Hosszu Breaks Hungarian Record En Route To Top Spot In 200 Back Heats

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

Having already earned three individual gold medals here in Rio, more than any other swimmer, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu appears well on her way to a fourth.

Hosszu cruised to the top spot in the women’s 200 back preliminaries this morning, posting a time of 2:06.09, miles ahead of the rest of the field. The swim breaks her own Hungarian record of 2:06.18 set in the semi-finals of the race at last year’s World Championships. She went onto win bronze in 2:06.84.

Hosszu’s form has been absolutely on point here, winning the 400 IM in a new world record, unexpectedly winning the 100 back, and then as expected taking her third title in the 200 IM. She showed a bit of fatigue at the end of the 200 IM, missing her own world record, but appears back at top form for the 200 back.

The same can’t be said for her fellow World Championship medalists last year, as both world champion Emily Seebohm and runner-up Missy Franklin have struggled here in Rio.

Favored to win the 100 back, Seebohm managed to place just 7th, while Franklin was left off the American 800 free relay after missing the individual 200 final.

Unless Seebohm or Franklin can return to form, Hosszu may have a clear path to gold. There will still be challengers, including Franklin’s American teammate Maya Dirado who went 2:06.9 at their Trials, and Canada’s Hilary Caldwell who was the only swimmer other than Hosszu under 2:08 this morning in 2:07.40. But even Dirado and Caldwell only hold bests of 2:06-high, well off of Hosszu’s easy looking 2:06.o this morning.

From what we’ve seen from the Hungarian, she has to be considered the favorite to win her fourth individual gold medal of these Games. If she pulls it off, it will tie her with Kristin Otto, who was part of the systematic East German doping system, with the most individual gold medals won by a female swimmer at the Olympics.

Otto won four individual golds at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back and 100 fly, along with two more golds in the 400 free and medley relays.

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Mikksa
7 years ago

Now this is clearly a case of insinuation, it is not surprising that the agenda is set for the comments below: “If she pulls it off, it will tie her with Kristin Otto, who was part of the systematic East German doping system, with the most individual gold medals won by a female swimmer at the Olympics.” Not a nice try.

Most of the commentartors are not aware of the fact that Hosszu has been training at competitive races over the past four years, steadily improving race by race, so she is physically and mentally exceptionally well prepared for the pressure of the Olympic games.

NotSurprised
Reply to  Mikksa
7 years ago

The improvements at these Olympics have been drastically better than what she’s ever done before. Ignore it if you wish.

Carlo
7 years ago

I don’t suspect hozzsu but I do suspect ledecky. Gene doping?

2beatkick
Reply to  Carlo
7 years ago

they need to have seperate olympics for children of swimmers 🙂

Apple
7 years ago

Some people claim swimmers won’t do well in long course if they’re swimming short course most of the year. Katinka started to improve when she moved to the US and really took off after finishing her NCAA career. Her career has had many different variables from Ledecky or Phelps, who grew up in the US and always had excellent training facilities and coaching. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why she could be hitting her peak at an older age than usual for swimmers. Until she has a positive test, I don’t think it’s fair to accuse her.

Dan
Reply to  Apple
7 years ago

She won her first medals at the 2009 world championships, when she was 20 and training at USC. Then, over the next 4 years, she accomplished zero medals at major international meets (shutout at 2011 worlds and 2012 Olympics). Then, she leaves USC and Dave Salo (one of the best coaches in the world) to train for her husband (who appears to have roid rages on the side of the pool). After this, she rockets to the top of the swimming world. This career progression is very hard to explain without considering anything suspicious.

NotSurprised
7 years ago

Hosszu is one strange swimmer. I’ve never seen someone break so many records and still not be tired after all this effort. When I saw her at the Grand Prix in Mesa, AZ, her times were nowhere as good and she couldn’t catch her breath afterwards.

Butaamcsik
Reply to  NotSurprised
7 years ago

U americans are weird. everybody dope but ledecky and phelps don”t

M Palota
Reply to  Butaamcsik
7 years ago

It’s not just Americans. I’m not and my views on this subject are well documented.

NotSurprised
Reply to  Butaamcsik
7 years ago

Look how exhausted Ledecky and Phelps are after their races. It’s as simple as that.

2beatkick
Reply to  NotSurprised
7 years ago

Ledecky is one strange swimmer. She swims 800/400 free as if it were 200 free. or how phelps’ 200 free race in Beijing How does that sound ?
Give credit when people deserve it. Katinka worked really really hard in the past years. She is called Iron lady for a reason and is known to have very packed meet schedules. Finally, all her efforts are paying off

NotSurprised
Reply to  2beatkick
7 years ago

Phelps and Ledecky do it consistently since many years ago. Hosszu doesn’t have this precedent but only blind bats like you will defend what won’t be defensible in due time.

2beatkick
Reply to  NotSurprised
7 years ago

Many years ? ledecky was really on the scene only for 5-6 years. Katinka already took part in 3 olympics and was favored to win 400IM in london. You people also called Shiwen unclean at that time and may be you will call Schooling unclean if he beats phelps. So believe what you want. WADA is not stupid and powerless.

NotSurprised
Reply to  2beatkick
7 years ago

Schooling is not doing what Hosszu is doing.

HulkSwim
Reply to  NotSurprised
7 years ago

1) Michael Phelps
2) Katie Ledecky
3) She scratched the 2fly because… wait for it… she’s tired!!!

NotSurprised
Reply to  HulkSwim
7 years ago

Nice try. She’s obviously realizing they’re watching her. It’s toooooo noticeable to think that she would excuse herself that she’s tired when she blowing the records away and her competition as if she was swimming with amateurs.

MTK
Reply to  NotSurprised
7 years ago

The only dominant win she had was the 400IM. O’Connor gave her a run in 200IM, and she had to pull away in the last 10m of the 100back (after being 6th at the 50) to get the win there.

NotSurprised
Reply to  MTK
7 years ago

Winning everyone of her events without “batting a breath” is pretty and suspiciously dominant.

Silvia
Reply to  NotSurprised
7 years ago

The 200 fly semifinals would have been 50 min before the 200 IM finals. It was a smart to scratch. And she doesn’t have to show up to the pool to get tested, that can be done anywhere. Just curious, how long have you been swimming, because based on your comments, you are pretty clueless about the sport.

NotSurprised
Reply to  Silvia
7 years ago

She didn’t even do the prelims which were not 50 minutes before the 200IM. This is a decision she could have made before the Olympics since the schedule is out. You need to start thinking instead of assuming she would have progressed to finals. You need to talk to those who swim with her, the others swimmers on the deck. You’d be enlightened by what they have to say on how she’s progressed. BTW, I’ve been around the sport for over 20 years so I’ve seen it all. I’m not criticizing her for scratching. If you read English and understood the meanings behind words, sentences, and paragraphs, the suspicion arises because of her lack of exhaustion after breaking all her… Read more »

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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