Earlier today, one of our commenters asked an interesting question: how many Hungarian records does Hungarian superstar Katinka Hosszu not hold. The answer is: more than you might expect, but plenty enough to be classified as “absurd.”
Hosszu this weekend at the Indian Ocean Championships on the island of Reunion has broken the 50 and 200 short course meter breaststroke Hungarian Records, which extends her sphere of influence into yet another stroke – after becoming one of the world’s best backstrokers by sheer will over the last 18 months.
In long course, Hosszu holds 9 out of the 17 recognized individual records and is a part of the National Record holding teams in the three major relays (400 free relay, 800 free relay, 400 medley relay). Some of the great names of Hungary’s swimming past still hold marks that even the great Hosszu hasn’t gotten yet.
The biggest surprise, to us, was that Hosszu doesn’t have the record in the 100 fly. That mark belongs to Liliana Szilagyi, who was 57.67 at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. Hosszu’s best is 58.73, and given Szilagyi’s young age of just 18, that might be a tough one for Hosszu to track down.
The records that Hosszu doesn’t hold in long course, as of posting:
- 800 free – Boglarka Kapas 8:21.21 (August 3rd, 2013 – Worlds)
- 1500 free – Boglarka Kapas 16:02.58 (July 29th, 2013 – Worlds)
- 200 back – Krisztina Egerszegi 2:06.62 (August 25th, 1991 – Euros)
- 50 breast – Anna Sztankovics 31.30 (August 26th, 2013Â – World Junior Championships)
- 100 breast – Agnes Kovacs 1:07.79 (September 17th, 2000 – Olympics)
- 200 breast – Agnes Kovacs 2:24.03 (September 20th, 2000 – Olympics)
- 50 fly – Beatrix Bordas 26.43 (August 3rd, 2008 – European Junior Championships)
- 100 fly – Liliana Szilagyi 57.67 (August 22nd, 2014 – Youth Olympics)
In short course meters, however, Hosszu has been absolutely dominant. After Monday at the Indian Ocean Championships, Hosszu holds 16 out of 18 individual National records.
It would be a smart bet to presume that she’ll get Agnes Kovacs’ 1:07.06 100 breaststroke record on Tuesday, after having already broken the 50 and the 200.
Update: Hosszu got the 100 breaststroke record on Tuesday with a 1:05.60. That means there’s officially just 3 SCM records left.
If that one goes down, there would then leave just three short course records up for the taking:
100 free – Evelyn Verraszto 52.90 (November 7th, 2009 – Moscow World Cup)- 400 free – Evelyn Verraszto 3:59.68 (November 15th, 2009 – Hungarian Championships)
- 1500 free – Zsanett Kovacs 17:18.73 (October 20th, 2013 – Czech Sprint Championships)
Another update, Hosszu swam 52.37 on Tuesday to also break the 100 free record. Now she holds 16 out of 18 records.
The latter of those is more of a formality than anything – many, many Hungarians have had the capability to go faster than 17:18.73 not only in long course, but in short course as well. Unlike in long course, neither FINA (the world’s governing body) nor LEN (Europe’s governing body) hosts the off-Olympic distance events in short course meters at their biggest championships. It’s only a matter of opportunity for Hosszu, or anyone else, to find a meet holding the event and to break the record.
So, to answer the intent of the question: There are 35 ‘standard’ individual Hungarian National Records in the pool, and Hosszu holds 23Â 24 25 of them.
A few interesting facts on Hungarian age records:
Dániel (!) Gyurta holds several LC long distance freestyle, butterfly and medley records and of course holds the 100 and 200 breast in all age groups from 10 to 18. On 1500 both brothers hold some records.
László Cseh and Katinka Hosszú holds almost no age records.
Krisztina Egerszegi still has plenty of records, but recenty 2 girls, Fanni Gyurinovics and Ajna Késely (both 13) started to sweep the lists even establishing records in older age groups. Seems like they have the potential to sweep some adult Hosszú records, but Katinka’s records seem to be safe for a couple of years.
She did 16 of 17, as in the Hungarian Championship this year. There she was 2nd in 800m freestyle, where Boglarka Kapas won.
And counting:
She just broke the 100 meter breaststroke record with a 1.05.60 at the Indian Ocean Meeting – the previous record, as mentioned above, was held by Agnes Kovacs since 1999 with a 1.07.06.
And there goes the 100 free – 52.37.
Hooszzu lacks the most coveted prize in swimming inspite of her impressive credentials, an OLYMPIC MEDAL!
Forgot about Egerszegi. That would be a very big record to bring down (but very possible for her). With a serious go at it, Katinka could probably put together a clean sweep of the SCM records.
What I wonder is: when does she TRAIN? Seems like she hasn’t been in the same city for more than a week since August. Also, HOW does she train? I’m guessing it’s a lot of Dave Salo-adopted sets and a ton of dryland.
Correction: The 100 Hungarian fly record doesn’t belong to Ester Dara anymore; her time was broken by 18 year old, Lilliana Szilagyi at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing this summer, where she won the gold medal in a time of 57,67!
Good catch, Kim. Updated above.
Couldn’t find the “official” records list anywhere, so was trying to cobble it together. Missed that one.
Hungarian swimming rankings, records, races etc., check out: http://www.muszuszoranglista.hu – it is in english to 🙂
http://www.musz.hu – is the Hungarian Swimming Federations homepage, unfortunately only in Hungarian.
Thanks Kim!
Was looking around musz.hu and still couldn’t find the link for records. The other site will be a great resource though. Thanks.
http://www.musz.hu/oldal/ranglist%C3%A1k
You can find it here.
You can find other questions about Katinka Hosszu.
How many times has she dived in the water in competition during all year?
How many meters has she swum in competition this year?
How much money has she earned in competition this year?
Katinka was faster again than Shane in the morning…
Can’t imagine he’s taking his own performances as serious as hers however…