As of a week ago, multi-Olympic gold medalist Katinka Hosszu was training as usual with her Hungarian national team, despite virtually every other nation imposing strict lockdowns of public spaces.
On March 22nd Hosszu said via Instagram,“I’m pretty lucky because in Hungary the national team can still train. So as for the training, we are keeping the same schedule for now.”
However, according to Hungarian media, restrictions are getting tighter, as only those with proven negative coronavirus tests are being admitted to pools to train.
“The Hungarian Association provides them with two swimming pools in Budapest and three in the countryside (Törökbálinton, Balatonfűzfő and Győr), which can be used by those who have been negative for the coronavirus test,” reports Index.
28-year-old freestyle ace Dominik Kozma, for example, says he will receive his second test result today or tomorrow and hopes to practice again on Tuesday or Wednesday, assuming it’s negative.
Olympic icon Laszlo Cseh also intends to take advantage of the ability to still get wet. “I hope it won’t be so dangerous, in principle, nobody has caught the coronavirus – we hope it stays that way.
“I’m going to try to meet as few people as possible. I have heard that the chlorine water can hardly resist the virus, so I hope it can help.”
At the time of publishing, Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center states there are 408 known cases of COVID-19 in Hungary, resulting in 13 deaths.
Cseh is 34 years of age but says he will ‘keep on keeping on’ in terms of eyeing another Olympic Games. He told Sport24 he will try to go further and see how successful he is.
“I don’t want to set goals for now, let’s get over this epidemic and get back to normal and then maybe talk about what I mean.”
Translation assistance provided by Eszter Domokos.
Weird seeing him with hair. Awesome dude
This would work only if you are tested every day. A negative test only tells you your current status. Otherwise, the only way to know you’re still negative is to stay in quarantine.
That’s the cause why they’ll train in 4 different pools, in little groups.
He’s such a quiet, humble man. He just swims and lets that speak for itself. And when he swims, you can tell that there is no love/hate relationship there. He straight up loves his sport.
I first saw him swim in Linz 2002 at the European Junior Championships… if I think about all the years that have gone by and all the things that have happened in my life since and then the things he’s achieved and he’s STILL motivated, still swimming!!! Probably the most underrated swimmer of all time.
He is not just a great swimmer but probably the coolest, most down-to-earth person in the pool. And he made Chad and Phelps better swimmers.
The rare Cseh hair sighting. Nice find.
Cseh has stood the test of time, his consistency is unmatched, since 2002 he was been at an elite level every season, physically he has to be hugely robust and mentally a machine to go that long, and he will have done some inane volume.
Holds the record for most individual Male medals in different individual events at LC world champs, 6 events (50/100/200fly, 100bk and 200/400IM).
His 2008 Olympic Performances are hugely underrated
Massive respect to this guy.
Goat
10th place 200IM world championships Gwangju 2019.
Yeah he’s got a medal at the main meet every year since 2002/2003. Without a doubt the most underrated swimmer of all time in my mind. What a career.
Basically him and Tom Brady are going to end up retiring at the same time after starting at an elite level at the same time almost 20 years will be crazy
TOM BRADY SUCKS!
And Cseh is probably in a more physically demanding spot…I’m a avid fan of Brady but fighting age in swimming is even more difficult than playing the QB position.
Monster career. Shame for him his prime was right in line with 2 of the greatest IMers of all time. Heavily overlooked but again an incredible career.