Boglarka Kapas Bids Tearful Farewell At Final Hungarian Short-Course Championships
Boglarka Kapas was overcome with emotion as the crowd at the Hungarian s/c Championships in Kaposvár rose to give her a two-minute standing ovation as she bade farewell to national competition, 14 years after reaching her first international senior podium.
The 31-year-old made her breakthrough on the international stage when she won two golds and a silver at the Youth Olympics in Singapore which she swiftly followed with second in the 800 free at the European Short-Course Championships in Eindhoven.
Since then Kapas has won Olympic, world and European medals and her finale was greeted by the audience and fellow competitors.
Károly Szita, Mayor of Kaposvár and member of the MÚSZ Board presented Kapas with a large bouquet of flowers and an emotional speech after the 400IM in which she finished second behind Vivien Jackl.
Jackl downed Katinka Hosszu’s 20-year age group record in 4:33.58 with Kapas following her home in 4:35.89 to prompt a wave of emotion around the venue.
“It was very touching and wonderful to have so many people celebrating,” said Kapas through the Hungarian Federation. “I still have to stay a little strong to be able to say this… So, of course, I knew that this would be my last swim at a national championship, but I was a bit surprised by this greeting, it meant a lot that the fans and fellow competitors created such an atmosphere in the stands… I’m happy that I was able to swim the four hundred medley like that last time and that I was able to compete well with (Jackl) Vivi, who is a fantastic talent and I hope she will have many more wonderful successes.”
In the case of men, the same distance was won by Gábor Zombori in 4:10.84 to complete the 200-400IM double.
Nándor Németh prevailed in the the men’s 200 free in 1:44.68 following a tough battle with Richard Márton and Attila Kovács.
Nikolett Pádár won the gold medal in the women’s event in 1:55.18 ahead of Panna Ugrai who returned to the water half an hour later to claim the 50 fly in 26.35 for her fourth title of the meet so far.
Szebasztián Szabó won the men’s 50 fly (22.65) while both Dávid Horváth (2:10.48) and Eszter Békési (2:25.03) completed the 100/200 breaststroke doubles with victory in the longer race.
