The Hungarian women’s kayak four team, with Semmelweis University’s Katalin Kovács (Sport Management major, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences) among them, finished first in the K4 500m, securing Hungary’s sixth Olympic gold medal in London. The Gabriella Szabó, Danuta Kozák, Katalin Kovács, Krisztina Fazekas quartet’s victory also marked the first time in twenty years that Hungary has won gold in this event. Katalin Kovács won another medal on Thursday -silver this time- with Natasa Douchev-Janics on 500m.
Just half an hour earlier, Rudolf Dombi (Physical Education and Coaching major, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences) and Roland Kökény had won the men’s kayak double (K2) 1000m, earning Hungary’s 20th canoe/kayak gold medal.
Aside from Kovács and Dombi, two other Semmelweis University students have earned medals at the 2012 Olympic Games thus far. Éva Csernoviczki (Physical Education and Coaching major, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences) won Hungary’s first medal at the London Olympics, bringing home bronze in the women’s 48kg judo. Miklós Ungvári (Sport Coaching Master major, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences), another of the University’s judo athletes, became a silver medallist in the men’s 66kg event.
More than 30 of the 157 Hungarian athletes competing in London are from Semmelweis University. Still in competition are, among others, the women’s and men’s water polo teams, as well as the men’s handball team, all three of which have several Semmelweis students strengthening their squad.
Rita Czétényi and Szilvia Tóth-Szabó
Translated by Gina Varga-Gönczi
