Panna Ugrai claimed a perfect sweep of 13 titles at the Hungarian Short Course Championships in Kaposvár with a multi-medal performance not seen since Katinka Hosszu’s 2016 record run.
She came close to Hosszu’s record 10 years ago where the three-time Olympic champion won 15 of 16 events at the 2016 edition where she missed out only in the 50 free where she was DQd in prelims after moving at the start.
Ugrai became Hungarian champion in eight individual events (50-100-200 freestyle, 50-100 butterfly, 50-100 backstroke, 100 medley) and five relays with BVSC-Zuglo. It was one better than László Cseh who won seven individual events at a single edition in 2012 although Hosszu won all her 2016 titles in solo events.
On Saturday, the two-time European champion won the 100 fly (58.29) and 100IM (1:00.21) and anchored the BVSC-Zuglo women’s 4×2 squad to victory.
She said through the Hungarian federation: “It’s rude that you mention my name next to such record holders as Katinka Hosszú or Laci Cseh – it’s a huge honour for me to be able to be in the same sentence with them on any grounds.”
The 22-year-old was named best female swimmer of the meet with Nándor Németh named best male as he rounded off his competition with 4×2 gold with FTC.
Gábor Zombori ended the meet with four gold medals – including a back-to-back 200 breast/400IM double – and appeared to have made it five in the 100IM. However, he was DQd for an illegal extra dolphin leg at the backstroke turn as gold went to Ádám Jászó in 53.09.
Ajna Kesely completed the 400-800-1500 treble on top of silver in the 400IM and 200m freestyle plus two relay golds with BVSC-Zuglo. She won the 800 on Saturday in a close-fought battle with Vivien Jackl to come out on top in 8:23.68.
Thirty-year-old and full-time coach Dávid Horváth added the 50m breaststroke to his 100 gold in 26.97, Dávid Antal won the 200 back (1:52.64), Richard Marton completed the fly double with a 51.14 victory in the 100m and Máté Hartmann added the 800 title to 1500 gold in 7:42.93.
Eszter Szabo-Feltothy won the women’s 200 back (2:06.49) with Henrietta Fangli adding the 50 to her 100 breast gold in 31.14.
