increased number of guests will also have a positive impact on the turnover of the surrounding restaurants.

Budapest beach summer
Photo: SHO Beach

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Hungarian Iron Lady is planning a big comeback

Hungarian Iron Lady Katinka Hosszú

After conquering the arenas of Athens, Peking, London, Rio, Tokyo, and embracing motherhood, Katinka Hosszú gears up for her sixth Olympics—this time, in Paris in 2024.

In an interview with Index, she talked about the challenges of balancing motherhood with the rigorous demands of professional athleticism. The topic of the Paris Olympics also came up and it’s safe to say our Iron Lady is still going strong.

The challenges of motherhood

As for the challenge of juggling motherhood and sustaining a professional athletic career, she described the experience particularly unique, adding that no one can be entirely prepared for parenthood before it happens to them. The unpredictable timetable stands in stark contrast to the meticulously planned life she led as a professional athlete. Back then, every minute of her life was planned out, while now she has to face the uncertainty of sleep and a flexible timetable. Working her daily tasks around the needs of her baby is a learning process, she admits. In addition, she’s also managing multiple projects at the same time. Iron Swim is going strong and her plans with the swimming academy seem to be taking shape, although she hasn’t shared any information about that yet. All in all, she remains optimistic about her ongoing and future ventures.

Training vigorously

Despite the demands of a newborn, born in August, she swiftly returned to the pool. Even though it’s medically advised to abstain from any sport for at least six weeks after giving birth, she couldn’t stay away from her passion that long. Currently clocking two to three hours of daily training, a significant reduction from her previous eight or nine hours, she describes the adjustments made necessary by her new reality. However, it still sounds like a miraculous achievement for a new mum. She adds, that her trainings have gotten much more condensed because of the lack of time on her hands.  She doesn’t even leave her home when it comes to her land-based fitness training as it can be conveniently done there, too.

Next destination: Paris?

Katinka revealed that her plans are coming along nicely. If all goes well she can get back in the racing pool in the spring. That’s when the qualifying finals for the Olympics take place. Prior to that, a strategic training camp is on the horizon, most probably in Dubai, where the warm weather promises an intense preparation. She is confident about getting back in shape and in her abilities to regain her full strength by the time of the Olympics. It’s no secret that success at the event would be the pinnacle of her career, and she does see a real chance for qualifying for the Olympics. Her main focus remains on the individual medley, specifically the 200 and 400 metres, and that’s mostly what she’s preparing for. Finally, Katinka revealed that she can’t wait to prove herself once again at the Paris Olympics.

  • Read more about the Iron Lady HERE.
  • Read more about a popular winter sport opportunity HERE.