Youth Olympics: Hungary in the Top 10

Hungarian teenagers continued the country’s great Olympic traditions by excelling at the First Youth Olympics held in Singapore. At the competition that finished this week, the Hungarian athletes collected 6 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals, finishing 8th on the medal table featuring 84 nations.

The most successful Hungarian competitor at the Games, organized for athletes aged 14-18, was swimmer Boglárka Kapás who won the women’s 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter freestyle events, I addition to finishing second in the 200-meter freestyle. The boys also contributed with two swimming golds to the collection. Péter Bernek won the 200-meter backstroke and Bencze Biczó the 200-meter butterfly events.

Hungary sent only two kayakers to the Youth Olympics and both of them won their respective races: Ramóna Farkasdi in the women’s and Sándor Tótka in the men’s event.

In addition to the one won by Kapás, the other Hungarian silver medals were also produced by women: Krisztina Váradi in discus throw, Zsófia Földházi in modern pentathlon and Barbara Batizi in judo.

The five bronze medal winners included one girl, Dóra Lipkovics (foil fencing) as well as four boys: Balázs Zámbó (200-meter backstroke swimming), Krisztián Tóth (judo), Balázs Töreky (hammer throw) and Zoltán Harcsa (boxing).

In nine events, international teams competed and those results were not included in the medal table. Still, a gold medal by Eszter Dudás in women’s triathlon and a doubles bronze by Tímea Babos in women’s tennis warm the hearts of Hungarian fans.

Considering the results of all the Summer Olympic Games, Hungary is among the ten most successful nations and the performance of Hungarian youth in Singapore raises hopes that this great tradition continues in London in 2012, as well.